Dynamic Newcomers Strengthen Mystics' Foundations amid Questionable Future

Expansion, All-Stars, and a Booming WNBA

The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) is experiencing a period of growth and excitement as it prepares for its expansion to 15 teams next year. Two new teams, the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo, set to debut in 2026, will join the league, and each team will select from a pool of designated players submitted by existing franchises.

The WNBA draft earlier this year highlighted the talent of the league's rising stars. Paige Bueckers, the No. 1 overall pick, showcased her skills after helping UConn win its 12th championship almost four months ago. Meanwhile, the Washington Mystics drafted Georgia Amoore, who was chosen No. 6 overall, but is currently out indefinitely after tearing her ACL in April.

Despite Amoore's absence, the Mystics' rookies, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, continue to shine during the team's transition period under first-year coach Sydney Johnson. Their performances have been so impressive that they were both selected for the All-Star Game, making them the first rookie teammates chosen since 1999.

The All-Star weekend is an example of the league's economic boom, with sponsors, partners, and stakeholders convening in Indianapolis. Paige Bueckers, a star from the Dallas Wings, will also participate in the event on Saturday.

The offseason movement of stars like A'ja Wilson, Sabrina Ionescu, Breanna Stewart, and Kelsey Plum will likely depend on the union's ability to secure changes to the salary cap and the core-player designation. The players association's goals include a significant increase to the rookie wage scale, which currently pays rookies $78,831 in Year 1 and increases annually until reaching $100,510 in Year 4.

The next Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is expected to bring dramatic increases in salaries, with top stars slated to receive their biggest raises ever. The earnings gap between the Mystics duo and the league's highest-paid stars in coming years could give the team a player-budget edge on its foes.

In terms of ownership, the two WNBA team owners acquiring franchises in the 2026 expansion are Steve Pagliuca, co-chairman of Bain Capital and Boston Celtics minority owner, leading the Boston group, and the ownership group behind the Cleveland expansion team announced for 2028 but involved in the league's controlled expansion plan. Steve Pagliuca's group is known for proposing the highest franchise valuation in WNBA history for the Boston team, while the Cleveland franchise is owned by Dan Gilbert's Rock Entertainment Group with Allison Howard appointed as president.

As for the Mystics, the future of their roster, including which players they will protect during the expansion draft, remains uncertain. However, the team's rookies, Citron and Iriafen, will get their time in the spotlight this weekend. They will play for the team captained by Caitlin Clark in the All-Star Game, and Citron will also compete in the 3-point contest against the likes of Clark and Ionescu.

The WNBA CBA meetings are currently ongoing, amid investor clamor for the sale of the Sun. Most players on non-rookie deals didn't sign contracts past this year, knowing the current agreement expires on October 31. The league is facing challenges, but its growth and success are undeniable, with highs in TV viewership and worldwide interest providing a marketing opportunity for rookies like Citron and Iriafen.