Washington Mystics make stunning leap to No. 2 in latest WNBA power rankings originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Washington Mystics are no longer being treated like an entertaining young team with potential. They are beginning to earn recognition as one of the WNBA’s most dangerous contenders.
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Washington climbed to No. 2 in The Athletic’s latest WNBA power rankings, moving up seven places from its previous position. Only the Minnesota Lynx finished ahead of the Mystics.
The ranking placed Washington above the Golden State Valkyries, Indiana Fever, Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces. That represents a remarkable rise for the youngest roster in the league. It also reflects how quickly the Mystics have learned to handle high-pressure situations.
Mystics keep finding answers in crunch time
Washington entered the week riding a three-game winning streak after defeating Golden State, Las Vegas and Dallas. Each game was decided during crunch time, and the Mystics repeatedly made the right plays when the pressure increased.
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The Athletic highlighted a closing lineup featuring Sonia Citron, Michaela Onyenwere, Cotie McMahon, Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin. That five-player combination has produced an impressive plus-33.9 net rating. Coach Sydney Johnson has used McMahon in place of Georgia Amoore in the starting group, allowing Citron to assume more ball-handling responsibilities late in games. The adjustment has created a bigger and more versatile lineup without sacrificing offensive spacing.
McMahon’s ability to attack the basket demands attention from opposing frontcourt defenders. That has helped create favorable opportunities for Iriafen and Austin around the paint. Austin was especially effective in July and delivered the winning points against both the Aces and Wings.
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Washington’s defense is powering its climb
The Mystics’ size has made them difficult to attack defensively. Washington can switch across all five positions, giving opponents different looks while keeping multiple strong defenders on the floor. The Mystics own the WNBA’s third-best defense and have ranked second behind Golden State over the past month.
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Their success in close games might be even more impressive. Washington owns a 12-6 record in clutch situations, an encouraging sign for a team still learning how to win together.
“The biggest thing for us early on was we didn’t know how to close games, and we’re still learning that,” Iriafen said during All-Star weekend. “But I think being in so many close-game scenarios, we’ve been able to kind of get over that hump and prevail.”
The latest rankings suggest the rest of the league should start taking that progress seriously. Washington still must prove it can maintain this level during the closing stretch of the regular season. The Mystics will also face a significant test against the Phoenix Mercury after Phoenix acquired Kelsey Plum in a blockbuster trade.
For now, Washington has earned its place near the top. The Mystics have beaten experienced contenders, developed one of the league’s best defenses and consistently executed with games on the line. That is no longer merely the profile of a promising young team. It is the profile of a legitimate postseason threat.
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