WNBA Power Rankings: Rebuilding Mystics soar into top three and look like contenders, Wings hit turbulence
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- Washington Mystics have gone 11-3 over their last 14 games, riding a seven-game winning streak tied for the second-longest in franchise history to climb from ninth to fifth place, just half a game behind the Indiana Fever for fourth and two games behind the Las Vegas Aces for third.
- Shakira Austin is averaging 21.7 points on 54.8% shooting with 10.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 blocks over the last seven games; the Mystics post a 111.6 offensive rating with her on the floor versus 88.6 when she sits.
- The Mystics' offense has jumped from the league's worst to a 113.6 offensive rating during the winning streak (sixth in the WNBA), while their defense leads the league at 104.7 over the last seven games.
- Washington signed former All-Star Betnijah Laney-Hamilton off waivers after the New York Liberty waived her, adding perimeter scoring to a roster that still needs shot-making.
- The Mystics hold a 2027 lottery pick owed from the Chicago Sky via pick swap, strengthening an already brightening outlook.
- Washington owns the third-easiest remaining schedule, with multiple games against the Sky, Sparks and Mercury, making a first-round homecourt advantage a realistic target.
Why it matters: The Mystics haven't made the playoffs since 2023 and haven't won a playoff series since their 2019 title, but a seven-game streak, Austin's All-WNBA-level production and the third-easiest remaining schedule have reshaped a rebuilding roster into a realistic playoff threat. Washington's 111.6-to-88.6 on/off offensive split with Austin on the floor shows exactly how much one player's return from a disastrous June has changed their ceiling.
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