As fans of the Washington Wizards, we often find ourselves more focused on the NBA draft and lottery than on actual games. It’s hard to blame us when the Wizards are close to tying or even breaking the franchise record for the longest losing streak. Yesterday’s WNBA Draft Lottery got me thinking that the Mystics might soon follow a similar rebuilding approach as the Wizards.
The WNBA held its draft lottery yesterday, with the Washington Mystics landing the No. 4 pick. Since the Mystics had the fourth-best odds for the top pick, their selection wasn’t unexpected.
Here’s an interesting twist: The Connecticut Sun had the league’s worst record in 2025 but still advanced to the WNBA semifinals in 2024. Because the WNBA draft lottery factors in a team’s performance over two seasons instead of just one, the Sun’s 39-45 combined record over those years made them the least likely to get the No. 1 pick. The Dallas Wings, who finished with the worst two-year record at 19 wins and 65 losses, won the top pick in the 2026 draft thanks to having the best odds.
Why does the WNBA use a two-year performance window rather than one? This change indirectly resulted from the 2013 draft lottery, which didn’t work well for the Mystics. Back then, they had a dismal 5-29 record in 2012 and were expected to land one of the three franchise-defining talents—Brittney Griner, Elena Delle Donne, or Skyler Diggins—in 2013. Instead, Washington picked No. 4 and drafted Taylor Hill. That year, the Phoenix Mercury won the lottery despite underperforming, partly because their superstar Diana Taurasi missed much of the season due to the Olympics. Meanwhile, Delle Donne went to the Chicago Sky, and Diggins was picked by the team that later became the Dallas Wings.
This setback delayed the Mystics’ progress, though their rebuilding efforts eventually paid off with a 2019 championship, built through smart trades like acquiring Delle Donne in 2017 and maximizing lower draft picks. The Las Vegas Aces dynasty wasn’t yet dominant, and their championship core couldn’t stay healthy long-term, giving the Mystics an advantage during their prime years.
Notably, the team with the best odds in the lottery can’t fall below third place, a rule Washington couldn’t capitalize on in 2013.
Meanwhile, the Mystics aren’t the only Monumental Basketball team rebuilding through the draft—the Wizards are too. They’ve endured the worst two-season stretch in franchise history for wins and losses. However, unlike the WNBA, the NBA draft lottery only accounts for the previous season rather than the last two.
So, what do you think? Should the NBA draft lottery consider the combined performance of non-playoff teams over two years instead of just one? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Fan Take: This news is significant for WNBA fans because it highlights how the league’s draft system aims to balance fairness and competitiveness over multiple seasons, potentially leading to stronger, more sustainable team rebuilds. For the sport, adopting a two-year evaluation period for the draft lottery could create more strategic approaches and ultimately enhance overall league parity.
