AALIYAH EDWARDS

Drafted 2024

6th Overall

UConn

SHAKIRA AUSTIN

Drafted 2022

3rd Overall

Ole Miss

STEF DOLSON

Drafted 2014

6th Overall

UConn

Before you read on, let’s test your knowledge of the Mystics’ draft history: 

• Which school has produced the most Mystics draft picks? 

• Which school has had the most players picked by the Mystics first-round picks? 

• Who was the Mystics’ first-ever draft pick? 

Got your guesses ready? Let’s dive into nearly three decades of Mystics draft history. 

• U.S. Born Players Drafted – 80% 
  The majority of Mystics picks have been American-born athletes, many from top NCAA Division I programs.  

• International Born Players Drafted – 20% 
  Over the years, we’ve drafted 19 players who were born overseas. Some played here at NCAA Division 1 programs, while others played exclusively overseas before being selected. Players hailing from Australia, Belgium, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, the former nation of Czechoslovakia, Greece, Hungary, Kenya, Mali, Serbia, Spain, and Trinidad & Tobago have all been part of the Mystics Draft story. International picks often bring strong fundamentals, versatility, and global experience — key ingredients for a winning roster. And of course,  this doesn’t include international players who joined the Mystics via trades and free agency.  This season’s roster features four foreign-born players: Georgia Amoore (Australia), Aaliyah Edwards (Canada), Sike Konè (Spain/Mali) and Jade Melbourne (Australia). 
   

• Total Number of Draft Picks: 87 
  In the 27 drafts the Mystics have participated in, we’ve selected a total of 87 players.  Why not 28 drafts? In 2021, the Mystics had no draft picks due to trades made in the previous season. 

• First-Ever Mystics Draft Pick: 
  Murriel Page, selected 3rd overall out of the University of Florida in 1998.  
   

• Most Recent First-Round Picks (2025 Draft): 

  • Sonia Citron – Guard, Notre Dame (3rd overall) 

  • Kiki Iriafen – Forward, USC (4th overall) 

  • Georgia Amoore – Guard, Kentucky (6th overall) 

• International Success Story: 
  Emma Meesseman, selected out of Belgium in 2013, blossomed into a Finals MVP and one of the most beloved players in Mystics history. Proof that great talent knows no borders. 

• University of Connecticut (UConn), LSU and Maryland – 3 First-Round Picks 
  No surprise that UConn tops this list. When you draft a Husky, you're getting someone who’s been tested on the biggest stages in college basketball and is ready to bring that championship mindset straight to the pros.  LSU earned its spot here too, thanks to consistent NCAA Tournament appearances under elite coaches Pokey Chatman and Van Chancellor.  And staying close to home has worked out well for the Mystics too, Maryland’s first-rounders have come in polished, tough, and ready to represent the DMV with pride from day one. 
  

• University of Kentucky & Notre Dame  – 2 First-Round Picks 
  Both schools landed on this list thanks to this year’s draft. We selected Sonia Citron (#3 pick) out of Notre Dame and Georgia Amoore (#6 pick) out of Kentucky.  We’re excited to see what they both bring to the Mystics. Can you guess the other Kentucky & Notre Dame grads we’ve selected in the first round?  

• University of Connecticut – 5 Players 
  No surprise here – UConn is a women’s basketball dynasty, and the Mystics have tapped into that winning pedigree more than once. 
   

• Four-Way Tie: Alabama, Florida, Maryland and NC State  – 4 Players 
  We’ll give you partial credit if you only guessed Maryland. Right in the Mystics’ backyard, Maryland has built a women's basketball powerhouse and has been a reliable source of talent for the franchise. Alabama made its mark early with picks in 1999, 2000, and 2002,  and just rejoined the list with the 2025 selection of Zaay Green. Florida gets a big nod for producing our Mystics Hall of Famer Murriel Page.  And NC State has been a steady contributor over the years, with draftees in 2004, 2007, 2014 and 2019. 
   

• Four-Way Tie: Duke, LSU, Texas and USC – 3 Players 
  USC snuck into the top three this year thanks to our No. 4 overall pick, Kiki Iriafen.  Duke brought us Mystics Hall of Famer Alana Beard. LSU contributed a trio of first-rounders in 2003, 2005, and 2012.  And Texas rounds out the list with three selections as well, including current Mystic Sug Sutton, who’s making moves on the court. 
   

Since our first season back in 1998, we’ve made it our mission to find the best talent to help us grow something special here in D.C. Twenty-seven seasons later, and every pick has been a piece of the journey toward something bigger. 

While most of the Mystics' picks have come from U.S. college programs, international players have added to the fabric of the  franchise’s story. 

When it comes to first-round selections, the order shifts a bit. Only five schools have had more than one player selected by the Mystics in the first round.