Kareem Copeland Sep 15, 2026, 09:00 AM ET WASHINGTON D.C. -- At any given moment with the Washington Mystics, a dance party can break out. Rookies Lauren Betts and Cotie Mc Mahon instantly start to rock when Tyler, The Creator's "Sticky" plays at practice. The next day at shootaround, it's Betts and assistant coach Barb Turner shaking to Blac Youngsta's "Booty." Kiki Iriafen, Mc Mahon and Georgia Amoore join in when "Super Gremlin" by Kodak Black comes on. Even coach Sydney Johnson will break out his own unique moves after victories. It's all fun and games until someone blows a defensive assignment in practice. That's when the bass comes out of the typically mild-mannered Johnson's voice, who laments that Marina Mabrey will hit that open jumper every time.

Things have drastically changed in the past 23 months for the youthful Mystics, playoff-bound for the first time since 2023. With six first-round picks from the past two drafts and a sprinkle of veteran leadership, the lightning-quick franchise rebuild has created a playful-yet-serious vibe. "Young h-s, we are fun," Mc Mahon said. "Don't take anything serious unless we're on the court." Shakira Austin, an elder stateswoman at 26, added, "Them girls, they crazy."

The girls might be crazy, but they've already become the youngest playoff team in WNBA history just two years into a rebuild that began before the 2025 season. Mike Thibault was fired as general manager and his son Eric was let go as coach. Michael Winger was hired as president of Monumental Basketball. Jamila Wideman was hired as GM and lasted one season. The draft-and-develop strategy first employed by the Wizards was tailored to fit the Mystics. Six first-round draft picks in the last two years produced youthful depth: a pair of All-Stars in Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen; a rookie starting point guard in Georgia Amoore; Betts comes off the bench. Angela Dugalic and Cotie Mc Mahon were also first-round selections.