Aaliyah Edwards

Edwards, the No. 6 pick in the WNBA Draft, spent four seasons at UConn but didn't start to shine until her junior and senior years. She averaged 17.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 30.4 minutes in 2023-24, demonstrating a solid low-post game. However, she doesn't have three-point range and struggled at the free-throw line (59.3 percent during her collegiate career). With Elena Delle Donne stepping away from basketball, there's a large opening in the Mystics frontcourt rotation for Edwards to fill. However, Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Myisha Hines-Allen and Queen Egbo will also be factors after playing solid roles last season. Washington also added Stefanie Dolson in case Austin misses the start of 2024 after undergoing hip surgery last winter. Rookies aren't guaranteed anything in the WNBA, but Edwards has higher upside than most of the Mystics' veteran frontcourt players and should get a chance to establish herself at some point.