The Washington Mystics, in a repeat of 2002, hold the No. 3 and No. 4 picks in the upcoming 2025 WNBA draft, positioned behind a likely top pick, Paige Bueckers. In their previous draft with similar positioning, the Mystics selected Stacey Dales and Asjha Jones, both of whom underperformed relative to expectations. Dales retired early to pursue a broadcasting career, while Jones struggled initially but later achieved success after being traded to the Connecticut Sun. This history shapes expectations for the Mystics' future draft decisions.
In 2002, the Mystics drafted Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales at No. 3 and Connecticut forward Asjha Jones at No. 4. At the time, it felt like we nailed it. Dales was a two-time All-American and a leader at Oklahoma. Jones was fresh off an undefeated championship season with UConn as another top-level starter along with Bird and Cash.
Dales gave Washington three okay seasons before ultimately having an early retirement. Later in her career, she played again for the Chicago Sky. Since her retirement from the WNBA, Dales has become better known for her broadcasting career, where she is a reporter on NFL Network.
Jones was a late bloomer of sorts, but never came to find her own with the Mystics. That was in part because she was Holdsclaw's backup for two seasons.
Eventually, Jones was traded to the Connecticut Sun in 2004 where she ultimately began to blossom under then-head coach Mike Thibault (yes, the same Mike Thibault who led the Mystics from 2013-24 and led Washington to a WNBA championship in 2019).
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