Washington Mystics Win Number One Overall Pick in 2022 WNBA Draft

The Washington Mystics will have the first overall selection in the 2022 WNBA Draft after moving up two spots in the WNBA Draft Lottery. The Mystics came into the lottery with just the third-best odds to win.

The Mystics haven’t been in the WNBA Lottery since 2017. They selected Shatori Walker-Kimbrough from Maryland University with the sixth overall pick. In 2020 she was traded for 2012 WNBA Most Valuable Player Tina Charles.

General Manager and Head Coach Mike Thibault was excited about the pick and had this to say:

“This is a great day for the Mystics. It’s been a tough past two years with all of our injuries and the absences in the bubble year. This gives us several options as to what we want to do going forward and helps widen our window to compete for championships. We look forward to the next several months of preparation – a great way to begin the Mystics 25th Anniversary season.” – Washington Mystics General Manager/Head Coach Mike Thibault 

This is the first time the Mystics have ever won the WNBA Lottery.  The WNBA Draft Lottery process began before the 2002 WNBA Draft. The Mystics have selected the first overall pick before during the 1999 WNBA Draft.  In that draft, they selected Hall of Famer small forward Chamique Holdsclaw.