The new era in Washington started with a change of leadership.
A new general manager and head coach were hired, Ariel Atkins was traded, and Elena Delle Donne retired, moving up to the front office.
Then, the Mystics infused their roster with a handful of young talent, creating one of the league’s youngest rosters. Despite all this change and upheaval, two faces have remained: Brittney Sykes and Stefanie Dolson.
Through their veteran experience and leadership, Sykes and Dolson serve as anchors to Washington’s present, while the future belongs to their youth.
Meet the Vets
As a four-time All-Defensive team member, Brittney Sykes has built a reputation as one of the best perimeter defenders in the WNBA.
Her quickness, high basketball IQ, and footwork allow her to guard multiple positions and take on the opposing team’s best perimeter player. As an offensive player, Sykes is just as effective. In 2023, Sykes averaged a career-high 15.9 points and 3.8 assists per game. Her ability to push the pace in transition, execute pick-and-roll situations as the ball handler, and find the open shooter in half-court sets will bring great value to a young Mystics team in need of structure on offense.
Box score watching aside, Sykes also possesses an infectious energy that can’t be replicated. She is vocal in team huddles, assertive on the floor, and 100% locked in for every possession.
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An 11-year vet and 2021 WNBA champion, Stefanie Dolson is the steady locker room presence that every team needs. Dolson is the quintessential floor-spacing big. She nailed 46.5% of her attempts from deep in 2024, making it her second-best three-point shooting season in her WNBA career. Her ability to reliably hit the long ball makes her a viable pick-and-pop threat that opposing defenses have to respect.
On top of that, her ability to read defenses, find cutters, and keep the ball moving has maintained her status as one of the best high-post facilitators in the WNBA. While she might not be known as a stat sheet stuffer, Dolson’s impact will never go unnoticed. Her constant communication, sharp defensive rotations, and timely screens will make a lasting impression on Washington’s younger players.
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With Brittney Sykes’ presence in the backcourt and Stefanie Dolson’s presence in the frontcourt, the youth movement in DC will be in great hands in 2025.
How Will Sykes Impact the Backcourt?
Sonia Citron enters the WNBA as arguably the best two-way wing from the 2025 WNBA Draft.
Citron’s natural length and positional versatility make her a natural student for Sykes to mold and influence. With Sykes’ guidance, Citron could be the next All-Defensive caliber wing in DC. Sykes’ ability to recover on defensive switches, disrupt ballhandlers, and read passing lanes is the perfect model for Citron. Additionally, Sykes can help Citron improve her footwork, timing, awareness, and physicality as she adjusts to defending the elite crop of wing scorers the WNBA has to offer.
As a veteran, Sykes will set the tone for Citron with her intensity on the court and as a vocal leader off the court. As for Georgia Amoore, Sykes’ offensive presence will help make Amoore a better point guard suited to lead a WNBA offense.
Coming into the WNBA as arguably the second-best point guard in this year’s draft class, Amoore’s development will be accelerated alongside Brittney Sykes. For starters, Sykes’ ability to initiate offense, both in transition and off secondary actions, will prove to be an invaluable model for Amoore.
Additionally, Sykes’ awareness to push the pace, run the pick-and-roll offense, and create for others will show Amoore the elite decision-making required to run a WNBA offense. On top of that, Sykes’ ability to read defenses as a 5-foot-9 wing should help Amoore, who is a 5-foot-6 guard. Most importantly, as the likely primary ballhandler, Amoore will get to watch Sykes function at a high level without the ball in her hands, another key lesson to be learned.
With Sykes pouring into Amoore and Citron in the backcourt, expect Dolson to do the same for Kiki Iriafen in the frontcourt.
What Can Iriafen Learn from Dolson?
As the best post player in this year’s draft, Kiki Iriafen has the opportunity to blossom into the WNBA’s next high-impact forward.
While there’s no denying her scoring ability, athleticism, motor, or defensive presence, Iriafen could improve in the more nuanced areas of the game where Dolson thrives. While Iriafen is a more well-rounded scorer, Dolson’s floor-spacing capabilities will only heighten Iriafen’s scoring prowess. Moreover, Dolson will be able to prepare Iriafen for the day when she inevitably starts alongside Austin herself.
Lastly, timing is everything in the WNBA. While Iriafen’s timing on both sides of the ball is better than most, there is still room for improvement. After 11 years of constant improvement with defensive rotations and setting timely screens, Dolson has a wealth of knowledge and best practices to help mold Iriafen into the high-impact forward she has the potential to be.
Final Thoughts
When a franchise hits the reset button, it can suddenly seem like the sky is falling. Between all the new faces, systems, and expectations, uncertainty fills the air, and the future can become cloudy.
But in Washington, things are different. The Mystics don’t have to worry about building a new era on the backs of their young stars. They have two vets in Brittney Sykes and Stefanie Dolson, who will not only ease the transition for their rookies but the entire organization as well. They’re not just here to fill out a roster and be the glue that holds the team together. They’re here to impart wisdom and maintain control until the next generation is ready to take over.
Thanks to Brittney Sykes and Stefanie Dolson, 2025 isn’t just about what’s next; it’s also about what’s happening now.
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