Mystics prepare for WNBA draft

The Washington Mystics have their work cut out for them in Monday’s WNBA draft.

The Mystics will have a selection in each of the draft’s three rounds, picking 11th, 23rd and 35th overall – the next to last selection in each round.

“We’re looking to take the best player available at 11,” said new head coach and general manager Trudi Lacey. “We’d like to get some depth in the post position, but not knowing exactly what players will be available at 11, we’re looking at the overall best player available.”
 
The Mystics also made a move before draft day, trading their first-round draft pick in 2012 to the Minnesota Lynx for All-Star Nicky Anosike. Anosike is a 6-foot-3 forward-center who averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per game last season.
 
“We are thrilled to sign a player of Nicky’s caliber,” Lacey said. “She will be an excellent addition to our team and give us the low post presence we have been missing. Nicky’s experience both at the collegiate and professional levels as well her skill set brings a dimension to our team that is unprecedented.”
 
Anosike is entering her fourth season in the WNBA after being a part of two national championship teams at Tennessee. She also was named the 2008 NCAA Woman of the Year for academic excellence and dedication to her community.
 
Anosike joins a Mystics team that finished first in the Eastern Conference last season at 22-12, but got swept 2-0 by the Atlanta Dream in the first round of the playoffs.  
 
The team played last season without its four-time All-Star and best player, Alana Beard, who was out with an injury to her Achilles’ tendon. This year, the team will likely be without Monique Currie, who is recovering from surgery to repair a torn ACL in her left knee.
 
Lacey, who was an assistant coach with the team last season, takes over a squad that has struggled to find stability at the head coaching position. Lacey is the Mystics’ 12th head coach in their 14-year history.
 
Lacey will be bringing her own style and philosophy into play as the team looks to improve under her leadership. Lacey’s plan is to emphasize defense and scoring in transition.
 
“We decided to go after young, athletic types. We have been very intentional about the players we’ve signed in the off season in terms of fitting into our system,” Lacey said.

The Mystics have also added forwards Bernice Mosby and Megan Frazee to their training camp roster. Mosby played for the Mystics from 2007-09, and is rejoining the team after playing in Poland.

Frazee sat out last season with a knee injury, but previously played for the San Antonio Silver Stars and in Turkey.