{
  "id": 3052967,
  "title": "The youngest team in WNBA history is making magic happen",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/the-youngest-team-in-wnba-history-is-making-magic-happen",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-24T15:06:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SB Nation",
    "slug": "sb-nation",
    "url": "https://www.sbnation.com/womens-sports/24481372/wnba-washington-mystics-shakira-austin"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "When the Washington Mystics hit the court, they might be mistaken for a college basketball squad. Their average age on the roster is a youthful 23.8 years old, making them the youngest team in the WNBA's history. Despite their inexperience and youth, the Mystics managed to secure a postseason berth after a thrilling 105-100 win over the Portland Fire on Sunday night. Veteran player Shakira Austin, 26, was the team's leading scorer with a career-high 31 points in the victory. Austin, playing her best basketball ever, averages 17 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game, solidifying her status as one of the WNBA's top big women. Austin scored a game-high 31 points, going 11-for-18 from the field, while registering 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in the contest.\n\nThe Mystics' success can also be credited to second-year players Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen. Citron, who has been a top defensive player this year, averages 16.9 points and 4.2 assists per game. Meanwhile, Iriafen is contributing 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. Together with Austin, they form the backbone of the Mystics' current run.\n\nWhile Austin, Citron, and Iriafen have been the star players, contributions from other roster members have also been essential. At 27, Michaela Onyenwere is the Mystics' leading three-point shooter, making 40.3% of her 3.6 attempts per game. Cotie McMahon, 22, is the starting point guard and has been a consistent presence, starting all 37 games. Georgia Amoore, 25, runs the offense as the starting point guard after recovering from an ACL tear last season. Lauren Betts, the 22-year-old No. 4 pick in 2026, adds 6.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in her 16.8 minutes per game. McMahon, 27, has also been a key contributor, averaging 6.8 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. The Mystics' recent victories include wins against Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, and Atlanta Dream, as well as the addition of veteran forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton after a mid-season trade. Head coach Sydney Johnson has instilled a defensive mindset in the team, which has led to them leading the league in rebounds per game (37.8) and having the third-best defensive rating (104.6). Despite not being a championship contender yet, the Mystics' trajectory is clearly on the right path. Austin believes the Mystics have yet to reach their full potential, stating, \"We want to be able to start peaking now.\"",
  "summary": "When the Washington Mystics take the floor, they very well could be confused for a college basketball team. The average age on the roster is 23.8 years old, making them the youngest team in WNBA history. Still, despite their youth and relative inexperience, the Mystics were able to secure a spot in the postseason with […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}