Washington Mystics secure the first pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft
The Washington Mystics secured the top pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft which will be held next April. The results mark the first time in franchise history that the team Mystics have won the draft lottery.
“This is a great day for the Mystics”, Washington general Manager and head coach Mike Thibault said. “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.”
2022 WNBA Draft Lottery order of finish
1 – Washington Mystics (21-33 / 17.80%)
2 – Indiana Fever (12-42 / 44.20%)
3 – Atlanta Dream (15-39 / 27.60%)
4 – Dallas Wings (27-27 / 10.40%)
The cumulative records of the two most recent regular seasons (2020 and 2021) determined the lottery order. With a cumulative record of 12-42, the Fever had the most chances to land the top pick (442 out of 1,000) and were guaranteed at least the third pick.
The remaining draft order:
- New York (12-20)
- Dallas (14-18)
- Chicago (16-16)
- Minnesota from **Phoenix (19-13) via New York and Seattle
- Seattle (21-11)
- Indiana from ***Minnesota (22-10)
- Las Vegas (24-8)
- Connecticut (26-6)
*Dallas acquired Los Angeles’ own 2022 first round pick in exchange for Dallas’ 2021 first round pick and 2022 second round pick in a trade on Apr. 14, 2021.
**Pick exchanged as part of three consecutive trades on Feb. 10, 2021 that included Kia Nurse and Megan Walker moving from New York to Phoenix, Natasha Howard from Seattle to New York, and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan from Minnesota to Seattle
***Indiana acquired Minnesota’s own 2022 first round pick and Minnesota’s own 2022 third round pick plus the player contract of Odyssey Sims and exclusive negotiating rights to Temi Fagbenle from Minnesota on Feb. 15, 2021 in exchange for Indiana’s own 2022 second round pick
