Washington Mystics 2025 WNBA Season Preview: TV Channel, Start Time, Schedule

The rebuilding Washington Mystics enter 2025 in a quest to figure out what the future of this roster looks like. Here’s how you can watch the team.

The Washington Mystics enter the 2025 season formally starting a new era of basketball. After Elena Delle Donne sat out the 2024 season she formally announced her retirement from basketball in April this year. 

This season begins without the former MVP who took Washington to both of the franchises finals appearances. This new era begins with first year head coach Sydney Johnson and a roster that features just two players with more than three years experience in the WNBA. It is time for a fresh start in Washington.

How to Watch Washington Mystics All Season Long

The WNBA season begins off with a triple-header on Friday, May 16. The first game in that triple-header sees Washington host Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream on ION. That is the first of 14 games on National TV for Washington this season that can all be streamed on FuboTV.

Live stream the 2025 Washington Mystics season on Fubo: Start with your free trial today!

Washington Mystics 2024 Season Recap

Last season saw Washington miss the playoffs for the first time in three years and only the 12th time in franchise history. They ended the season a dismal 14-26, but also just one game out of the playoffs.

Ariel Atkins led the team in scoring with 14.9 points per game and rookie Julie Vanloo led the team with 4.3 assists per game. Rookie Aaliyah Edwards started 17 games finishing with three double-doubles averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

As a team Washington finished ninth in points per game (79.3) and seventh in points allowed per game (82.3). They were nowhere near the worst team in the league, but also considerably behind the teams that made the playoffs without a star player leading the way. All of that led to Washington earning the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft.

Washington Mystics 2025 Season Outlook/Stories To Watch

Sydney Johnson enters the season as one of eight new head coaches in the WNBA. He spent last season as an assistant coach for the Chicago Sky before earning this role. Of the eight new head coaches in the WNBA, Johnson is the least experienced in women’s basketball. He spent 12 seasons as a head coach in men’s college basketball between Princeton and Fairfield with stops as an assistant for Georgetown and Air Force before pivoting to the WNBA in 2024 as an assistant on the Sky. 

The Elena Delle Donne Era is officially over. Who is the next star of the franchise? Shakira Austin has shown flashes of being a great player on both ends of the floor. Edwards proved she is a strong connective piece, but maybe not a star on the rise. Rookie Kiki Iriafen became a star over her last two seasons in college between Stanford and USC averaging 18.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game on 51.9% shooting. Her fellow rookie teammate Sonia Citron is another strong connective player who does everything well for winning teams. Or maybe that player is not on the roster heading into this season.

How many front-court players can Washington play this season? In a league dominated by A’ja Wilson, Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, having a strong rotation of frontcourt players is essential to contend in the modern WNBA. Washington has plenty of options from Austin and Edwards to Emily Engstler and Stefanie Dolson returning from last season along with Iriafen joining the team as a rookie.

Will Washington have a shot at the number one overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft? The draft system in the WNBA is based on a two-season combined record. Not just the current season. After winning 14 games last year Washington just needs to be six games worse than the Los Angeles Sparks, five games worse than the Dallas Wings and one game worse than the Chicago Sky who all project to be significantly better.

Washington Mystics Arrivals and Departures

Last season Washington finished third in the league in assists per game. They shared the ball as well as any team in the league. Heading into this season four of the top six playmakers are on new teams.

Atkins was traded to the Chicago Sky in exchange for the third overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft. That pick became Sonia Citron, who starred with Notre Dame. Julie Vanloo was selected by the Golden State Valkyrie in the expansion draft and Karlie Samuelson was traded to the Minnesota Lynx for a 2026 first round pick.

Washington supplemented those losses by drafting Citron, Iriafen, Georgia Amoore (Kentucky), Lucy Olson (Iowa) and Zaay Green (Alabama).

Washington Mystics 2025 Schedule

DATE	OPPONENT	TIME (EST)	NETWORK
Fri, May 16	vs Dream	7:30 PM	ION
Sun, May 18	at Sun	1:00 PM	—
Wed, May 21	at Valkyries	10:00 PM	—
Fri, May 23	at Aces	10:00 PM	ION
Sun, May 25	at Mercury	6:00 PM	—
Wed, May 28	vs Fever	7:30 PM	NBA TV
Fri, May 30	vs Liberty	7:30 PM	ION
Tue, Jun 03	at Fever	7:00 PM	NBA TV
Thu, Jun 05	vs Liberty	7:30 PM	—
Sun, Jun 08	vs Sun	3:00 PM	—
Sun, Jun 15	vs Dream	2:00 PM	CBS Sports Network
Tue, Jun 17	at Sky	8:00 PM	—
Fri, Jun 20	at Dream	7:30 PM	ION
Sun, Jun 22	vs Wings	3:00 PM	—
Tue, Jun 24	vs Lynx	8:00 PM	—
Thu, Jun 26	at Aces	10:00 PM	—
Sat, Jun 28	at Wings	8:00 PM	—
Thu, Jul 03	at Lynx	8:00 PM	—
Tue, Jul 08	vs Sky	11:30 AM	—
Thu, Jul 10	vs Aces	7:30 PM	—
Sun, Jul 13	at Storm	6:00 PM	—
Tue, Jul 15	at Sparks	10:00 PM	—
Tue, Jul 22	vs Sparks	7:30 PM	—
Sat, Jul 26	vs Storm	7:30 PM	—
Sun, Jul 27	vs Mercury	6:00 PM	—
Tue, Jul 29	vs Sky	7:30 PM	—
Thu, Jul 31	vs Valkyries	7:30 PM	—
Sun, Aug 03	at Dream	3:00 PM	—
Tue, Aug 05	at Sky	8:00 PM	—
Fri, Aug 08	at Lynx	7:30 PM	ION
Sun, Aug 10	at Wings	4:00 PM	CBS Sports Network
Wed, Aug 13	vs Valkyries	7:30 PM	—
Fri, Aug 15	at Fever	7:30 PM	ION
Sun, Aug 17	vs Sparks	3:00 PM	—
Tue, Aug 19	vs Sun	7:30 PM	—
Thu, Aug 21	at Sun	7:00 PM	—
Sat, Aug 23	vs Aces	3:00 PM	—
Sun, Aug 24	vs Storm	3:00 PM	—
Thu, Aug 28	at Liberty	7:00 PM	—
Sat, Aug 30	at Valkyries	8:30 PM	—
Sun, Aug 31	at Sparks	8:00 PM	—
Thu, Sep 04	vs Mercury	7:30 PM	—
Sun, Sep 07	vs Fever	3:00 PM	NBA TV
Tue, Sep 09	at Liberty	7:00 PM	—

Live stream the 2025 Washington Mystics season on Fubo: Start with your free trial today!

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