I love a battle between rebuilding teams. Both the Washington Mystics and the Seattle Storm made big swings in the 2026 WNBA Draft as they look to enter a new era. Now we get to watch all that talent on display to cap off our Sunday slate. Can the Mystics get above .500 and continue to surprise? Or will the Storm pull off the home upset?
Tipoff is set for 6:10 p.m. ET. The Mystics are 3.5-point road favorites with -162 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Storm upset is priced at +136. The game total is set at O/U 160.5 points.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Mystics vs. Storm game.
Mystics vs. Storm Preview
So far, so good for the Washington Mystics. They’re making a serious commitment to building through the draft, adding Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, Lauren Betts, Angela Dugalic, and Cotie McMahon over the last two years in the first round alone. Incredibly, 12 of the 14 players on their roster are in their first or second WNBA seasons. You’d assume that means a complete tank-fest, but the Mystics keep finding ways to win games.
Citron taking the star leap has been a major development. Drafted for her shooting and defense, Citron’s handle has taken a significant leap; she’s shooting a scorching 81% inside the arc. She has the look of a lead perimeter scorer for years to come in DC. Betts’ addition gives them a three-headed snake in the frontcourt; Iriafen, Shakira Austin, and Betts are a serious mix of size, physicality, and skill. The wing group needs some time, but Cotie McMahon has shown some promising signs in the early going. Washington still needs some time to put it all together, but the talent is certainly there.
Seattle’s rebuild was much less planned. Losing Nneka Ogwumike, Skylar Diggins, Brittney Sykes, and Gabby Williams in a single offseason is brutal. Luckily, they have good draft picks due to some shrewd dealing. Dominique Malonga joined them last year, with Awa Fam and Flau’jae Johnson joining this year. With Ezi Magbegor sticking around, they have the potential to field a lot of skilled size in the frontcourt, and defensive results have already been promising. The question of where the offense comes from is one they are in no hurry to answer. For now, they’re just enjoying some Flau’jae buckets.
Now we have a good idea what to expect from these teams. Who is going to come out the winner?
Mystics vs. Storm Pick, Best Bet
Seattle’s defense looks legit. But you can set your watch to their offense struggling: the Storm have not cracked 80 points in four straight games. Washington’s defense isn’t perfect, but their size and dominance on the glass will play a significant role in winning the possession battle. That will prove to be the difference in a road win.
