The Mystics are in a genuinely interesting period right now: the team drafted stellar rookies this year, has a solid bench, and their starters are strong — but there's a bit of a question mark hanging over Aaliyah Edwards' head. It's not necessarily a question that needs an answer (for now), but right now Edwards is clocking fewer minutes than potential Rookie of the Year Kiki Iriafen — and the newcomer has appeared to take her spot.
Edwards, who was selected as the No. 6 overall pick by the Mystics in the 2024 draft — the first pick the team had last year. She played college basketball at UConn and averaged a double-double all season as a junior, a tremendous feat at the NCAA level. She suffered an injury at the beginning of this season and missed several weeks of games, which gave Iriafen the opportunity to show what she can do — and the rookie didn't miss.
The Mystics picked up Iriafen as the No. 4 overall pick this year, just after teammate Sonia Citron, and since her first game with the team, Iriafen has made it clear she came into the league ready to compete.
Kiki Iriafen is putting pressure on Aaliyah Edwards
Iriafen is currently averaging 26.3 minutes this season compared to Edwards' 14.9. And again, injury is part of the math there, but it doesn't tell the entire story: the fact of the matter is that this is how basketball (and other sports) operates, and there's always someone else coming up behind you that can take your spot.
If Edwards is feeling any kind of pressure from Iriafen's role on the team — and there's no obvious indication she is — changes to the league later this year could offer a solution. The WNBA will add two new teams, the Toronto Tempo and a team in Portland, Oregon, and will hold Expansion Drafts for both this December. The Tempo and the Portland team will debut in the 2026 season, and will be able to fully participate in free agency next year.
The Toronto Tempo might offer a solution
Edwards is from Kingston, Canada, which is in the province of Ontario, and she attended prep school in Toronto. With that in mind, there's a potential solution sitting right in front of the Mystics: making a trade that benefits everyone.
This year's Expansion Drafts will be different from last year's because of a key reason: most of the league are about to be free agents, so teams are more likely to protect the players who can't leave, which includes Edwards (who is still on her first contract with the WNBA). So leaving her unprotected later this year isn't likely, but the Mystics could potentially trade Edwards for the Tempo's first-round draft pick next year (the draft order has not been established, but the Tempo will likely fall somewhere between spots 6 and 8).
Such a trade could create what can be framed as a great opportunity for Edwards in which everyone wins... especially since Iriafen is showing no sign of being willing to give her crown back. The Tempo and Portland's team will struggle to attract many marquee players during what will be an unpredictable and very competitive free agency, and Toronto could build a team identity around Edwards in the same way the Valkyries did with Kate Martin ahead of their debut this year. In other words, it could be a major win across the board — if it's one the team needs in the first place.