The Washington Mystics were busy making moves on draft night.
After selecting Iowa State star Stephanie Soares with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 WNBA draft, they moved her rights to the Dallas Wings in exchange for two future draft picks.
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The Mystics will receive the Atlanta Dream's 2025 first-round pick and the Wings' 2024 second-round pick in exchange for Soares.
Trade Alert 🚨 pic.twitter.com/qAtncGtexs
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) April 10, 2023
The versatile 6'6" big is the second center selected by the Mystics in as many seasons after they drafted Shakira Austin with the No. 3 pick last year.
With a potential logjam at center, the Mystics parlayed the pick into future assets in a potentially loaded 2025 Draft.
WNBA Draft Picks 2023: Live results, list of selections from Rounds 1-3
Soares only played 13 games for Iowa State this season after suffering a torn ACL in January, which is expected to keep her sidelined for the entire 2023 WNBA season.
In those 13 games, Soares averaged 14.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.0 blocks, while shooting 54.4 percent from the field, 30.6 percent from the 3-point line, and 66.7 percent from the free-throw line.
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The first-round pick from the Dream could yield an elite talent with the Atlanta franchise picking in the lottery in each of the past four seasons.
The Mystics originally acquired the No. 4 pick in a pick swap with the Dream in 2022, when they moved down from the No. 1 overall spot.
In exchange for the top selection, they received the 2022 No. 3 overall pick and No. 14 pick, plus the rights to swap picks with the Dream in the 2023 Draft, which was initially acquired from the Los Angeles Sparks.
Here's what the Washington Mystics and Mike Thibault have turned the 2022 No. 1 overall pick into (so far):
— Tyler Byrum (@theTylerByrum) April 10, 2023
-2022 No. 3 overall pick
-2022 No. 14 overall pick
-2024 Second Round pick (DAL)
-2025 First Round pick (ATL)
Following their early wheeling and dealing, the Mystics drafted two more players on the night, selecting South Florida guard Elena Tsineke with the No. 20 pick and Spanish wing Txell Alarcon with the No. 32 overall pick.
