With the 2024 WNBA season set to tip-off next week on May 14, teams are in the process of making their final roster moves to get to down to the maximum of 12 players. But due to salary cap restraints, some teams will carry only 11 players into the start of the season. The Washington Mystics pulled off a last minute trade on Saturday acquiring Jade Melbourne from the Seattle Storm in exchange for a 2025 third round WNBA Draft pick.
The Storm were facing a major roster crunch prior to the trade with the Mystics and Jade Melbourne was a player that was on the bubble. During training camp and preseason, Melbourne was competing against rookie Nika Muhl and second year player Kiana Williams for the Storm's backup point guard spot.
Melbourne was selected by the Storm with the No. 33 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft although she did not join the team until the 2023 season. Last year as a rookie, she appeared in 29 games for the Storm. She averaged 2.6 points per game, 1.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists with splits of 39.1 percent shooting from the field, 15 percent shooting from the three point line and 79.3 percent shooting from the free throw line.
A native of Australia, Melbourne is a member of the Australian national team and also plays professionally in her home country during the WNBA offseason. He addition gives the Mystics a look a promising young player during the final days of training camp.
Mystics heading into a rebuild
With the approach of the 2024 WNBA season, the Mystics are looking like a team set to begin a rebuild. Franchise cornerstone Elena Delle Donne opted to sit out the season after being cored by the organization during the free agency period. The Mystics also lost starting guard Natasha Cloud in free agency to the Phoenix Mercury.
With the recent acquisition of Melbourne, the Mystics now have 15 players on their roster and need to be down to at least 12 by Monday. Melbourne appears to be competing for the backup point guard spot on the roster.
The Mystics currently have Ariel Atkins, Myisha Hines-Allen, Karlie Samuelson, Brittney Sykes and Stefanie Dolson on veteran protected contracts. Shakira Austin, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and rookie Aaliyah Edwards are locks to make the team. That would give the Mystics 3-4 open roster spots to fill with Monday's deadline approaching.
The players vying for one of those final roster spots appear to be rookies Jakia Brown-Turner, Julie Vanloo and Kaylynne Truong in addition to Melbourne, Emily Engstler, DiDi Richards and Elissa Cunane.
Truong was the No. 21 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Mystics while Brown-Turner went undrafted. Vanloo has been a longtime overseas pro who is making her WNBA debut. She is likely competing with Melbourne for a backup guard spot on the roster.
The trio of Richards, Engstler and Cunane have varying years of experience in the WNBA. Richards last played for the New York Liberty during the 2022 season. Engstler suited up for the Minnesota Lynx last season. Cunane had a brief stint with the Lynx during the 2022 season.
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