Joshua Valdez Articles - Page 2

The Washington Mystics’ first season under their new regime has come with challenges, but Kiki Iriafen’s development hasn’t been one of them. The No. 4 overall draft pick leads all rookies with 352 rebounds (8.6 per game) and a 49.3 field goal percentage, in addition to owning the rookie franchise record of 15 double-doubles and […]

August is typically the slowest part of the year for NBA fans, but the Washington Wizards’ faithful were spoiled this time. 2023 No. 7 overall pick Bilal Coulibaly and 2024 No. 2 pick Alex Sarr have gotten minutes with France in the EuroBasket tournament, while 2024 No. 24 pick Kyshawn George competed for Canada in […]

After flirting with a playoff spot for most of the season, the Washington Mystics (16-22) are unlikely to get in the dance with six games left. However, players like Shakira Austin are proving why they have one of the brightest futures in the WNBA. The 25-year-old reflected on her journey after notching a career-high 30 […]

The Washington Mystics’ new regime started hot by assembling the best rookie duo in the league this year. However, that led to them trading second-year forward Aaliyah Edwards to the Connecticut Sun, who made that move sting on Tuesday and Thursday. The Sun beat the Mystics 80-69 in D.C. on Tuesday before winning 67-56 in […]

The Washington Mystics’ All-Star rookie duo of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, nicknamed “Kitron,” has deservedly dominated the team’s headlines this season. However, Shakira Austin’s bounce-back is another vital development. The 2022 No. 3 overall pick is averaging a career-high 12.5 points on 46.6 percent shooting with 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.1 […]

Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen had a career day in Sunday’s 91-78 win over the Dallas Wings, but her All-Star rookie teammate Sonia Citron was the one trending on X, formerly known as “Twitter,” on Tuesday. Fans are debating whether the latter player deserves to win Rookie of the Year over No. 1 overall pick and […]

The Washington Mystics weren’t using second-year forward Aaliyah Edwards to her full potential this season, which was an unfortunate side effect of No. 4 overall pick Kiki Iriafen’s All-Star campaign. That’s why they dealt her to the Connecticut Sun for second-year guard Jacy Sheldon and a 2026 first-round pick swap hours before the WNBA Trade […]

All-star guard Brittney Sykes is the Washington Mystics’ leading scorer, but that arrangement never made sense long-term. That’s why the team dealt her to the Seattle Storm on Tuesday, two days before the WNBA Trade Deadline. The Mystics shipped out the 31-year-old for a 2026 first-round pick, forward Alysha Clark, and guard Zia Cooke. They […]

The Washington Mystics still have 17 regular-season games left, but they’re clearly better with Aaliyah Edwards (wrist) getting extended run. Washington is 2-0 when Edwards plays 20-plus minutes, and it won both of those contests by multiple possessions. Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson explained the 23-year-old’s importance to the squad after its 93-86 loss to […]

The 2025 Washington Mystics weren’t supposed to be .500 at the All-Star Break, but that doesn’t matter anymore. They’re tied with the Las Vegas Aces for the WNBA’s seventh seed at 11-11, four spots ahead of where WNBA.com ranked them before the season started. The media’s low preseason expectations of the Mystics were understandable. The […]

The United Football League (UFL) is still new, but it’s providing a platform for players like former New York Giants cornerback Deandre Baker to market themselves for the NFL. The 27-year-old helped the UFL’s DC Defenders win their first-ever championship in June, capping off a second consecutive productive season for him. Baker spoke to ClutchPoints […]

The Washington Wizards trading for veteran center Kelly Olynyk this summer made sense on paper, but it wasn’t a marriage meant to last. They rerouted the 34-year-old to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday in a move that builds upon their already-flexible financial situation. The full trade details are below: Wizards get: G Malaki Branham […]

This summer, the Washington Wizards have done what any team coming off an 18-64 season should do: overhaul its roster. Not only did they deal Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey to the New Orleans Pelicans, but they later lumped that with a Houston Rockets trade that brought them Cam Whitmore. The full trade terms are […]

The Washington Mystics started their new era shorthanded when No. 6 overall pick Georgia Amoore suffered a season-ending ACL injury in training camp, but she still contributes to the team in ways that transcend basketball. The Mystics went out of their way to make the rookie feel included while she rehabs, and she’s responded by […]

The Washington Wizards lucked out when the Memphis Grizzlies snuck in the playoffs this past season, as that allowed them to receive the latter team’s lottery-protected 2025 first-round pick from the Marcus Smart trade. Now, they have Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year Will Riley, who they drafted No. 21 overall after sliding back […]

The Washington Wizards were dealt an unlucky hand in May 12’s draft lottery, but their front office continues to prove its worth. By Thursday night, they turned the Nos. 6 and 18 picks into Texas guard Tre Johnson, Illinois forward Will Riley, Florida State guard Jamir Watkins, and two future second-round picks. The No. 6 […]

It seemed unlucky when the Washington Wizards drew the No. 6 pick on May 12’s Draft Lottery, but the board was kind to them on Wednesday night. After rumblings of a possible trade-up, they stood pat at No. 6 and selected Texas guard Tre Johnson, the best overall shooter in the class. The 19-year-old explained […]

Wednesday’s draft will be the second straight blockbuster event of the week for the Washington Wizards, as they traded veteran guard Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday. The former NBA champion wasn’t part of the franchise’s future plans, but they’ll have a different vision for whoever they get with the No. 6 […]

The Washington Wizards may not have a draft capital war chest like the Brooklyn Nets, but they have the resources to transform their franchise on Wednesday. They made their first trade of the offseason by sending Jordan Poole to the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, and they’re probably not done making deals. Washington wants to […]

The Washington Wizards re-signed sharpshooting guard Corey Kispert in October, but they don’t need him anymore. The 26-year-old is one of the last holdovers from the team’s previous regime, and this front office wants to build around its own draft picks. The Houston Rockets were interested in Kispert before they traded for Kevin Durant on […]

The Washington Wizards have a group of prospects they’re pondering picking at No. 6, but they especially like one of them. Although Rutgers star Ace Bailey could be available at that spot, they’re big fans of Oklahoma guard Jeremiah Fears, via Wizards insider Troy Haliburton. “To my understanding, there is no internal connection to the […]

The Washington Wizards are just six days away from progressing in their rebuild, but will they make the right decision? Only time will tell, but there’s a clear picture of who they want to take during Wednesday’s draft. A team insider revealed insight into the front office’s thought process, via The Athletic’s Josh Robbins. “A […]

The Washington Wizards didn’t luck out in the draft lottery this year, but they struck gold in their trade deadline deal with the Memphis Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings. They flipped Marvin Bagley III, Johnny Davis, and a 2025 second-round pick for Marcus Smart, Colby Jones, Alex Len, and a 2025 first-rounder that turned into pick […]

Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders is one of the greatest running backs ever, but his legacy doesn’t stop there. The four-time NFL rushing yards leader had a heart attack on Father’s Day in 2024, a sobering reminder of life’s fragility, even for sports titans. Sanders, a father of four, didn’t take the experience […]

The Washington Mystics followed up their best game of the season with their worst on Sunday, as they got blown out 89-56 by the Atlanta Dream at home. However, one bad day doesn’t undo the Mystics’ most important storyline of the season: the development of their rookies. After Friday’s practice, No. 3 overall pick Sonia […]

The Wizards got stuck with the No. 6 pick in May’s NBA Draft Lottery, but they have plenty of capital to move up from that spot. However, who they get might be surprising to some. Washington is reportedly interested in trading up for Baylor wing VJ Edgecombe, via NBA insider Jake Fischer. “One team that […]

Washington Wizards general manager Will Dawkins and team president Michael Winger had just taken over when they flipped Chris Paul to the Golden State Warriors for a package including Jordan Poole in July 2023. Almost two years later, Poole’s name is swirling in trade rumors, via NBA Big Board’s Rafael Barlowe. “Also worth noting — […]

“Rookie ball” isn’t an official basketball term, but it describes how the Washington Mystics are playing. No. 4 overall pick Kiki Iriafen and No. 3 pick Sonia Citron lead all rookies with 146 and 137 points, respectively, while the third-place players are tied at 94. That combined with Dallas Wings star and No. 1 pick […]

Winning is one thing, but Brittney Sykes and the Washington Mystics executed a beatdown of the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. The 2025 Unrivaled champion led the team with 28 points (6-12 FG, 2-4 3 PT) and six assists in a 104-67 home victory in Washington’s best performance of the season, and No. 3 overall pick Sonia […]

The Washington Mystics’ season has been a mixture of close victories and defeats, with two multi-possession losses to the 8-0 New York Liberty. However, their rookie duo of Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen is a constant force. The latter player opened up about being a go-to option in crunch time after Washington’s 86-78 loss to […]

The Washington Wizards weren’t blessed with the same lottery luck in 2025 as they were last year, but the front office can’t afford to lament over what could have been. Rather, they must utilize the No. 6 and No. 18 picks on June 25 to continue building their foundation of young talent. That could mean […]

The Washington Mystics knew they were getting a foundational piece when they drafted 2025 third-team All-American Kiki Iriafen No. 4 overall out of USC this past offseason. However, even the most positive Mystics fans might not have envisioned the 21-year-old starting off this well. Iriafen was named the WNBA Rookie of the Month on Wednesday […]

It was hard for Washington Wizards fans to avoid the feeling of despair when their team drew the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery on May 12, the lowest selection it could’ve gotten. However, the Wizards still have the capital to make draft day a fruitful one on June 25. Falling outside […]

The Washington Mystics suffered their first blowout loss of the year at home on Friday night at the hands of the defending-champion New York Liberty. However, No. 3 overall pick Sonia Citron’s latest milestone is another sign of a bright future for the team. The Notre Dame alum became the first rookie in the WNBA […]

It’s no secret that the Washington Mystics faced a shorthanded Indiana Fever squad in the city of Baltimore’s first-ever WNBA game on Wednesday night. Generational superstar Caitlin Clark (quad), who many of the announced 11,183 fans in the sold-out CFG Bank Arena crowd came to see, was out. Regardless, the Mystics still took care of […]

16-time Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Champion Joey Chestnut is the greatest competitive eater of all time, but he still strives for new heights. The 41-year-old will attempt to break his own world record for popcorn consumption at farm supply store Rural King in South Terre Haute, Indiana, on Monday. He’ll devour as much as […]

The Washington Wizards got dealt the worst possible hand they could’ve gotten in the 2025 NBA Draft Lottery, but Tuesday was a reminder that the franchise is still on a path to success. No. 2 overall pick Alex Sarr and No. 14 pick Bub Carrington received All-Rookie first team and second team honors, respectively. Sarr […]

It’s one thing to have a good season opener, but the Washington Mystics put the WNBA on notice with their 90-85 win over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday. Similar to their 94-90 win vs. the Atlanta Dream on Friday, veteran guard Brittney Sykes as well as 2025 lottery picks Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen were […]

The Washington Mystics couldn’t have had a more encouraging performance for their present and future than they did in Friday night’s upset victory over the Atlanta Dream. They won 94-90, and two of their three 2025 lottery picks were vital to the result. One of them was Sonia Citron, who tallied 19 points (6-7 FG, […]