Madison

Scott

Thursday’s game will be the fourth game in a row that Sheldon has missed since spraining her right ankle during an August 13 loss to the Valkyries. Without Sheldon unavailable, wing Lucy Olson will continue to get meaningful minutes off the bench. Madison Scott should also earn some minutes off the bench after she played in 10 minutes against the Sparks on Sunday.

Tuesday’s game will be the third Sheldon has missed since spraining her right ankle during an August 13 loss to the Valkyries. Lucy Olsen is available to play more minutes off the bench, and 7-day contract recipient Madison Scott is also available to play rotation minutes.

Sheldon appeared to tweak her right ankle during Wednesday’s loss to the Valkyries. While Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson said after the game that he believed Sheldon was fine, the guard will not play on Friday. The Mystics signed Madison Scott to a 7-day contract on Thursday, and she may play rotation minutes off the bench in Sheldon’s absence.

Waived by the Wings just before the start of the season, Scott is back in the WNBA on a seven-day contract. A second-round pick in May’s draft, the former Ole Miss standout reunites with college teammate Shakira Austin in the nation’s capital. During her final season at Ole Miss, Scott averaged 11.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.

Scott was the 14th overall pick in last month’s draft, and she’s the latest example of how difficult it is to make a WNBA roster. The former Ole Miss standout only played six minutes in each of Dallas’ two preseason games. Once Scott clears waivers, she’ll be free to sign with any team, but WNBA rosters must be finalized by Thursday, May 15.

Charles, the 23rd overall pick in the 2020 draft, did not play in the WNBA last season. Saturday’s preseason finale was her last opportunity to make a positive impression in a game setting, and the veteran wing had a solid night. Charles, a 38 percent shooter for her career, shot 6-of-11 from the field in Dallas’ two preseason games, totaling 16 points and eight rebounds. Fellow reserve Madison Scott, the 14th overall pick in last month’s draft, played six minutes on Saturday, going scoreless while grabbing one rebound. Rosters must be finalized by May 15, and the Wings open their season on May 16 against the Lynx.

Scott spent five seasons at Ole Miss, earning SEC Rookie of the Year honors in 2021 and being a three-time All-SEC honoree. In helping lead the Rebels to the Sweet 16, the 6-foot-1 forward averaged 11.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.0 steals in 29.4 minutes, shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 73.7 percent from the foul line. Scott is an athletic wing who defends well on the perimeter, and her playmaking ability improved throughout her time in college. She joins a Wings squad that’s going through a rebuild, with veteran scorer Arike Ogunbowale leading the way. Scott is one of three players selected by the Wings in the first 14 picks, including Paige Bueckers and Aziaha James.