The gruelling transition from the March Madness to the pros may have just added another to its list of the ‘affected’. After the exhaustion got the better of the likes of Cameron Brink and Caitlin Clark last season, it was Georgia Amoore who had to taste the bitterness in 2025. “Amoore suffered a right anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury,” the Mystics announced on day 4 of the training camp, and there came the hopes crashing down. Call it the worst kind of injury for a player, but the former Kentucky Wildcat doesn’t seem to be dwelling on it.
Georgia Amoore may still have had the training camp to win over to make it to the regular season roster, but she was pro-ready. “Georgia does not look like a rookie at all,” Stefanie Dolson says. “She came in the first day, was answering questions quick, was talking quick. So she looks really good.” But as fate would have it, on day 3 of the training camp, the Mystics’ rookie would tear her ACL and be declared out indefinitely for the season.
However, by the looks of it, the fact isn’t keeping Amoore down. WNBA analyst, Rachel DeMita, had a little snippet to narrate. This one was from her courtside experience while at the Fever vs Mystics pre-season clash, and let’s just say, the former Wildcat is still as invested in the game! May have even forgotten what the injury would mean for a while.
“I was unsure whether Georgia was going to travel with the Washington Mystics, but she did and she was on the bench and she was almost acting as an assistant coach, like she had a little clipboard herself; she was in the huddle with the players,” DeMita says on her podcast. Well, we wouldn’t expect anything less from the former Wildcat who prides herself “in being a connector.”
Given the nature of the injury, it is likely that Amoore would miss the season for 5 months in the least. But yes, that’s just one scenario if we are being hopeful. Consider Brink. The LA Sparks star hasn’t been cleared to make it to the court until mid-June– that’s about 11 months! Now, despite the disheartening possibility, neither Mystics nor Amoore seemed to have let the gloominess set in on the sidelines. Besides, she has already impressed her teammates, all but confirming her spot on the roster.
“What we’ve seen her show up and do is to be incredibly prepared to participate and really listen intently,” GM Jamila Wideman says. “She’s come in and wanted to listen to our vets… find her spots to be present and vocal.”
Given her up-tempo, chemistry with fellow rookies — Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron — and averages of 19.6 points on 33% shooting, the Mystics wouldn’t likely consider letting go of one of their foundational pieces. Head coach Sydney Johnson even spoke about waiting to watch her play in 2026. The timeline of her return hasn’t yet been cleared by the franchise, but she and the Mystics are “examining treatment and rehabilitation options,” according to a team statement.
It is a cruel position to find oneself in, but Amoore is evidently staying strong. While she recovers, the franchise has got a few things to figure out.
Who will make the final Mystics roster?
The roster cuts have already begun with the May 15 deadline fast approaching. The Mystics have already waived Jojo Lacey and Morgan Jones, leaving 14 in their training camp. Now it is unlikely that they would forego Georgia Amoore’s rights for the future while cutting her off the roster. So with enough cap space, the franchise is expected to add her to the regular season team, regardless of her contribution.
Only guard Brittney Sykes and center Stefanie Dolson have more than three years of WNBA experience so as many as five comparatively new faces could make the opening-day roster. Aaliyah Edwards, Jade Melbourne and rookie Kiki Iriafen seem to be the right fit for what first-year head coach Sydney Johnson wants to play: the fast-paced style of basketball.
“He wants to be able to score in the first eight seconds of the shot clock,” Iriafen told reporters after being drafted fourth overall on April 14. “So … I’m going to run that floor. That’s one thing I know I can do.”
Emily Engstler impressed in the preseason opener, and with Aaliyah Edwards likely sidelined for the first few games, her role will be even more crucial to start the season. Standing at 6’3”, Sika Koné also gives head coach Johnson additional frontcourt flexibility. Koné showed flashes of her potential as her minutes ramped up late last season, and she’ll be expected to build on that progress.
The primary uncertainty lies in the final two roster spots. Rookies Ashten Prechtel, Khadijiah Cave, Zaay Green, and Lucy Olsen are all vying for those slots. As of now, Olsen appears to have the inside track — the coach was quick to mention her by name when asked about standout youngsters in camp, signaling strong early impressions.
The Mystics have another preseason game against the Dream to go before we arrive at the season.
The post Georgie Amoore’s Injury Plight Takes A Back Seat As Eyewitness Narrates Heartwarming Scene On Mystics’ Sidelines appeared first on EssentiallySports.
