WASHINGTON (7News) — The Washington Mystics’ youth movement has been one of the biggest storylines in the WNBA this season.

With one of the league’s youngest rosters, different players have stepped up throughout the year as the team continues to develop. Among them is rookie forward Cotie McMahon, whose energy and production off the bench have made her an important piece of Washington’s rotation.

And if her game doesn’t get your attention, her personality probably will.

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“I love to have fun, I’m a little loud, I don’t have an inside voice,” she told 7News Sports Anchor Natalie Spala.

The Mystics selected McMahon with the 11th overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. From the moment she arrived in Washington, she believed it was the right place to begin her professional career.

“I knew that this would be kind of the best fit for me,” McMahon said. “I knew that I could come here and make an impact and have an opportunity, but not only that. I knew that I would have an opportunity to make mistakes here and learn.”

That opportunity to grow has been exactly what McMahon was looking for as she adjusts to life in the WNBA. Her path to professional basketball began years ago with some encouragement from her mother, who wanted her daughter to find an activity outside the house.

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“I had an older brother so he obviously played sports, and I didn’t do anything, but she was just like ‘I’m tired of you being at home and not doing anything’ so find something to do,” McMahon said. “Then I was like okay, maybe I do like this. Maybe I do want to play this professionally and then got to college, and I was like ‘oh yeah, I love this.'”

That love for the game helped fuel a standout collegiate career at Ohio State and Ole Miss, where McMahon developed a reputation as a relentless competitor. Now, she’s embracing a role that allows her to bring that same toughness and edge to the professional level.

“I can bring to this team my aggressiveness, my edge, and just my toughness to get downhill. And that’s really all that’s needed from me right now,” she said.

As the Mystics continue building for the future, McMahon’s willingness to learn and her competitive spirit have made her a valuable part of the team’s young core.

McMahon and the Mystics return to action Friday night when they take on the Connecticut Sun on the road. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.