After logging two wins last week, the Mystics have muscled their way into the top four of current WNBA standings – coming in behind the Sparks, the Storm, and the Mercury respectively. Credit must be paid to Elena Delle Donne for the Mystics rise. Delle Donne earned her first WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week award for 2018 last week, her first with the Mystics, after averaging 27 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2 steals per game across matchups with Connecticut and Los Angeles. With Tayler Hill also back on the Mystics’actives list things are looking good in Washington.
Tuesday, June 26 (7:00 p.m., NBCSW, League Pass) vs. Connecticut Sun
The question for Tuesday’s game is which Connecticut team is going to show up. The Suns’ fall to the Mystics back on June 13 marked the beginning of a four-game slide for Connecticut, which they finally broke with a victory over Indiana on Sunday. However, back on June 3, the Sun routed the Mystics by 24 points when they faced off in Capital One. Tuesday’s game sets the stage for the tiebreaker.
Thursday, June 28 (7:00 p.m. NBCSWA, NBA TV) vs. New York Liberty
Thursday at home in Capital One marks the Mystics’ first pairing this season against New York. The Liberty have struggled this season, currently holding a 4-8 record and shooting a 41.7% field goal percentage. The Liberty will also make their way back to Capital One next week for a quick rematch against the Mystics on Thursday.
Saturday, June 30 (7:30 p.m. League Pass, Monumental) vs. Phoenix Mercury
With the Mercury currently locked in at number three in league standings, the Mystics’ final game of the week will be a testament to how well they can keep pace and battle to keep their place at the top. The Mercury also come into Saturday’s matchup as their third game of the week so it will be a testament to who plays best on tired legs. During his post-game press conference last week, Coach Thibault pointed to the Mystics’ victory over the Mercury back in May as their best performance of the season. All eyes on the Mystics to see if they can match that performance and get their second victory over Phoenix.