Game Info
Verizon Center | 7pm | Watch: Monumental Sports Network | #MysticsStarWars Tickets
Probable Starters:
Mystics: G – Cloud, G – Hill, F – Ruffin-Pratt, F – Meesseman, C – Dolson
Lynx: G – Whalen, G – Augustus, F – Moore, F – Brunson, C – Fowles
Bringing Momentum Home
The Mystics won their second straight road game on Wednesday night in Dallas, downing the Wings 87-79 behind a season-high 23 points from Emma Meesseman. The team improved to 4-2 on the road this season, tying them with Atlanta and Minnesota for the second most road wins in the league.
However, despite the impressive start on the road, the ‘Stics will be searching for their first home win of the season after an 0-4 start at Verizon Center. They haven’t played at home since June 1st, but will play six of their next seven games in their building.
Meesseman increased her scoring average on the three game road trip, averaging 17.0 ppg and has now scored in double figures in nine straight games. She also recorded her third double-double of the season on Wednesday night after finishing with three all of last season.
“She’s been more aggressive, we’re trying to challenge her to get 13 or 14 shots per game,” said her head coach Mike Thibault.
“She’s shooting from outside, she’s posting up, I think there’s a recognition by her that she’s a go-to scorer and it’s changed her whole demeanor,” Thibault continued.
If the Mystics want to be a playoff team, they’ll need Meesseman to play at that all-star level she showed in Wednesday night’s win.
Success Against Lynx
The Mystics beat the Lynx in both meetings last season, joining the New York Liberty as the only two teams who swept the 2015 WNBA champion Lynx during the regular season.
Last year’s series was a home-and-home, where the Mystics first beat the Lynx by eight at Verizon Center and then three days later blew them out by 18 at the Target Center.
While it didn’t count for anything in the standings, the Mystics also beat the Lynx in each of the last two preseasons, which makes four straight wins over one of the league’s premiere teams.
In most cases, the undefeated team coming off a WNBA championship would be the targeted team, but this is a rare case where the Lynx may be entering Washington with a little bit of payback on their minds.
“It’s funny, usually it would be the other way around, I feel like we have a little bit of a target on us, but I think that’s kind of a good challenge. I think one of the nice things is there are teams that despite their record, you respect them, but you don’t fear them. They are really good and they are the defending champs, but our players don’t walk around in awe of them at all and I think that’s what you need to have if you want to improve as a team,” said Thibault.
Lynx Undefeated
The Lynx bring a 9-0 record to DC on Saturday and are coming off a game in which they scored 110 points in Atlanta on Friday night. The team shot 55% last night and had six players in double figures, led by Maya Moore’s 19 points. They pulled off a 32 point win without their all-star Seimone Augustus, who’s expected to play tonight in DC.
Minnesota does most of their scoring inside the arc and rank third in the league in field goal percentage 46.7%. They rank 10th in 3-point field goal attempts per game (12.5) and shoot it at just 31% from the perimeter, but lead the WNBA in points in the paint and keeping them away from the rim will be a focus for the Mystics tonight.
The action tips off at 7pm at Verizon Center.