Mystics Insider Blog

Guest Contributor – Andrew Willett

The Washington Mystics kept the good vibes going in its win over the New York Liberty at home. In the lone game of the week before a busy schedule, Washington improved to 3-1 since the All-Star break. Not only did the Mystics win its second game in a row for four wins in its last five games, but Elena Delle Donne (EDD) earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games between July 12-17 for her excellent play.

Now, the Mystics get a week off before three games next week to start a stretch run of four games in six days. Washington will hit the road at the Dallas Wings before returning for a back-to-back at home against the Seattle Storm in what will be Sue Bird’s final regular season games in D.C. The home back-to-back starts a three-game homestand with only eight games left in the regular season. Mystics fans can see their team at home just five more times before playoff basketball begins on August 17th.

Two-Time MVP for a Reason

After recovering from injuries, Delle Donne played opening day this season for the first time since 2019 before implementing a rest and recovery plan to preserve her body for the end of the season. As the season winds down and action continues to ramp up, so does EDD. She played in each of the Mystics’ last five games and seems to be peaking at just the right time of the year with the playoffs just around the corner.

She earned WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for three games played between July 12-17 by averaging 22.0 points per game (PPG), 8.0 rebounds per game (RPG) and 3.3 assists per game (APG) on 55.8% shooting (FG%) and an even better 53.3% from three (3PT%). She recorded consecutive double-doubles and earned the Player of the Week award, both for the first time since 2019. The honor marks her 24th career Player of the Week award. The Delle Donne post-All-Star break hot streak not only moves the Mystics to 17-11 and 2-games back from second-place in the standings, but it improves EDD to 8th in the league in scoring at 17.4 PPG and up to 6.2 RPG.

Avoiding the New York Sweep

Washington headed into a midweek game against the New York Liberty trailing 2-0 in the season series. While a series victory was impossible, Head Coach Mike Thibault and the Mystics entered the game determined to avoid a sweep. While Washington came into Camp Day at Capital One Arena focused, the team started slowly. The Liberty scored the game’s first 12 points en route to a lead as large as 13 in the first quarter, but the Mystics would not be denied in the early afternoon game. Washington tied the game at 23 in the second quarter, before halftime, before a 10-0 run. Since trailing 12-0 with 6:50 to go in the first quarter, the Mystics outscored the Liberty 59-34 over the next 26 minutes of play to win the game 78-69.

Eight players scored for Washington, including six with 6+ points and three in double-figures. As usual, Ariel Atkins reached double-figures with 16 points for her 26th game of 10+ points, tops in the league. She improved her average to 14.8 PPG while adding six rebounds and a steal. Myisha Hines-Allen was essential off the bench with 13 points and eight rebounds. Delle Donne made sure to make her mark as well, by tallying 25 points, three rebounds, and three assists on 8/14 FG and 50% 3PT% to add to her Player of the Week honors. She averaged 22.8 PPG since the break and 23.4 RPG in the team’s last five games and should receive major consideration for MVP at the season’s end.

The Mystics totaled 18 assists on 29 made baskets as well as stealing eight Liberty turnovers to win the turnover battle 15-11. In addition to outrebounding New York 35-32, Washington won the points in the paint battle 38-30 to improve to 16-5 when outscoring its opponents in the paint. The Washington defense also did its job as the second-best defense in defensive rating at 94.3, only 0.4 behind the Seattle Storm. The squad held New York to just 69 points, improving to 9-0 when holding opponents under 70 points.

Looking Ahead

The Mystics take a break after a one-game week. The six-day hiatus equals the longest break the Mystics received since before the season and the longest it will get until its season reaches a close. Washington will return to action in Dallas for its third and final matchup against the Wings. In two previous matchups, both teams came away with a win on the others’ home floors but the Mystics enter the game in fifth place at 17-11, three spots ahead of Dallas (11-14).

After the deciding game with the Dallas Wings, Washington will face Seattle twice at home in back-to-back days for Sue Bird’s final regular season games against the Mystics. Washington trails the season series 0-1 after falling at Seattle nine games ago on June 23rd. Since then, Washington holds a 6-2 record and will look to come away victorious against Sue Bird and in the 2022 regular season series with the Storm.