After going 1-1 last week, the Mystics are gearing up for another big week. They’ll see the Chicago Sky twice this week, once at home and once on the road, kicking off the series at Capital One Arena on Tuesday. The teams head to Chi-town on Friday for a conveniently scheduled rematch.
Tuesday (7 p.m., NBCSW, League Pass) vs. Chicago | Friday (7 p.m., ESPN3, Monumental) at Chicago
The Sky are looking to bust a four game losing streak as they struggle to find their rhythm heading towards the middle of the season. There will also be a few familiar faces on the Sky bench – Center, Stefanie Dolson, logged three seasons with the Mystics (’14-’16), while shooting guard/small forward combo, Kahleah Copper, spent her rookie season in Washington back in 2016.
While the Sky may be struggling to keep pace, Mystics Coach Mike Thibault pointed to their dominance in the backcourt as well as their athletic wings as areas for concern for the two-game match up. With the Mystics’ roster finally nearing full health, Coach T is hopeful they will be able to match the Sky’s deep bench.
This week presents a golden opportunity for Washington to jump-start a positive run, but Thibault noted Monday that the Sky’s 3-7 record can’t be overlooked. Rookie Diamond DeShields has made an immediate impact for Chicago, scoring 13.5 points a game that are only second to leading scorer and veteran, Allie Quigley (15.5 points).
The Mystics will have to key on Quigley and sharpshooter Courtney Vandersloot, who’s shooting a remarkable 46.7 percent from deep so far this season. A game after the Mystics saw the Sparks light up the scoreboard from 3-point range, locking in defensively from the jump will be important in setting the tone for the two-game set against the Sky. And while knowing the opponent is important, the Mystics know that playing their game consistently is the biggest key to sustaining success heading into the end of June and beyond.