Mystics 10-6 vs Dream 5-13
When: Sunday, July 21st, at 3 p.m.
Where: Entertainment and Sports Arena
TV: NBC Sports Washington, NBA TV
Injury
Mystics: Kiara Leslie – (Out, Torn Meniscus in right knee),
Dream: Tiffany Hayes (Questionable, Hamstring), Angel McCoughtry – (Out, Torn Ligaments in Left Knee)
Notes – Washington will attempt to sweep the season series against the Atlanta Dream in their final home game before the all-star break.
Atlanta is 1-7 on the road this season, with five losses coming by double digits.
Mystics -
85.4 - points per game
77.5 - points against
44.9 - Field goal %
Dream -
70.2 - points per game
77.8 - points against
36.8 - field goal %
Keep an eye on:
A Heavy Dose of Elena Delle Donne: is just what the doctor ordered when Washington host Atlanta. Delle Donne returned to action Friday night with a facial mask to protect her broken nose suffered in the opening minute of a loss to the Sparks on July 7th. She didn’t look rusty at all. After missing two games to recover from her broken nose, Delle Donne went off, scoring 28 points and grabbing a season high 15 rebounds to get Washington a much needed overtime victory over Indiana 95-88. The All Star game captain scored eight points in the final 1:22 of regulation which included a clutch step back jumper with 6.9 seconds to play to force overtime. It was a classic Elena Delle Donne performance.
Against the Dream, she’s been deadly efficient averaging 19.5 points and 8.5 rebounds on 64 percent shooting from the field. Expect to see an aggressive Delle Donne early and often in an attempt to have the Mystics avoid its first three game HOME losing since June of 2018.
Brittany Sykes: hasn’t had the all-star caliber season her talent warrants, however, that doesn’t mean she isn’t capable of exploding at any time and being a one woman wrecking crew. Sykes, after just posting 21 points over the previous four games in a bad offensive funk, exploded for 26 points against the WNBA leading Connecticut Sun. She’s a terror on the road, yet, Washington has done a great job of containing Sykes (6 points per game on 5-13 FG) in their previous two match-ups. Atlanta is desperate for wins and if Washington isn’t careful, Sykes can get going and make it a tougher night then it should be…..especially if backcourt running mate Tiffany Hayes is unable to play.