Mystics 17-7 vs Seattle Storm 14-11
When: Wednesday, August 14th, at 8 p.m.
Where: Entertainment and Sports Arena
TV: CBS Sports Network, Monumental
Injury
Mystics: Kiara Leslie – (Out, Torn Meniscus in right knee), Kristi Toliver (Questionable, Knee), Ariel Atkins (Questionable, Neck), Tianna Hawkins (Questionable, Knee)
Storm: Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (Questionable, Knee), Sue Bird (Out, Knee), Breanna Stewart (Out, ACL)
Mystics -
87.9 - points per game
78.2 - points against
46.8 - Field goal %
Storm -
75.2 - points per game
74.0 - points against
41.5 - field goal %
Keep an eye on:
Ride The Hot Hands: of Emma Meesseman and Aerial Powers. Both have deadly efficient and have provided relief for Elena Delle Donne in having to carry the offensive scoring load. Meesseman has been off the charts during this home stand, posting 22 points on 73 percent shooting from the field per game, while Powers is averaging 16.5 points on 59 percent shooting from the field and 100 percent from the line and being a standout defensively. This opens things up tremendously for the shorthanded Mystics moving forward as they try to stay at the top of the standings.
Precise Ball Movement/ Ball Handling: will be VITAL for Washington against Seattle. The Storm leads the WNBA in total steals at 245 and utilizes the quickness of point guard Jordin Canada and Natasha Howard well in various defensive schemes. Both rank top two in the WNBA in steals with Canada averaging 2.4 steals and Howard averaging 2.2 rips a game. In addition, guards Jewell Loyd and Sami Whitcomb are both capable defenders, averaging 1.4 and 1.3 steals respectively. Against Minnesota, Washington had an unusual high amount of turnovers with 18, they will need to limit those to keep the Storm in check and ultimately secure another win.
