Washington Mystics vs Las Vegas Aces Preview

Mystics  vs Aces

When: Thursday, July 10th, at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Eaglebank Arena, Fairfax, VA

TV: Prime Video

Injury

Mystics: Georgia Amoore (Out for the Season/ACL)

Aces: A'ja Wilson (Out/ Right Wrist), Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (Pregnancy-NWT)

Keep An Eye on: 

Free Throw Shooting: Free throw shooting is non-negotiable for the Mystics, especially coming off a narrow win against the Sky where they shot just 54.8% (17-31) from the line. Shakira Austin’s 5-13 performance was an outlier, but overall, the team left too many points on the board. In a league where margins are slim and every possession matters, Washington simply has to convert at the line. No need to overthink it—make free throws, win games.

Attack the Paint: relentlessly!! Tonight presents a major opportunity for the Washington Mystics with Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson sidelined due to a wrist injury. Wilson anchors the Aces' interior defense, contributing 2.4 of the team’s 4.6 blocks per game—meaning her absence significantly softens the rim protection. This opens the door for Washington to capitalize in the paint, an area where they already excel. The Mystics boast three of the league’s top 20 paint scorers: Shakira Austin (12th, 8.3 PPG), rookie KiKi Iriafen (14th, 7.5 PPG), and Brittney Sykes (19th, 6.9 PPG). With Sykes’ slashing ability and the frontcourt depth Washington has, attacking the interior should be a focal point. If they can consistently impose their will in the paint, it could be the key to securing a critical win tonight.