Mystics Lose Tight Affair Against Atlanta   (5-29-24)

By: Jaden Golding

Headline Photo Credit: WNBA

Washington D.C- The Mystics lost to the Dream 73-67 yesterday evening as they are now one game away from tying its worst start to a season in franchise history since 2007 when they began 0-8 to start the year. 

After the Mystics’ bad loss against Seattle Saturday night, their response in this game would be key. That they did. 

In front of a sold-out Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington (0-7) played one of its better games this season, attacking the basket, hustling on plays, losing balls, and performing an outstanding showing on the defensive end. 

At the end of the first quarter, Washington led 22-18 as Myisha Hines-Allen scored 6 points off the bench for Washington. 

In the second, Atlanta (3-2) would begin the quarter sloppy on the offensive end, turning the ball over on 5 of its first 7 possessions. The Mystics would take advantage of the turnovers and led 34-28 early on in the second. Julie VanLoo had great control of directing the offense with some slick pocket passes down the lanes leading to easy buckets. Washington’s ball movement was on display in the first half allowing them to create good scoring opportunities. However, Tina Charles had an effective presence scoring 10 second-quarter points and two Alisha Gray threes helped Atlanta reclaim the lead 38-34 into halftime. 

The third quarter was back-and-forth, as both teams would only lead as much as four points. Both defenses tightened up making it challenging for any offenses to get into their sets to create looks. Karlie Samuelson had an all-around effort, as she dished out some nice assists this quarter and had good pressure out on the perimeter defensively. Samuelson and Shakira Austin took over possessions running as a 1-2 punch. There were prime opportunities for each team to gain some separation but ultimately it remained a tied-up 54-54 game after three. 

Going into the fourth, the question was if the Mystics could overcome its fourth-quarter woes and finally come out on top. Washington’s offense struggled once again to produce in the final quarter, they created some good looks inside and from beyond the arc but they just wouldn’t fall. Coach Thibault talked about some early looks his squad had early in the fourth saying “We got back-to-back possessions great, made the extra pass, threes for example what we were looking for, and sometimes they don’t go in.”  Atkins helped hitting some early shots to give the Mystics a small lead. The key stretch in the fourth came at the 8:08 mark when VanLoo contested an Ariel Powers three-pointer that resulted in a foul. Powers went on to miss all three attempts at the line as Washington kept its 58-57 lead, followed by three straight empty possessions, and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus scoring a layup to give the Dream a one-point lead of its own. Moving forward the Dream led the rest of the way, with Gray hitting some key shots down the stretch and Parker-Tyus continuing her aggressive play getting to the line. 

Gray finished with an efficient 19 points shooting 7-9 from the field and hitting four three-pointers. Tina Charles notched her third double-double on the year with 17 points and 15 rebounds. 

Ariel Atkins shouldered the load scoring 21 points to go along with eight rebounds, two steals, and a block. Austin had 12 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on the night. 

I asked coach Thibault about how he liked his team’s response from Seattle against the Dream and here’s what he had to say…

Washington’s performance was without a doubt one of its better but they still struggled from inconsistency that continues to haunt them and prevent them from finishing games.

The Mystics head up to the Big Apple and face the Liberty tomorrow at 7:30 p.m.