Mystics Begins Road Trip With Victory Over LA (7-2-24)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: WNBA
Los Angeles, CA- The Washington Mystics kicked off its 4-game road trip with an 82-80 victory against the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena.
Washington (5-15) trailed a good chunk of the game, but Shatori Walker Kimbrough had a big fourth-quarter performance to spark the Mystics comeback victory over Los Angeles (4-15).
The Sparks led by 14 within the first minute of the final quarter. D.C responded with a 14-0 run to tie the game at 66 after a Jade Melbourne driving contested layup off the glass.
Both teams would trade baskets over the next two minutes. LA led 74-72 with 3:12 on the clock before Stefanie Dolson set a high screen to free up Walker-Kimbrough for a straightaway three at the top of the key to give the Mystics its first lead since the first quarter.
Kia Nurse responded with a big-time three-pointer putting LA back on top by two before Myisha Hines-Allen found a wide-open Ariel Atkins to knot things up 77-77.
With 1:18 remaining, Walker-Kimbrough ran a nice pick-and-roll set to drop a nice pass over the head of the Los Angeles defender down to Dolson for a nice-and-one opportunity. Dolson made the free-throw attempt to give Washington a three-point lead.
Walker-Kimbrough would pick off Nurse’s pass on the potential tying possession for LA and was fouled. Shatori split the free throw attempts to give D.C. an 81-77 lead with 17 seconds remaining.
LA was called for an illegal screen on its next offensive possession all but ending any potential chance for a comeback.
All-Star Dearica Hamby continues her amazing career season flirting with a triple-double performance by producing 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Stephanie Dalbot, rookie Rickea Jackson, and Aari McDonald finished with double-digit scoring.
Walker-Kimbrough scored 10 of her total 17 points in the fourth while also hitting three 3-pointers, adding four assists and two steals off the bench.
Julie Vanloo scored 15 points, and Atkins and Hines-Allen added 12 and 16 respectively with Dolson nearing a double-double with 10 points and 8 rebounds.
Washington heads to Las Vegas for a rematch of last Saturday’s game with the defending champs looking to pick up their second-straight road win.
