SEATTLE – All street wins are useful, however they’re not all fairly.
“The ball stopped shifting,” mentioned Mystics Coach Eric Thibault, who lamented too many wasted possessions. “Thought we simply had means too many possessions the place we tried to pressure the primary motion and went away from issues that had been working for us.
“We tried to make some home-run performs up and down the roster that we didn’t must make.”
Brittney Sykes scored a season-high 18 factors whereas Shakira Austin posted her fifth double-double in six video games with 15 factors and 11 rebounds. Elena Delle Donne, who wasn’t on the ground for the ultimate stretch run, completed with 11 factors and Tianna Hawkins added 9 much-needed factors. Thibault mentioned Delle Donne was feeling tight and didn’t really feel like she was shifting effectively. She shall be reevaluated Saturday.
“I’m being aggressive,” Sykes mentioned about her greatest outing as a Mystic. “Simply being aggressive simply creates a lot for our group.”
Washington shot 38.2 % from the sector and 27.3 % from past the arc in opposition to the worst scoring protection within the league. The Storm outscored the Mystics 34-27 within the second half after Washington managed simply 10 factors within the third quarter.
The Mystics basically gained the sport within the second quarter after they erupted for 27 factors. Consecutive buckets from Hawkins and Kristi Toliver began a 9-2 run that prolonged the result in 28-19. Washington then closed the half on an 11-2 run to construct a 46-32 cushion.
Right here’s what else to find out about Friday’s victory:
The Mystics got here into the sport because the worst three-point taking pictures group within the WNBA at 28.9 %. Issues didn’t begin off effectively as they opened the sport 1 for six from past the arc and completed 6 for 22.
Mystics rookie Li Meng had her most impactful recreation of the season as she slowly develops a consolation stage inside the league. She matched a career-high with 5 factors, had a career-high three rebounds and her first WNBA help in 12 minutes. Li delivered a cross-court skip go to Atkins for an open three that she missed, nevertheless it was the proper learn. Her first help was a nifty second-quarter go that led to a reverse layup by Austin.
“That ball hit her within the nook one time and that factor was up fast,” Thibault mentioned. “If we’ll see double groups, switching and rotations, we want that, particularly on the again facet when the ball’s shifting round.”
Seattle Coach Noelle Quinn inherited a group poised to compete for championships her first two seasons with a core of Breanna Stewart, Sue Chook and Jewell Loyd that went 38-24 in common season play. Now Stewart (signed with New York as a free agent) and Chook (retirement) are gone and the Storm are a group in transition.
“It’s a problem for me as a result of I’ve but to have a group like this,” mentioned Quinn. “The emphasizing, the teaching, the instructing, the reteaching of movie and all of these issues. Each single day issues and each single drill issues. And the repetition that this group wants is one thing that’s cool for me, as a coach, to undergo. Getting again to fundamentals.
“Typically you miss these steps when you may have a veteran group, however with the youthful group it’s a must to focus on each single element. And for me, that is pleasant.”
The Mystics face the Storm at 3 p.m. on Sunday, a recreation through which Seattle will retire Chook’s jersey.
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