The Washington Mystics (3-2), who are in second place in the Eastern Conference, will face the Connecticut Sun at home for the first time this season on Wednesday.
The Mystics won the season series against the Sun, 2-1 last year. However, the Sun has the better overall record against the Mystics as they hold a 33-21 record.
The Mystics are coming off a 88-79 victory over the Chicago Sky last Friday. Forward Elena Delle Donne paced the Mystics with 20 points on 7-13 shooting. Donne, who was traded to the Mystics during the offseason, is third in the WNBA in scoring with 21.2 points per game. She has scored 20 or more in two of the last three games.
Taylor Hill scored 19 points, while going 6-6 from the free throw line. The Mystics managed to outrebound the Sky 39-32, which is something Head Coach Mike Thibault has emphasized.
“One of our goals was to be a better rebounding team, and we’ve been consistent about that since the start of the season,” Thibault said. “I don’t even look at numbers, I look at offensive and defensive rebound percentage, and right now we’re leading the league.”
The Mystics played solid defense against the Sky especially in the third quarter when they held the Sky to eight points But, the Mystics didn’t carry the same intensity into the fourth.
“We challenge ourselves to get three stops in a row as many times as possible, so it was just a defensive focus throughout the game,” Mystics center Krystal Thomas said. “Obviously we were a little lax in the fourth, but overall we did some good things on the defensive end.”
The Sun dropped the first four games of the season before earning their first win of the season against the Sky on Sunday. The Sun are averaging 79.2 points per game this season, while committing 13.6 turnovers.
Sun rookie Brionna Jones will be facing her former University of Maryland teammate Shatori Walker-Kimbrough for the first time. Jones, and Walker-Kimbrough are two of five players that played for the Terps. Mystics’ Kristi Toliver and Tianna Hawkins spent time in College Park. Sun forward Alyssa Thomas also played for Maryland.
Mystics starting lineup:
Inside The Locker Room 