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The Washington Mystics’ high-powered offense and depth was on full display against the Chicago Sky on Wednesday evening.
The Mystics shot 50 percent from the floor and converted 13 three pointers in their 103-85 victory over the Sky. It was the first time the Mystics scored 100 or more points in a single game since Aug. 8, 2018 when they beat the Seattle Storm.
“We were shooting the ball well,” Mystics Head Coach Mike Thibault said. “We have five players in double figures and everybody is involved in the offense.”
Aerial Atkins set the tone for the Mystics in the first quarter, scoring eight of the team’s first 10 points. The Mystics extended their to 16-8 thanks to a 9-0 run, which featured a barrage of three pointers.
Sky forward Diamond DeShields, who finished with 21 points, scored 10 points to cut the deficit to 27-25 at the end of the first quarter.
The Mystics’ bench came out firing on all cylinders in the second quarter, outscoring the Sky 18-8 through the first five minutes. Mystics led by 12 points midway through the quarter and never looked back.
The Mystics continued to shoot the ball well in the third quarter, leading by as much as 27 points.
Mystics’ guard Kristi Toliver was impressive throughout the night, registering 19 points, four rebounds, six assists and four steals. Elena Delle Donne had 12 points and 7 rebounds (five offensive rebounds), while Natasha Cloud and Atkins combined to score 23 points.
“We have a lot of good players and we are a really deep team,” Toliver said. “We share the ball really well and we get people in the right positions to utilize their skills.”
The Mystics’ bench tallied 43 points. Meeseman, who will be leaving the team to play in the European Basketball Championship for a month, had 12 and four rebounds. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough and Aerial Powers, who played in her first game this season, finished with nine points.
“They came in and continued to score, but got stops as well,” Donne said. “They changed the game and they have been amazing for us in the past two games.”
The Mystics, who won their second game in the Sports and Entertainment Arena, will be on the road to play the New York Liberty on Friday night.
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