Top Stories of the Week: The Mystics are firing on all cylinders as the Wizards’ schedule comes out

Let’s catch up on what’s been going on this past week!

Mystics clinch playoffs, go for sixth straight win vs. Wings today

The Mystics have been on a roll since the All-Star Break ended. They’re now on a five game win streak (which includes a win by forfeit vs. the Aces) and are third in the WNBA standings with a 19-11 record. Last Tuesday, they beat the Phoenix Mercury to clinch their second consecutive playoff spot. When Washington gets to the playoffs, they will be playing games at George Washington University’s Smith Center because of renovations at Capital One Arena.

And last Thursday, Washington made easy work out of the visiting Seattle Storm who’s first place.

The Mystics are currently looking to get the second seed in the playoffs. The Storm have a 23-8 record and own the tiebreaker vs. Washington, so there’s that. But the Dream are just 21-10. If the Mystics win out with a 23-11 record while the Dream don’t finish with higher than 22-12, Washington will earn a semifinals berth without having to play at least one single elimination round game to get there.

The Mystics play the Dallas Wings later today at 3 p.m. EST!

The Wizards’ 2018-19 NBA schedule is out!

While things are heating up in the WNBA, August is generally a slow month for the NBA. But we got some news earlier this week as the Wizards’ 2018-19 schedule was released in full last Friday. They will host the Miami Heat on Thursday, October 18 at 8 p.m. EST in their regular season opener. It’s also the first time I remember the Wizards being at home for their regular season opener in consecutive seasons.

Washington will also have nine nationally televised games, much less than last season. This isn’t a surprise considering how disappointing the season was for them in 2017-18. But the Wizards have a knack for overachieving when people count them out, so that may not be a bad thing.

Check out John Wall’s second workout video

Check out how Wall is working on his physical movement and balance this summer and his reaction to those ugly USA Basketball picture memes in this video by BallisLife below:

Gilbert Arenas gives his side of the locker room incident

The former Wizards star talked about the bourré (or booray) game that led to the infamous locker room incident in an interview with Jon Gold of The Action Network. Arenas’ remarks corroborate at least some things what Caron Butler said several years ago as well. Thank God things didn’t get any worse.

And more links

• Ian Mahinmi played in the NBA’s Africa showcase last week. He also gave an interview to Inside Basket, a French basketball site about what he’s done this summer and his excitement about the Wizards playing in the NBA London Game this season. The link is only in French.
• John Wall did talk to DeMarcus Cousins about reuniting earlier this summer. But according to Ben Standig of The Sports Capitol, Wall is also happy that Dwight Howard is able to be in Washington since the Wizards needed help at the center position right away. Cousins will be out for about half of the regular season, if not more.
• And Standig also wrote about the John Wall vs. Marcin Gortat feud. Did they clash? Yes. Did Wall and Gortat yell at each other all the time though? No.

That’s all I have for the week. Enjoy the rest of your weekends everyone!