Top Stories of the Week: Mystics are the hottest WNBA team, Wall and Beal go hard in summer scrimmages

Let’s check out how things are going in mid-August.

The Mystics are the hottest WNBA team right now

Last Friday, I wrote on Swish Appeal that the Mystics have players or coaches in contention for most of the WNBA’s individual awards. But I also don’t think they will win any of them. Elena Delle Donne is an MVP contender, but Breanna Stewart has a better narrative. Mike Thibault has a case to be the Coach of the Year every season, but Dream head coach Nicki Collen and Storm head coach Dan Hughes are first year coaches who helped their teams improve more in the win column. And Natasha Cloud is a Most Improved Player candidate, but Storm post Natasha Howard has a more dramatic statistical improvement.

That doesn’t mean the Mystics aren’t a good team. In fact, they’ve just used that as motivation to get on a franchise record eight game win streak when they beat the Los Angeles Sparks on a Cloud buzzer beater. That shot wasn’t just a game winner that gave Washington tied a franchise high 22-wins. There are just so many more meanings from it.

Here are some other things to take away from the Mystics this past week:

• Shea Serrano of The Ringer wrote this column of “Elena Delle Devil” wreaking havoc throughout the WNBA.
• Former Mystics guard Lindsey Harding will be with the Philadelphia 76ers this fall as a scout.
• If there’s one award Elena Delle Donne is racking up a lot, it’s Player of the Week awards. She got her fourth last Monday.
• Ariel Atkins suffered a hard fall last Sunday in a win against the Wings. She has missed two games in a row since then.
• Howard Megdal of High Post Hoops has the most detailed salary database of all WNBA players. Check it out here.

The Mystics play the Minnesota Lynx tonight at 7 p.m. EST. If they win, Washington will clinch their best regular season record in franchise history at 23-11. If they win and the Atlanta Dream lose, then they will clinch the second seed of the playoffs where they will automatically make the semifinals.

John Wall continues to work out in Miami, shows his new shoes

The Wizards are in the middle of their summer vacation. John Wall recently showed NBC Sports Washington’s Chris Miller his extensive shoe collection in Miami, where he is training this season. Wall showed his Adidas shoes in particular, since he re-signed with the German shoe brand last season.

Wall also took part in workouts where he matched up against Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier. You can watch the videos below from SLAM’s YouTube channel.

Ben Mehic also wrote last week about Wall’s need to increase his use of a floater. Wall gave an “LOL” so I’ll leave that to your interpretation.

Bradley Beal puts in work in the summer as well

Beal is now a father, but he still has to spend time perfecting his craft. He was seen balling against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker in summer practices as well.

And more links

• Ian Mahinmi spent time with his foundation and also opened a Steak ‘n Shake franchise in the southern Paris suburbs. Magnifique! Mais où est le site de Rouen, Ian?
• Aussi pour nos Wizards fans francophones, here is an interview that Mahinmi and Magic guard Evan Fournier gave to Konbini where they talked about style, and even Disney! Aussi magnifique!
• Kristian Winfield wrote about Kemba Walker’s thoughts on Dwight Howard as a Wizard.
• And former Wizards draft pick Juan Carlos Navarro retired after a long European career.

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