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Game Info
When: Sunday August 9 at 7 p.m. ET
Where: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida
How to watch: ESPN2; Monumental Sports Network
Injury Report
Mystics: Natasha Cloud (Personal, Out); LaToya Sanders (Personal, Out); Tina Charles (Medical, Out); Elena Delle Donne (Back, Out)
Fever: Natalie Achonwa (Hamstring, Questionable); Victoria Vivians (Knee, Questionable); Erica Wheeler (COVID-19 Protocol; Out)
Pregame Notes
Mystics need to win. Period.
The Washington Mystics have to win on Sunday. After losing three straight games, the Mystics have lost where exactly they belong. From being 2019 WNBA champions to playing a season without majority of their starters, the Mystics started off the season making naysayers eat their words, but now as they sit at 3-3 many are beginning to wonder was the start of the season just an adrenaline rush.
Washington’s most confusing loss was on Friday night against the New York Liberty who at the time hadn’t won a game this season. The Mystics played sloppy ball and their shots didn’t fall per usual. The team wasn’t please nor was Head Coach Mike Thibault. In a postgame interview, Aerial Powers mentioned how they needed to find their identity and come out strong every game.
Now granted, Washington has already beaten Indiana in their season opener, but that’s not an automatic reason as to why the Mystics could win again. Anything goes. Another thing Washington needs to do is continue to feed any teammate that’s hot. An example in the New York game was when Emma Meesseman converted many back to back shots. Instead of feeding her, the Mystics were still trying to get everyone out of their shooting funk.
This game could also be as our site manager likes to call it the Belgian Super Bowl Part 2 between Meesseman and Julie Allemand. It could be but I bet my money on Meesseman coming out victorious.