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The Washington Mystics (7-13) are facing the New York Liberty (2-18) Saturday afternoon.
Game Info
When: Saturday, September 12 at 12 p.m. ET
Where: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida
How to watch: NBATV, Fox Sports GO (New York) NBC Sports Washington, TSN5
Injury Report
Mystics: Natasha Cloud (Personal, Out); LaToya Sanders (Personal, Out); Tina Charles (Medical, Out); Elena Delle Donne (Back, Out); Aerial Powers (Hamstring, Out); Stella Johnson (Ankle, Out); Tianna Hawkins (Ankle, Questionable)
Liberty: Layshia Clarendon (Back, Questionable); Sabrina Ionescu (Ankle, Out); Asia Durr (Out)
Pregame notes
The Mystics, who have struggled this season due injuries and top players sitting out, are looking to finish the season strong in hopes of landing the last playoff spot. Right now, they are listed as #9 in WNBA standings. Washington is right behind the Dallas Wings, who also hold a 7-13 regular season record.
In their first matchup of the season on Aug. 7, New York beat Washington 74-66. Kia Nurse led her team with 17 points while Amanda Zahui B. and Layshia Clarendon added 14 points each. Back then, the Mystics were led by a healthy Aerial Powers, who posted a team-high 20 points. Messeeman followed with 17 points. Washington was outscored in each quarter except for the third. That win for New York was their first for the season and have gone on only to win one other game this season, which was against the Chicago Sky a few weeks ago.
The Mystics are having a great playing week and are looking to end their regular season on a high note. They’ve won games against playoff-bound teams, the Lynx and the Sparks, in the past several days and everything that could go wrong would have to go wrong for them to lose to New York. Myisha Hines-Allen, who is having the best season of her career, put up 26 points against the Lynx and then 30 points against the Sparks this week. If she can continue to build off of those performances her team is in a better position to win. Hines-Allen cannot do it alone. Emma Meesseman, Leilani Mitchell, and Ariel Atkins are going to be ready and do whatever it takes to win and ultimately secure that #8 playoff spot.