Mystics vs. Dream final score: Washington falls apart to Atlanta in first preseason game, 87-80

The preseason game was not televised, nor were fans in attendance and it was a good thing they weren’t. The Washington Mystics start off their preseason on a not so high note as the Atlanta Dream came in and defeated the Mystics, 87-80.

What started off as a great first quarter for Washington just turned into a terrible game overall once the Dream found their way back into the game and took over from there. The Mystics came into the game with the following five as their starters: Ariel Atkins, Natasha Cloud, Leilani Mitchell, Tina Charles and Theresa Plaisance.

Plaisance led the first quarter with seven points as the Mystics took a commanding 25-17 lead. Atlanta made some adjustments and came out blazing in the second quarter going on a 10-4 run to reduce their deficit. Shots just wouldn’t fall for Washington as much as for the Dream and it showed tremendously as once they took the lead, it just seemed over immediately. At the half the Mystics were only down by five as Atlanta led 44-39.

A factor in the Mystics loss was the fact the Dream got to the line a lot shooting making 24 of 28 free throw attempts. They seemed to be working Washington in the paint. Overall, Washington’s shooting was sub-par or below average.....just plain horrible. Mystics shot 41 percent as a unit and 23 percent from three-point range.

Atlanta didn’t shoot so well either but their shots just fell at the right time.

On the outside looking in it seems defense and the reserves needed a bit more help and push to take on a Dream team who just recently lost their coach.

Mystics will finish off the preseason in Minnesota facing the Lynx on Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.

Leading Scorers for Mystics

Tina Charles: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist

Jillian Alleyne: 10 points, 12 rebounds

Leading Scorers for Dream

Monique Billings: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 1 assist

Odyssey Sims: 13 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist