The Washington Mystics (10-6) lost to the Los Angeles Sparks (12-3). I have a lot of thoughts on this game, but let’s keep it positive.
This play below was nice to see from Kristi Toliver.
Kristi Toliver ♀️ ♀️ ♀️ ♀️ ♀️ #MysticsSparks pic.twitter.com/E8EONAJfWt
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) July 2, 2017
The first half of basketball was really lovely for the Mystics. Great ball movement, good defense, caught the Sparks off-guard.
by 17 at the half!#MysticsSparks #EyesUpDC pic.twitter.com/cnhk4trpeU
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) July 2, 2017
This was the first game of Emma Meesseman’s career that she did not start. Am I here to quibble about Coach Mike Thibault’s rotations? I could.
But I will limit it to this: why can’t a top player in form, play 35 minutes?
I just don’t know what they are being ‘saved’ for, or why the bench has to do more than it should.
No one on the Ms played 6 games in 10 days in EuroBasket like Meesse. They were chilling.
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) July 2, 2017
Elena Delle Donne had 22 points in 29 minutes. She did not see the end of the third quarter or the beginning of the fourth.
The BEST from @De11eDonne's 16 first half points to lead the @WashMystics in LA! pic.twitter.com/2TYTAdz4oh
— WNBA (@WNBA) July 2, 2017
And as a matter of fact, I just watched Emma Meesseman win games in EuroBasket 2017 against the top teams in Europe with under a minute to go, and she played 19 minutes today. You cannot exercise leadership from the bench.
And in her first game back @EmmaMeesseman has notched her 7⃣5⃣0⃣th career rebound!!#MysticsSparks pic.twitter.com/5VzOhqFdfd
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) July 2, 2017
Clearly, wins cover up flaws, but I have to note that Tayler Hill shot 0-11 last game in a win, and 2-9 today, in a loss. She doesn’t just disappear from the team, she ghosts right now. i expect a literal explosion from her in the next 4 road games.
I am not mad the Mystics did not win this game overall. But I look forward to what they can do.
The Mystics are a raw, unpolished team taking it to the reigning Champs. pic.twitter.com/s1PI0GMN7l
— Bullets Forever (@BulletsForever) July 2, 2017