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Mystics vs. Storm preview: Washington looks for chemistry in final home game

By Elle Ward
Emma Meesseman of the Washington Mystics posts up on Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm
Meesseman versus Stewart is always entertaining.
Ned Dishman, NBA/Getty Images

The Washington Mystics (17-15) face the Seattle Storm (14-18) Friday night. It’s their last home game and they need to break a three game losing streak heading into the playoffs.

Where and When Capital One Arena, Washington D.C. 7 p.m.. ET

Streaming CSN, League Pass and on NBATV

The last time these teams met, the Mystics had their way on June 27. They handed down a 100-80 trouncing. The Mystics starting five, Elena Delle Donne, Tayler Hill, Kristi Toliver, Tierra Ruffin-Pratt and Krystal Thomas all shot OVER 44 percent, with EDD throwing down a 70 percent showing and going 9-of-9 from the free throw line for 25 points.

The Mystics hit 10-of-24 from three while the Storm were 4-of-21. Overall, it was a poor shooting night for Seattle.

I don’t expect that on Friday night. What I do expect to see is Sue Bird become the All Time Assists leader in the WNBA, she is three away from that benchmark coming into this game.

So to break down the season, the Mystics are scoring 81 points a game, Seattle is scoring 82. The Storm is shooting a much better 47 percent to Washigton’s 41 percent.

The Mystics have a rebounding advantage 36-to-30 and we can squarely thank Krystal Thomas for that. Though she has gotten no national credit, she is a monster in the paint.

The Storm are averaging 18 percent more assists per game, at 19, while the Mystics have a 30 percent advantage in blocked shots at 4.7. (This is a great sign to me).

That said, this game is about grit and chemistry. The Storm have an advantage in that department, simply because they know each other better. The Mystics have equal talent, but their injuries and missed games have caused a lack of chemistry that has been on full display in the last three games, all losses.

Even when Elena Delle Donne and Emma Meesseman have hit on all cylinders, the rest of the team has not. If they are going to win this game, and their final one this season against the Lynx, that will have to change.

Someone will need to get “punched” and it can’t be the Mystics again.

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The Mystics also would like the fans to know that they are participating in the Hurricane Harvey relief by coming to the game: