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The Mystics are on the second day of a two game west coast road trip. After beating the Sparks last night, the Mystics now face the Seattle Storm on the road.
After watching the Wizards and Spurs’ Summer League games, this is definitely a MUST WATCH GAME. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see it on television unless you’re in the Emerald City.
Game Info
When: Sunday July 8 at 7 p.m. EST
Where: KeyArena in Seattle
How to watch: Monumental Sports Net (for D.C. area streaming) | Joe TV (for Seattle area Mystics fans — WE KNOW YOU ARE OUT THERE) | WNBA League Pass (for Mystics fans worldwide
Injuries
No injuries to report.
What to watch for
Can Washington not let fatigue get to them? - The Mystics will play the Storm just 24 hours after beating the Sparks yesterday which is no easy task. They also would have had to travel overnight on a regular plane (WNBA teams don’t get to fly charter like NBA teams), check into a hotel, and get on a bus to KeyArena to warm up — all in some type of order. Focus is key.
D.C. looks to avenge their May 29 loss - This is the second meeting between the Mystics and Storm. Last time, Washington lost 81-77 but were without Elena Delle Donne. Kristi Toliver did score 20 points. But Seattle’s young franchise duo of Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd scored a combined 52 points. What also made that game tough was that the Mystics have a tough time winning at KeyArena, regardless of who’s coaching either team and regardless of how good the teams are.
Why can’t this game be on ESPN? The WNBA scheduling Gods probably assumed that the Mystics and Storm would be playoff teams. But I don’t think the Gods believed that both teams would be in the Top 3. If the standings hold and these teams don’t have major hiccups or an early playoff upset, the Mystics and Storm could be playing each other in a WNBA semifinals or Finals series this fall.
Though Washington area fans have to have a Monumental Sports Network subscription to watch the game, it is free if you are a season ticket holder for any Monumental Sports & Entertainment team (Mystics, Capitals, Wizards, Valor, Brigade). Otherwise, you will have to pay.
LaToya Sanders and Natasha Howard will be in a positional battle in the post - Both Sanders and Howard are posts who are new starters on their teams. Sanders replaced Krystal Thomas midway through the season and hasn’t looked back. Meanwhile, Howard is averaging career highs across the board after replacing long-time starting center Crystal Langhorne who is now coming off the bench.