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The Mystics’ game against the Aces was cancelled due to the Aces’ travel problems heading from Nevada to Washington.
OFFICIAL: Tonight's game between the Mystics and Aces has been cancelled. See below for all info. pic.twitter.com/DHx8zmBHKg
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) August 3, 2018
Because the game is cancelled, the Mystics and Aces will only play 33 games this season, which only complicates the playoff picture. Washington is currently fifth in the WNBA standings while Las Vegas is ninth and fighting for a spot.
The Aces had a rough 24 hours when they were waiting in airports thanks to delayed flights that lasted until the overnight.
Got a minute? @LA_Cruisen & @_BonnBonn registered to vote while waiting for our flight! https://t.co/FF3qpHS5p2 pic.twitter.com/hyiK0OrZAq
— Carolyn Swords (@CarolynSwords) August 2, 2018
Going on hour 7 in the airport. Hoping we can get this resolved. Not trying to travel all night with a stop and have to play a big game tomorrow #SOS #CompetitiveDisadvantage #LAPhotobomb pic.twitter.com/L6CP5goGUG
— Kayla McBride (@kaymac_2123) August 3, 2018
We can’t control the weather, but league can control whether or not player health will be put at risk tomorrow. Delays, cancelations & now taking a red-eye to get to DC @ 1pm. Aces will have been traveling for 24 hrs by the time we land. It takes less time to get to Sydney, AUS
— Carolyn Swords (@CarolynSwords) August 3, 2018
It’s 1:09 am and we are still trying to get on a plane...
— Vanessa (@kelseybone3) August 3, 2018
The Aces ultimately ended up in Dallas overnight where they were delayed again... apparently with an overbooked flight!
ELEVEN HOURS to tip-off, 2.5 hrs til Flight departs Dallas for DC #overbooked pic.twitter.com/t1TDhS1xCJ
— Carolyn Swords (@CarolynSwords) August 3, 2018
Earlier this morning, the game was delayed to 8 p.m. tonight to give the Aces some buffer time when their flights — FLIGHTS — from Dallas would land at Reagan National Airport in Arlington, Virginia at around 2:45 p.m. EST.
Aces guard Kayla McBride ultimately couldn’t hold back by the time the plane was heading to D.C.
No shoot around. No night of sleep. No beds. No food. Right now we will land in DC at 245pm that has us going straight to the gym bc of traffic and bags...and you want us to play? Oh ok.
— Kayla McBride (@kaymac_2123) August 3, 2018
Player Health is the most important thing. Our schedule is already so compact this year. Now you want us to travel all night with a stop and compete? #notToday #notEver
— Kayla McBride (@kaymac_2123) August 3, 2018
Well, I think this tweet by SB Nation NBA’s Whitney Medworth sums it up here very well:
the las vegas aces travel nightmare is pretty wild:
— Whitney Medworth (@its_whitney) August 3, 2018
-they all took separate planes
-they're unsure if the uniforms will make it or what they'll play in
-they'll hopefully arrive at 4pm for a game at 8pm
-this game has major playoff implications https://t.co/xgiA3PF6oM
It was a nice gesture for the WNBA to delay the game. But ultimately, the league should have cancelled this game when it was clear that the Aces wouldn’t be able to get to D.C. without a comfortable night’s sleep. It isn’t cool to see teams take red-eye flights into a layover city before getting to their destination where they aren’t warmed up — and at a higher risk of injury.
In an odd twist, this is also the second straight season where a Mystics game was cancelled or postponed. In 2017, their game against the Sun was postponed due to a roof leak.
The Mystics’ next game is on Sunday, August 3 at 4 p.m. EST against the Dallas Wings.
As for the Aces, they may get to be in Washington tonight. But they will have to take another flight or a train to head to Uncasville, Connecticut to play the Sun this Sunday at 12 p.m. EST.