The Washington Mystics (3-2) are taking on the New York Liberty (0-5) for the first time this season.

Game Info

When: Friday, August 7 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida

How to watch: ESPN2; WNBA League Pass

Injury Report

Mystics: Natasha Cloud (Personal, Out); LaToya Sanders (Personal, Out); Tina Charles (Medical, Out); Elena Delle Donne (Back, Out), Tianna Hawkins (Questionable)

Liberty: Sabrina Ionescu (Ankle, Out), Asia Durr (Medical, Out)

Game Notes

New York is without their young duo Sabrina Ionescu and Asia Durr

New York has not won a game this season and is without Ionescu, the first pick of the 2020 WNBA Draft and Durr, the second overall pick from last year’s draft.

Durr will not participate this season as she recovers from the coronavirus. Additionally, the team is without Ionescu after she suffered a Grade 3 ankle sprain last Friday against the Atlanta Dream. In the game before she got injured, the rookie showed out, putting up an impressive 33 points, 7 assists, and 7 rebounds in just the second game of her WNBA career.

Ariel Atkins, Aerial Powers, and Myisha Hines-Allen are leading at the start of the season

Hines-Allen, Atkins, and Powers are taking advantage of their opportunities this season to lead the Mystics after several players announced they would be sitting out this season.

The trio has been effective, especially in the front court, as they lead Washington in points per game. Hines-Allen is the Mystics’ leading scorer with 17.6 points per game while Atkins and Powers are averaging 16.8 and 15.6 points per game respectively.

Don’t sleep on EmmaMeesseman

Meesseman had been off to a slow start this season with her scoring output until last Tuesday when she scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds against the Las Vegas Aces.

The 2019 WNBA Finals MVP reminded us that she can dominate and after that performance every team should be on alert after a rather slow start scoring-wise. The season is young and Meesseman is just getting started.