Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. Here’s what’s going on in the WNBA.
The Washington Mystics are suddenly tied for the last playoff spot.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Ned Dishman/Getty Images.)
Well, how things can quickly change in a shortened, compressed season.
The Washington Mystics have suddenly won three of four games after what was supposed to be a difficult stretch for the team. While that overtime loss against the Dallas Wings is going to loom and gloom huge over them since they are now tied at 7-13, their upset wins over the Chicago Sky, Minnesota Lynx, and on Thursday, the Los Angeles Sparks have given the Mystics that confidence boost and swagger that they had at the start of the season.
Myisha Hines-Allen has been a gem all season. Remember when she shocked people with her 27-point opening night performance? She’s carried that throughout her Wubble stay. She’s averaging 16.8 points and 8.7 boards and leading the Mystics in both of those categories. Myisha is definitely the frontrunner for Most Improved Player.
Against the Sparks, she turned in a sparkling performance to help upend the sizzling Sparks. She hit two clutch threes in the closing minute and a half of the game and made a fantastic assist to the now-surging Emma Meesseman to close it out. Like I said earlier, the Mystics are now 7-13 and it looked like it was doomsday for the defending champions last week.
This is an interesting scenario now. I would LOVE for Arike Ogunbowale and the Wings to do some damage in the postseason. Taking on Arike in a single-elimination game is a terrifying prospect; who knows how far she might be able to take the team.
But unfortunately, only one of the Wings and the Mystics can make the postseason. While the Mystics aren’t really going to have an earnest title defense, I’d like to see this bunch become a sudden Cinderella story. We were raving about how awesome it was when they started out 3-0. Reality set in as they lost 12 of 13 games after. But winning 3 of 4 in the last week or so has given them one last hope.
I can’t wait to see how this all ends. But I’m sure one of these teams don’t want to find out.
Bullet Passes
Angel McCoughtry went for 22-8-6 on her birthday as the Aces scored over 100 and actually shot a bunch of threes! In fact, they made a franchise-record 10 threes! What is happening?!
The Aces are playing the Sparks and the Storm in their last two games. That double bye is NOT guaranteed for them.
Crystal Dangerfield of the Lynx scored another 24 points as she makes her case for Rookie of the Year. It might come down to her and Chennedy Carter as Satou Sabally might not play anymore for the rest of the season due to concussion protocols.
The Indiana Fever have ended their long losing streak of 8 games. Thank goodness. Of course, it had to come on the expense of the New York Liberty, who have only won two games all season. The steady Candice Dupree scored 22 points for the Fever.
It’s not often I mention Kia Nurse on here but she’s actually one of my faves. Look at her with this pass through the pocket.
THE VISION from @KayNurse11 😳
📺 @CBSSportsNet | #BradentonArea pic.twitter.com/lzclfb8hj5
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 11, 2020
Double U Scoreboard
NY 75 (2-18) vs IND 85 (6-15)
LV 104 (16-4) vs MIN 89 (13-8)
WAS 80 (7-13) vs LA 72 (15-6)
Watch This Play
I like this crossover by Ariel Atkins.
The crisp cross AND-1 for Ariel Atkins 💪
📺 @CBSSportsNet | #BradentonArea pic.twitter.com/BQvcbFny2m
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 11, 2020
Them Mystics have risen from the dead!
Three more nights of regular season play for the WNBA. Stay safe in the Wubble!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
TNLP on FaceBook.