The Washington Mystics would possibly simply be the most popular group within the WNBA.
They’ve received seven straight video games, and so they’ve carried out so towards legit competitors, tallying wins towards the Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings (twice), and the Atlanta Dream.
Underneath head coach Sydney Johnson, it’s been a full-team effort headlined by younger, overachieving expertise. Second-year guard Sonia Citron is averaging 17.1 factors, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per sport, whereas establishing herself as among the finest wing defenders within the WNBA. Kiki Iriafen (15 factors, 9 rebounds) and Shakira Austin (16.2 factors, 9.6 rebounds) have anchored the frontcourts, and each have established themselves among the many league’s elite bigs.
Michaela Onyenwere is chipping in 9.6 factors per sport whereas taking pictures a team-best 41.9% from three, and Cotie McMahon has turn out to be a breakthrough contributor off the bench, averaging 6.9 factors per sport.
The Mystics have a clear id. They possess the WNBA’s second-best defensive ranking (103.3). In addition they lead the league in rebounds per sport (37.5) and free throw makes an attempt (25.8).
Because of this most up-to-date win streak, they’ve catapulted up the standings, now sitting in fifth place, having surpassed the Dream, Wings, and New York Liberty.
The Mystics have bolstered their surging squad with the addition of Betnijah Laney-Hamilton
On high of that, on Friday, they added veteran ahead Betnijah Laney-Hamilton as they gear up for a playoff run. Laney-Hamilton was waived by the Liberty the day prior after a season full of DNPs and restricted on-court alternatives.
However, simply two years in the past, she was a starter on a championship group and a essential defender and bucket-getter. She instantly turns into essentially the most veteran participant on the roster and somebody who might emerge as a key contributor come playoff time.
“We had been affected person on the deadline as a result of we consider in our group and wished to guard our group chemistry,” Mystics president Michael Winger informed ESPN, per Kareem Copeland. “However the alternative so as to add a longtime veteran with a wealth of expertise is essential for our continued growth and competitiveness.”
Washington might face Indiana within the first spherical
If the playoffs had been to start out as we speak, the Mystics would face the Fever within the first spherical. The 2 groups have confronted off twice this season, and every has come out victorious as soon as. Within the first matchup, the Mystics received in additional time behind a 30-point efficiency from Sonia Citron. A number of weeks later, it was Caitlin Clark who hit the clutch bucket to safe the victory for the Fever.
Most would favor the Fever in a Fever-Mystics matchup, but when historical past is any indication, this one might come all the way down to the wire.
In concept, Washington is forward of schedule. The one gamers on the roster with playoff expertise are Michael Onyenwere (who has performed in 4 playoff video games) and Shakira Austin (who has performed in two).
Beating a group just like the Minnesota Lynx and the Las Vegas Aces will nonetheless be an uphill battle. However, largely as a consequence of their elite protection, they’ve held robust towards each; the Mystics are 1-1 towards Minnesota, and 1-0 towards Las Vegas this season.
When Washington opted to not make any huge strikes within the offseason, it appeared they had been content material coming into Yr 2 of a rebuild.
As an alternative, they’ve established themselves as legit championship contenders.
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