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Washington Mystics Triumphed in a Tight Affair Against the Sky

Washington Mystics Center Stefanie Dolson was the main performer for the Mystics as they triumphed against the Chicago Sky in a tight affair, Sky who have now suffered four losses on the spin. Dolson racked up an impressive 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Dolson proved highly effective on the court as the Washington Mystics (9-22) lost against the Chicago Sky (11-19) 74-70 away from home at Wintrust Arena. 

The Sky came into this game with an inconsistent set of results, their last match ending in a tough loss at home against the Las Vegas Aces in a tight affair, 77-75. While the Mystics came into this game with two games undefeated and entering a good run of form, their last win came against the Seattle Storm away from home in a tight affair, 74-70. 

The last time these teams faced each other was earlier in the season on Friday, June 14th, when the Sky fell away from home in a nailbiter contest, 83-81 where Mystics Guard Ariel Atkins and Sky Chennedy Carter were the main performers with their teams with 29 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 16 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists respectively. 

The Sky hoped for a different result this time, but the Mystics once again offensively were the better side and won the game as the Sky now have four losses on the spin.

Chicago Sky Guard Diamond DeShields spoke post-game on the losses and how the team just has to keep progressing and growing, hoping to make a run in the playoffs.

“It’s a challenge that you will always face, especially as a young team being faced with multiple opportunities to come down to the clutch moments of the game. And you either find ways to win those games and grow and mature as a team, or you don’t and you just continue to learn and get ready for the next opportunity. Growing pains suck, but it’s part of the process. We have a really young group, and so all we can do is continue to go back to the drawing board with the coach, learn from it, watch the film, continue to develop, continue to mature, and prepare ourselves for the next opportunity because they’ll continue to come and present themselves. I hope that we can get a grasp on it now and continue to make a playoff push because we do have a special group, and I do believe in what we’re capable of if we do get to match up with some teams in the playoffs, and it can be really exciting. But we have to figure it out now.”

The First Half was a Back-and-Forth Affair, Mystics Led by Five

The first half was a back-and-forth affair, as the Mystics led by five at half-time. Center Kamila Cardoso opened the game immediately with a 2-pointer, and the Mystics responded right away with another 2-pointer from Atkins. The first quarter ended 22-20 in favor of the Mystics, and then the second quarter was much of the same, a very tight affair that had both teams gaining and losing the momentum of the game. 

In the second quarter, it was the Mystics leading the game 22-19, ending the half 44-39, with the Mystics leading by five. At the half Atkins provided the difference for the Mystics as she put in 13 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists. For the Sky, it was Guard Lindsay Allen who has been fighting to keep the team in the game as she put in 8 points and 2 assists. 

The Sky Rally Back, Crucial Moments Cost Them the Game

The third quarter demonstrated the Sky’s resilience and tenacity to fight back and eventually rallied to win the game, as the quarter ended 19-10 in favor of the Sky, and an overall scoreline of 58-54 with the Sky leading by two. The quarter saw the Sky play a way better defensive game that saw only 10 points conceded compared to 20 points in the previous quarters. The quarter also saw a more shared offensive game with multiple scorers being present with Forward Michaela Onyenwere producing 4 points in the first two quarters to now 11 as well as 2 rebounds and 1 assist. Forward Angel Reese and Center Kamila Cardoso also played a pivotal role that quarter as they provided an additional five and three assists respectively from their six. 

The fourth quarter then put the stamp on a momentarily memorable comeback win for the Sky, as the quarter looked to be finishing 10-12, with the overall score finishing at 68-66 in favor of the Sky, but in the final minutes of the game, the momentum shifted drastically. A bad pass by Cardoso in the final minute and a half put Mystics Forward Aaliyah Edwards in and as she scored to make it 68-68, it looked like a prelude for the result. The Sky looked shaken and rattled as the Mystics took the momentum and won the game 74-70. 

Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, spoke post-game on crucial moments emphasizing turnover and how the team has to do better offensively, making sure to take advantage of every opportunity or it’ll cost you. 

“Crucial moments. You have to do all the little things right, how important details are, how important your scouting report is, and how locked in you are on every little thing that’s on the scouting report because it’s done for you for a reason. That’s your cheat sheet. So stay locked in on your cheat sheet. And then offensively, we’re going to say this over and over again. You cannot turn the ball over. You simply cannot turn it over. Value every freaking possession. We have to go back and see exactly why those turnovers were happening. It was a lack of movement, a lack of getting open, allowing them to push us out of where we wanted to run our offense. So, of course, the ball was going in different areas, and when we turned it over, they got steals. They’re very good. So we knew coming into this game we had to value possessions. Unfortunately, we had 21 turnovers. Not very good.”

Star of the Game

Center Stefanie Dolson was the “Star of the Game” as she racked up an impressive 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. The UConn product and sixth overall in the 2014 WNBA draft was the best player on the court by far, with her contributions being crucial for the Mystics win over the Sky. Dolson provided the best result that without a doubt gave joy to Washington.

What’s Next?

The Sky will want to bounce back and shake off these four losses on the spin and not make it five as they play the Indiana Fever at home at Wintrust Arena on Friday, August 29th, at 6:30 p.m. central.

The Washington Mystics will look to continue their good run of form, now at three consecutive wins, and make it four as they play at home at Entertainment & Sports Arena against the Connecticut Suns on Saturday, August 31st, at 2:00 p.m. central.

(Photo by Francisco Avila) (Featured in photo left to right: Mystics Forward Aaliyah Edwards, Sky Forward Angel Reese, Mystics Guard Julie Vanloo, and Sky Guard Lindsay Allen)

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