Today’s Opponent: MINNESOTA LYNX

Series Notes:

This will be the first of two meetings between the two teams. Lindsey Harding returns to the team where she started her WNBA career. Last season, Mystics Head Coach Julie Plank was an assistant with the Lynx, while GM Angela Taylor served as Vice President of Business Operations.

Series History:

	WASHINGTON MYSTICS	MINNESOTA LYNX
LAST WIN AT HOME	91-83 7/10/07	92-78 8/30/08
LAST WIN ON ROAD	91-87 7/20/07	96-70 9/14/08

Open Mic

MYSTICS HEAD COACH JULIE PLANK

On turnover troubles (28 turnovers):

"They were pressured a little bit and really collapsed in the paint. When we were driving in, they double-teamed our posts. We have to go inside and out and I think we need to move the ball a little bit better than we did tonight. Obviously the turnovers hurt us."

Parker is Back:

The reigning WNBA MVP, Candace Parker will make an appearance at the Verizon Center when the Mystics face the Sparks on Saturday, July 11 at 7:00 p.m. It will be Parker’s third outing of the 2009 season since giving birth to her daughter.

Friendly Foes Mystics head coach Julie Plank will meet up with her former team for the first time since departing the Lynx coaching staff after last season. Plank led the Lynx to two wins over the Mystics last year. She also helped mold Olympian Seimone Augustus and 2008 Sixth Player/Woman of the Year, Candice Wiggins.

Grand Larceny

The Mystics are third in the WNBA in steals per game averaging 10.33 per contest. Through eight games this season, Alana Beard ranks second in the WNBA in steals per game (3.11). In their recent loss against the Sky, Beard posted a new season high six steals.

Moving on up

The Mystics are currently fourth in the WNBA in points per game, averaging 77.22 per contest. Washington finished the 2008 season ranked last in points per game, averaging 69.6 per game.