Washington Mystics Notes

• The Washington Mystics (20-11) defeated the Dallas Wings (14-17), 93-80, Sunday afternoon at Capital One Arena. Washington’s win clinches the team’s second 20-win season in franchise history (2010).
• The Mystics have now won six consecutive games, dating back to July 31 at Atlanta. Washington is one of just four WNBA teams with a win streak of 6+ games in 2018. Atlanta’s eight-game win streak is the longest of the season.
• Mystics rookie guard Ariel Atkins scored a career-high 26 points on 7-11 (.636) from the field, 5-5 (1.000) from 3-point range and 7-8 (.875) from the free throw line before leaving the game in the fourth quarter due to injury. Her five 3-point field goals made also set a career high. Atkins now has three games this season with 20+ points.
• Mystics forward Elena Delle Donne scored 23 points and has now scored 20+ points in six of her last seven games. Delle Donne shot 3-5 from 3-point range, her eighth game this season with 3+ made field goals from beyond the arc.
• The Mystics have scored 90+ points in three games since the All-Star break, tied for second-most in the league.
• Washington outscored Dallas, 31-17, in the second quarter to take a 51-37 lead at halftime. Three Mystics scored in double figures (Delle Donne, 15; Atkins, 12; Kristi Toliver, 12) in the first half.
• Despite a 10-point Mystics lead early in first quarter, Washington and Dallas were tied, 20-20, after the first frame. Toliver led the way for the Mystics, shooting 4-6 (.667) from the field on her way to nine points.
• The Mystics return to action Wednesday, August 15, taking on the Indiana Fever at 7 p.m. at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Washington is 2-0 against Indiana this season. Both matchups came in the first week of the season (May 20 and 24). The Mystics return to Capital One Arena on Friday, August 17 to host the Los Angeles Sparks at 7 p.m. in the team’s final home game of the regular season.

Dallas Wings Notes

• The Wings played their 15^th road game of the season.
• On the road the Wings are 5-10 and 3-5 against eastern conference opponents
• The Wings end the series with the Mystics with a 1-2 record. The team’s only win came on July 19 at College Park Center with a 90-81 victory.
• Overall the Wings are 14-17 and remain in the 8^th spot in the WNBA standings.
• The Wings recorded 10 3-point shots, the second best put down this season with Theresa Plaisance and rookie Azurá Stevens leading the Wings behind the arc with three.
• The Wings ended the day recording their tenth 40-plus rebound game of the season with 43.
• The Wings once again out rebounded their opponent for the third consecutive game 43-35
• Inside the paint the Wings outscored the Mystics 28-26
• Five players scored double figures for the second consecutive game.
• Skylar Diggins-Smith led the Wings for the 13^th time this season with () points. It also marked as her 24^th double figure game for 2018.
• Diggins-Smith also dished out six total assists to lead the team. This marks as the 24^th game in 2018 she has led the Wings in assists.
• Rookie Azurá Stevens recorded her 14^th double figure game of the year ending the day with 15 points. She recorded 13 of the 15 in the first quarter, the most scored in a quarter of her career.
• Kayla Thornton ended the day with 14 points. It marked as her 15^th double figure game of the season.
• Allisha Gray recorded a career breaking night registering her first double-double of her career with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Washington Mystics Quotes

MYSTICS HEAD COACH MIKE THIBAULT

On finishing the game strong, Ariel Atkins career night and her injury status:

“We got our composure back the last five minutes and finished the game the right way. We got some really good offensive performances and Ariel [Atkins] has her career high, and hope she is okay physically. I do know for sure yet. She basically landed on her hip so we will not know right away.”

On the team’s readiness approaching the postseason:

“We are not there yet completely. I think we have some lapses sometimes when we get the lead. I think when you get to the playoffs, you have to have a quality possession every time down, and I thought we did not sometimes. I thought we passed up on some open shots to take tougher shots, and then I just thought we made some mistakes defensively for that four-five minute stretch.”

MYSTICS GUARD KRISTI TOLIVER

On tonight’s performance with Elena Delle Donne:

“We have a lot of threats on this team, but obviously we are the one-two punch and that is no secret in the league, so that is going to happen. The more important games come the more you are probably going to see that, but certainly we are going to take whatever the defense gives.”

On playing in high stakes games:

“Year two, I am way more comfortable playing and thinking and just doing what I have essentially done my entire life.”

On Dallas center Liz Cambage:

“I was upset she didn’t play today, every time she does I get to talk her out the whole time, I was still trying to get her shots on the bench but it wasn’t the same. She is a lot of fun and she is a great player. She brings a lot of offensive dominance a lot of personality to this league.”

MYSTICS LEADERS:
Points: Ariel Atkins – 26
Rebounds: LaToya Sanders – 9

Assists: Kristi Toliver – 7
Steals: Aerial Powers – 3

Dallas Wings Quotes

WINGS HEAD COACH FRED WILLIAMS

On Tayler Hill:

“She is slowly getting into a form of what we are trying to do on the floor. It is not easy for her to make the transition over with the young team that we have. I think she has been a fine addition for us. She is going to have some great outside shooting sets…in the future. I look for her to do some big things for us for years to come.”

On how the team is looking going into the playoffs after tonight:

“Take one game at a time, I thought tonight we had some possessions get away from us in transition, I thought Delle Donne shot well from the three and in transition also.”

On how the team is feeling after tonight’s game:

“Typical when you are in a drought, you have some emotional things going on and you just have to sometimes let things go and regroup, and find a way to get done.”

WINGS FORWARD AZURA STEVENS

On how her rookie year is going:

“I am feeling pretty well. It is obviously a tough stretch right now but all the credit to my teammates and my coaches. They have accepted me into this team. It helps me build confidence. It is hard coming into this league and kind of making your name known but they have treated me just like anyone else. Setting me to look good. It is all you can ask for, especially in your rookie season, and you are nervous and you do not know how things are going to work out, but all credit to them.”

On what it is going to take going forward:

“I think it is just going to take staying positive at this point. It does not seem like a lot of people are believing in us right now. I think today we fought back. That is something that has been part of our identity the whole year. It is kind of bad we get ourselves in these positions, but we always find a way to fight back and that can be our season. We are in a slump right now but we can still turn this thing around.”

WINGS LEADERS:
Points: Skylar Diggins-Smith – 17
Rebounds: Alisha Gray – 12

Assists: Diggins-Smith – 6
Steals: Azura Stevens – 2