The Washington Mystics and Indiana Fever are both slumping, so one of them will claim a much-needed outcome when they meet Friday night in Indianapolis.
The Mystics (14-18) have lost five of their last six games, including 88-83 at home to Golden State despite outscoring the Valkyries 31-18 in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night.
The Fever (18-15) have lost three of their last four games. That includes an 81-80 setback at home to the lowly Dallas Wings on Tuesday night despite Kelsey Mitchell’s 24 points.
Defensive glitches have defined the Mystics in recent games, and those were glaring when they yielded 15 3-point baskets to the Valkyries.
But the offense is up to snuff, Washington coach Sydney Johnson said. He’s putting a positive spin on the situation.
“There is so many other good things that went on,” he said. “There’s just so many different success stories with this group.”
Washington forward Shakira Austin missed Wednesday’s game with a sore left leg, but the ailment isn’t expected to cause a long-term absence.
“Everyone has a bump or bruise,” Johnson said.
Indiana is looking for crisper execution on offense.
“I did want us to push in transition with a low clock and limited opportunity,” Fever coach Stephanie White said of an ill-fated final possession against Dallas.
Mitchell, who missed the game’s final shot on Tuesday, continues to carry an offensive load as she was Indiana’s top scorer in three of the last four games.
White has been outspoken about officiating, again offering opinions this week. She said Mitchell is held or chucked regularly and “never gets a call.”
The coach is also defending center Aliyah Boston.
“I think Aliyah Boston is the worst officiated post player in the league,” White said. “She never gets a call. There’s a double standard there.”
Yet the Fever are expecting to see backcourt pressure from opponents because of injuries. All-Star Caitlin Clark has missed 11 consecutive games because of a right groin injury, and fellow guards Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (knee) sustained season-ending injuries.
Turnovers have been troublesome and there might not be an easy solution in sight.
“All our point guards are injured. I think that’s the first thing,” White said. “It’s tough because point guards are the ones who get you organized. There were times when we weren’t organized.”
The teams split games in the spring, with the Mystics winning 83-77 at home on May 28 and the Fever avenging that outcome with an 85-76 home victory June 3.
–Field Level Media
