Shakira Austin aims to continue her run of stellar performances when the Washington Mystics host the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday night.
Austin has scored 20 or more points in six of the past eight games while raising her average to a career-best 16.7 points per game.
“Her body of work this season has been all-W caliber, All-Star caliber,” Mystics coach Sydney Johnson told reporters. “I’m going to keep beating that drum because she has really impressed and has added to her game week to week.”
Austin’s strong play helped Washington (19-14) post a season-best seven-game winning streak before falling twice to the host Las Vegas Aces earlier this week.
Austin had 20 points and eight rebounds in Tuesday’s 86-76 loss to the Aces, and followed up with 29 points and eight rebounds in Thursday’s 83-76 setback. The latter total was one shy of her career best.
Washington couldn’t stop Jackie Young (32 points on 10-of-14 shooting) on Thursday but did a good job on co-stars A’ja Wilson (15 points, 5-of-14 shooting) and Chelsea Gray (four points, 1-for-10).
“There’s always more that we can do,” Johnson said. “We were really, really good against two of their Big Three. Jackie had a special night. She is really, really good. … A little bit of defensive execution we didn’t pull off.”
Los Angeles (12-21) is struggling and has lost three straight games and 10 of its last 12.
However, the Sparks defeated the host Mystics 92-87 on May 29 in the first meeting of the season. Erica Wheeler had 21 points and eight assists for Los Angeles, while Austin had 25 points and 10 rebounds for Washington.
The Sparks lost 85-81 to the New York Liberty on Thursday to begin a three-game road trip.
The status of post player Cameron Brink (ribs) isn’t yet known after New York’s Breanna Stewart charged into her while driving to the hoop. Brink was down for a bit and needed assistance walking off the court.
“She took a brutal hit to the ribs,” Los Angeles coach Lynne Roberts said afterward.
The Sparks trailed by 28 points during the contest before making a late charge and putting a scare into the Liberty.
Rae Burrell fueled the burst by scoring 20 of her career-best 28 points in the final stanza. She made 7 of 9 shots in the quarter.
“I was just trying to make the right reads and they kept coming back to me so I wanted to stay confident and choosing when to go and when to pass,” Burrell said. “My team put me in great positions to do so.”
–Field Level Media
