The Phoenix Mercury will face the Washington Mystics on Sunday, Aug. 9, at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. Tipoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
Phoenix enters the matchup with a 12-21 record and has dropped its last two games. The Mercury are 7-11 on the road this season and are coming off a 75-72 loss to the Connecticut Sun on Aug. 7.
Washington enters Sunday with an 18-12 record and is riding a six-game winning streak. The Mystics are 10-6 at home and have won all four of their games since the All-Star break.
The Mystics are coming off a 79-74 win over the Atlanta Dream on Aug. 7. Washington recorded a franchise-record 12 blocks in the victory, which is also the highest single-game block total in the WNBA this season.
Shakira Austin led Washington against Atlanta with 21 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks. She is averaging 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game this season. Austin has recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in each of her last three games.
Sonia Citron leads the Mystics in scoring at 17.0 points per game while also averaging 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists. Kiki Iriafen is averaging 15.1 points and 9.0 rebounds, while Michaela Onyenwere is averaging 9.4 points and 3.1 rebounds. Rookie Georgia Amoore is averaging 6.2 points and 3.5 assists.
Phoenix will look to Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Plum, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner to lead the Mercury. Copper is averaging 20.8 points per game, fifth in the WNBA, along with 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists.
Plum, acquired by Phoenix from the Los Angeles Sparks on Aug. 2, is averaging 23.4 points and 5.9 assists in 15 games this season. She has scored 64 points through her first three games with the Mercury, shooting 58.3% from the field, 46.7% from three-point range and 88.2% from the free-throw line.
Thomas is averaging 14.9 points, 7.3 rebounds and a league-leading 8.3 assists per game. Bonner is averaging 10.2 points and 6.2 rebounds.
Phoenix has been most successful when it gets balanced scoring. The Mercury are 4-2 this season when at least five players score in double figures and 2-0 when six players reach double figures.
Sunday’s game is the first of three meetings between Phoenix and Washington during the remainder of the regular season. The Mystics will host Phoenix on Aug. 9 before the teams meet again in Phoenix on Aug. 25 and Aug. 27.
Washington enters the matchup sixth in the WNBA standings at 18-12, while Phoenix sits 12th at 12-21.
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