The Washington Mystics and Las Vegas Aces meet Tuesday night in the first of two matchups between the teams this week, with both teams looking to make a statement as the regular season enters its final stretch.
The Mystics enter the matchup at 19-12 and riding a seven-game winning streak, while the Aces are 22-11. The game is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas. The teams will meet again Thursday night in Las Vegas.
Washington has been one of the league’s hottest teams since the All-Star break. The Mystics are the only WNBA team that has remained undefeated since play resumed, going 5-0, and their seven-game winning streak is the longest active streak in the league.
The Mystics are coming off a 95-75 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 9. Five Washington players scored in double figures, led by Shakira Austin and Sonia Citron with 19 points apiece. Cotie McMahon and Michaela Onyenwere each scored 13, while Kiki Iriafen added 12.
Austin has been at the center of Washington’s recent run. She was named the Associated Press Player of the Week for the second consecutive week and has recorded at least 15 points and 10 rebounds in four straight games. Against Phoenix, she finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
Citron also enters the game after a strong performance against Phoenix, finishing with 19 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including 5-of-6 from three-point range, along with six assists and two steals.
For Las Vegas, Tuesday’s game provides an opportunity to answer Washington’s 100-99 victory on July 22. The Mystics rallied for the one-point win in the teams’ first meeting, while A’ja Wilson scored 38 points for the Aces.
The Aces enter the rematch with a 22-11 record and will have home-court advantage for both games this week. Las Vegas has already shown its ability to score at a high level this season, including a 109-83 victory over Toronto on July 20 and a 98-83 win over Portland on July 28.
The matchup also features two teams with different paths to success. Washington has built its recent winning streak around rebounding, defense and balanced scoring. The Mystics have outrebounded opponents in 27 games this season, the most in the WNBA, and are averaging 37.5 rebounds per game. Their defense is allowing 82.6 points per game, which ranks second in the league.
Washington’s depth will also be important. In addition to its starting group, rookie Cotie McMahon has scored at least 10 points in three consecutive games, while Lauren Betts has provided a presence on the boards and Cassandre Prosper posted a career-best 10 points and two blocks against Atlanta on Aug. 7.
The Aces, meanwhile, enter the game with the advantage of playing at home and the motivation of facing the team that handed them a one-point loss less than three weeks ago. Washington has already demonstrated that it can keep pace with Las Vegas, making Tuesday’s rematch another test for a Mystics team that has quickly established itself as a serious playoff contender.
With Washington attempting to extend its winning streak and Las Vegas looking to even the season series, Tuesday’s matchup sets up as one of the more intriguing games on the WNBA schedule.
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