Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
With a sold-out crowd on hand with the Phoenix Mercury in town, it was the Mystics that put in their work tonight to defeat a shorthanded Mercury team, who had both of its stars in Diana Taurasi and Britney Griner out with injuries.
Elena Delle Donne led the Mystics with 17 points while Li Meng got the start and added 14 more. Michaela Onyenwere led the Mercury with 20 points.
“The Mercury are a very good team and without two-star players in their line-up it was a much different look for us,” said Mystics Head Coach Eric Thibault. “We had to make some changes of our own with Natasha out, but I think Li did an excellent job and she is getting better every day with this team. She understands her role and is ready to jump in no matter where I put her in the line-up.”
The absence of Taurasi and Griner was evident from the very start of the game as the Mystics jumped out to a 9-0 lead and really never looked back at that point.
The biggest stat of the night came from the long-range shooting department for the Mystics. They shot 11-of-26 from deep tonight while holding the Mercury to just 7-of-22 shooting from three.
Sophie Cunningham was the only Mercury player to give the Mystics any looks from long-range hitting on 3 for 6 and finishing with 13 points.
The Mystics will next face the Chicago Sky on Sunday at 3pm. The Mystics sit in 3rd place with the Sky trailing by just one game. This should be good match up to see if the Mystics are able to push to the top and try and catch Connecticut before the All Star Break.
