Washington is rolling into Phoenix with a little momentum and a lot of context. According to FOX Sports, the Mystics visit the Mercury on Tuesday at 10 p.m. EDT, and the matchup comes right after Shakira Austin put up 31 points in Washington’s 105-100 win over the Portland Fire.
That kind of performance tends to sharpen the focus for both sides. Washington comes in at 22-15 overall and 11-5 in the Eastern Conference, while Phoenix sits at 13-24 and 8-11 in the Western Conference, FOX Sports reports. The Mercury have gone 5-12 at home, which is the sort of number that makes every home date feel a little more important than the last one.
There’s also a clear contrast in how these teams have been winning games. FOX Sports notes that Washington leads the Eastern Conference by allowing only 83.1 points per game and holding opponents to 42.8% shooting. Phoenix, meanwhile, scores 84.0 points per game, just a touch above what Washington gives up. That sets up a game where small stretches could matter a lot, especially if either team finds a rhythm early.
The last time these teams met, Washington handled Phoenix 95-75 on Aug. 9, with Sonia Citron leading the Mystics with 19 points and Kahleah Copper leading the Mercury with 15, per FOX Sports. That earlier result gives Tuesday’s meeting a little extra edge, because both teams already know what the other can do when things click.
Austin’s recent scoring burst is the headline, but she’s not the only name worth watching. FOX Sports says Austin is averaging 17.0 points and 9.5 rebounds for Washington, while Alyssa Thomas is leading Phoenix in the paint with 10.5 points there per game. DeWanna Bonner is adding 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds for the Mercury, and Copper is averaging 22.4 points over her last 10 games.
If you like games with a little contrast in style and a little history behind them, this one has both. Washington has been steady on the road at 9-8, and Phoenix will be looking to make its home floor matter more than it has so far. Either way, it’s the kind of late-season WNBA matchup that can tell you a lot about where each team is headed next.
