The Washington Mystics poured on the offense in their latest home game after yet another indoor rain delay. The next challenge, beyond patching up the arena roof, is slowing down the Los Angeles Sparks.
Two of the top four teams in the WNBA standings meet Wednesday in Washington when the defending league champion Sparks (19-8) face the Mystics (16-10) for the third time this season. Los Angeles won the previous two matchups, both at home.
Despite the absence of All-Star Elena Delle Donne (thumb surgery) and loss of second-leading scorer Tayler Hill (knee surgery), the Mystics have won two in a row.
The latest victory, 100-80 over the Indiana Fever on a rainy Saturday night, came despite a lengthy delay at halftime caused by leaks in the roof.
"Neither team has gone through that kind of stuff before," Mystics coach Mike Thibault said. "You just come out and get loose, and you stick to your game plan."
Washington previously dealt with a postponement and rescheduling of the June 28 home game with Connecticut for a similar leaky reason. Against the Fever, the game resumed with the Mystics already leading 49-36 at halftime. The figurative dousing continued in the second half. Krystal Thomas scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. Emma Meesseman had 15 points.
Washington is 1 1/2 games ahead of the New York Liberty for fourth place in the WNBA. The top four teams receive a bye into the second round of the playoffs.
"We definitely have confidence, but at the same time, we definitely have to work on things and get better as a team," veteran Washington guard Ivory Latta said. "As long as we continue to have that confidence and believe in each other, some good things could happen."
Not much good happened in the previous two meetings with the Sparks, who are second in the WNBA standings, three games behind the first-place Minnesota Lynx. Los Angeles won the first game 99-89 on May 19 and the second 76-69 on July 2 despite trailing 47-30 at halftime.
"We talk about how every game is a series, and we have played Washington twice now and gone 2-0," said Sparks forward Candace Parker, who had 17 points and 11 rebounds in the second meeting with the Mystics. "So we just want to win every series."
The Sparks are 7-3 in their past 10 games, but they are coming off an 83-69 loss at the New York Liberty on Sunday. Parker had 14 points, but 10 came in the first quarter as Los Angeles led 27-16. However, the Sparks trailed 44-35 at halftime after the Liberty went on a 20-0 run, and Los Angeles didn't close the gap much from there.
"I think, just in general in the second half, I didn't have a lot of rhythm," said Parker, who finished 4 of 12 from the field.
Odyssey Sims led Los Angeles with 18 points. Essence Carson (right elbow strain) and Riquna Williams (left knee strain) did not play for the Sparks.
