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The Washington Mystics won the WNBA championship in 2019, the last time it had franchise-altering superstar Elena Delle Donne on the court. Now Delle Donne will be joined by another former league MVP in Tina Charles after both players opted out of the 2020 season, a season in which the Mystics were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The Mystics have high expectations, but are flying under the radar compared to some of the other top teams.
Here is a roundtable discussion on the team entering 2021:
1. What are the Mystics’ strengths heading into this season?
Game Info
Where: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN
How to watch: N/A (Box score watching!)
Injury Report
Mystics: Elena Delle Donne (Back, Questionable); Erica McCall (Overseas, Out); Myisha Hines-Allen (Overseas, Out); Alysha Clark (Foot, Out for season)
Lynx: Napheesa Collier (Overseas, Out); Kayla McBride (Overseas, Out); Rennia Davis (Foot, Out indefinitely)
Pregame notes
The Washington Mystics are facing the Minnesota Lynx in their second preseason game Saturday afternoon. The Mystics are coming off a Wednesday loss against the Atlanta Dream at home. In that game, Tina Charles led the team with 18 points, making 8-of-15 shots. Jillian Alleyne followed with 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
The preseason game was not televised, nor were fans in attendance and it was a good thing they weren’t. The Washington Mystics start off their preseason on a not so high note as the Atlanta Dream came in and defeated the Mystics, 87-80.
What started off as a great first quarter for Washington just turned into a terrible game overall once the Dream found their way back into the game and took over from there. The Mystics came into the game with the following five as their starters: Ariel Atkins, Natasha Cloud, Leilani Mitchell, Tina Charles and Theresa Plaisance.
Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
The Washington Mystics won the WNBA championship in 2019 before losing many key players to opt outs prior to the 2020 bubble season during which they went 9-13 and lost in the first round of the playoffs. They hope to be back to being one of the best teams in the league this year.
Picks: none
The Washington Mystics do not have any scheduled picks in the 2021 WNBA Draft. Their trade to get Tina Charles prior to the 2020 season made sure of that. Charles is a former MVP and, at 32, is still a superstar in the league. Her addition makes Washington a contender when placed alongside two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne. The team also has All-WNBA Second Team talent Myisha Hines-Allen, sharpshooter Ariel Atkins and an emerging star point guard in Natasha Cloud. That will likely be the Mystics’ starting lineup and they will sorely miss offseason acquisition Alysha Clark who is out for the season with a Lisfranc injury.