Down 1-0, Washington faces elimination game
It could’ve been the transition defense. It could’ve been the rebounding. It could’ve been the rare poor offensive showing.
Or it could be that the Washington Mystics simply need to be tougher mentally in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series against Atlanta. For most of their postseason opener Wednesday, it didn’t look like they belonged, much less had earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
That has left them with plenty to fix knowing that there won’t be another chance if they don’t.
“We’re going to be ready for it this time,” Mystics forward Crystal Langhorne said. “I think they caught us off guard.”
The Dream ran through Washington relentlessly by shifting to a four-guard lineup in which Coco Miller and Armintie Price each got their first starting nods of the year. Mystics coach Julie Plank may have to consider a similar move, given the combined 34 points that Marissa Coleman (career-high 18) and Matee Ajavon (16) provided off the bench, 30 of which came during Washington’s second-half comeback. Coleman is the only one of the pair to make a start this year.
“As disappointing as it was, we’ve always been a team that fights back,” Plank said. “I’m not discouraged. Our team is not discouraged. We are confident that we can go into Atlanta and beat them. We’re looking forward to Friday night.”
