As a team whose stated goal this season includes not only making the playoffs, but having success upon arrival, the Washington Mystics get the chance to show their worth against Eastern Conference-leading Connecticut tonight in a nationally televised game.
“It is a big game for us,” Mystics guard Alana Beard said. “It is a chance for us to turn things around and prove we still have it.”
The Mystics are coming off a devastating home loss Sunday to Seattle in which they rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit but were unable to close out the Storm.
Mystics coach Richie Adubato is adamant about avoiding the hangover such a loss could induce.
“I said to them that they’re in professional sports and this is what it’s all about,” Adubato said. “But they understand as professionals that we’ve got to move onto the next game, we’ve got to prepare for Connecticut and move on. And hopefully we’ll put together two halves against Connecticut that looked like our second half did against Seattle.”
Mystics forward DeLisha Milton-Jones echoed her coach’s call for professionalism.
“They title us as ‘professional women’s basketball players,’” Milton-Jones said. “The word ‘professional’ should let you know that no matter the situation or the outcome you have to still be a professional. And you have to be able to take situations like [Sunday’s game], learn from it as fast as you can, move on and just hope for the best the next time.”
The Mystics and Sun split their first two meetings this season with each team winning at home.
WASHINGTON MYSTICS (12-12) at CONNECTICUT SUN (17-6*)
* records through Monday
» Where: Mohegan Sun Arena
» When: Tonight,7:30 p.m.
» TV: ESPN2
» Radio: WWRC–1260
