Cold as Ice: Mystics Vanish in the Third as Lynx Pounce in Preseason Opener
Cold as Ice: Mystics Vanish in the Third as Lynx Pounce in Preseason Opener
The Washington Mystics learned a hard lesson on Saturday night: defense might win championships, but you actually have to put the ball in the hoop to win the game. After a promising start at CareFirst Arena, the Mystics went absolutely catatonic in the second half, allowing the Minnesota Lynx to storm back for a 77-66 victory.
It’s only the preseason, but the 26-7 third-quarter margin should be a wake-up call that "good looks" don't count for points on the scoreboard.
A Tale of Two Halves
The Mystics started with exactly the kind of "Zero Filter" intensity you want to see. They swarmed the Lynx early, holding them to 36% shooting and forcing rookie sensation Olivia Miles into four first-half turnovers. Behind the physical play of rookies Cotie McMahon (11 points) and Lauren Betts (13 points, 9-of-10 FT), Washington looked in control with a 40-36 halftime lead.
Then, the lights went out.
Washington didn’t record a single point in the third quarter until the 4:28 mark—and that was a free throw. They didn’t hit a field goal until there were less than two minutes left in the period. You can’t go 1-for-14 in a quarter against a team as disciplined as Minnesota and expect to survive. The Lynx unleashed a 15-0 run that flipped the script and turned a close contest into a chase.
The Lynx Adjust
Minnesota played like a team that’s been there before. They neutralized Washington's size advantage by turning up the heat on the perimeter. Every time Sonia Citron (12 points) touched the rock, she was met with a wall of blue jerseys, taking the Mystics completely out of their offensive flow.
While the Lynx were also shaking off the rust—coughing up 21 turnovers of their own—they dominated where it mattered: the glass. Despite Washington’s height, the Lynx won the rebounding battle 56-51, with Saylor Poffenbarger vacuuming up a massive 13 boards off the bench.
Fresh Faces and Red Flags
There were flashes of "Real Motivation" from the newcomers. Georgia Amoore made her WNBA debut, playing a solid 12 minutes as she works back into game shape. On the Lynx side, Jaylyn Sherrod looked like a spark plug, dropping 9 points and 2 steals.
But for Washington, the shooting remains a glaring red flag. After hitting four triples in the first half, they managed only one the rest of the night. If this roster can’t find a way to stretch the floor, the paint is going to get very crowded, very quickly for Betts and McMahon.
The Bottom Line
The Mystics have the size and the defensive grit, but their offense is currently a work in progress. Drawing fouls is great, but you can't live at the line if you're shooting 5-of-20 from deep. The Lynx, meanwhile, showed that their depth—outscoring Washington's bench 52-25—is going to be a problem for the rest of the league.
Sanchez’s Take: Washington played a great first half, but that third quarter was a horror movie. You can't go "missing in action" for ten minutes in professional basketball. The Mystics need to find some consistent shooters, or they’re going to be watching a lot of teams run right past them this season.
