Sky vs. Mystics Preview: Both Teams Battle for Playoff Spot – Can the Mystics Keep the Suspense Alive?

On September 12 at 8 AM, the WNBA regular season continues with the Chicago Sky hosting the Washington Mystics. The result of this game is likely to determine the final playoff berth and is destined to be a tough battle.

This is a do-or-die game for a playoff spot. After winning against the Wings in the last game, the Sky’s record turned into 13 wins and 22 losses, continuing to rank 8th in the league, leading the 9th ranked Dream by 1.5 games, and leading the 10th ranked Mystics by 2 games, taking the lead in the playoff race. However, the Sky’s key inside player, Reese, suffered a season-ending injury, which significantly impacted the team’s strength.

The Sky’s offense and defense are both average, averaging 78.9 points per game, ranking third from the bottom in the league, and conceding an average of 81.8 points per game, ranking 7th in the league, with stronger defense than offense. Carter is the team’s top scorer, averaging 17.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, scoring 28 points in the last game and showing excellent form. The second top scorer, Reese, averages 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, leading the league in rebounds. Her injury has significantly reduced the Sky’s inside strength. Williams, who averages 10 points per game, is also currently out due to injury, leaving only Carter as the sole double-digit scorer on the team. Cardoso, Evans, Onywele, Harrison, and others also have certain strengths, but their performances have not been very consistent, which is the main reason for the Sky’s mediocre offense.

The Mystics, with a record of 11 wins and 24 losses, rank 10th in the league, trailing the Sky by 2 games. If they can defeat the Sky, the gap will narrow to one game, but if they lose to the Sky, the gap will widen to three games, almost eliminating them from the playoff race. For the Mystics, there is no room for retreat in this game. The Mystics’ average score is just 79.3 points, similar to the Sky, with an average concession of 83.1 points per game.

Like the Sky, the Mystics lack a superstar scorer. Their top scorer, Atkins, averages only 14.9 points per game. Sykes, Austin, and Dolson also score in double digits, but Austin is unable to play in this game due to injury. In addition, Samuelson, Vanloo, Edwards, and Kimbrough all average more than 7 points per game, giving the Mystics many scoring options.

This season, the two teams have met three times, with the Mystics holding a 2-1 advantage. The point differentials in these three games were close, with the Sky winning by 8 points at home, while the Mystics’ two victories came by margins of 2 and 4 points, both decided in the final moments, demonstrating how closely matched the teams are. Considering that this game will determine the playoff berth, the intensity of this game is guaranteed.

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