ARLINGTON, TX — The Dallas Wings (14-9) open game one of a back-to-back right at home. For the first time all season, the Washington Mystics (13-10) visit the College Park Center for a key matchup with major playoff implications.
All eyes were on All-Star Liz Cambage who just made history by breaking the single-game scoring record with a 53-point game against New York. She opened the game missing her first two buckets but quickly found her groove.
Cambage’s partner in crime, Skylar Diggins-Smith, had an unusually quiet first quarter going scoreless. But, where Diggins-Smith fell short, Kayla Thornton was there picking up the slack. Thornton finished the quarter leading Wings with 10 points.
The Mystics didn’t have the best start due to poor shooting on the floor at (36%) to end the quarter. 2018 All-Star captain Elena Delle Donne led the way with seven points but could’ve used to extra help from Kristi Toliver who also went scoreless to open the game.
Dallas held on to a 31-20 lead going into the second quarter.
It started to look more promising for Washington going into the second frame. When Cambage rested on the bench, the Mystics went on a 7-0 run to put the game within five.
But even with Washington’s sudden—and short lived—burst of offense, EDD went cold in the second and only attempted two shots. If it wasn’t for LaToya Sanders knocking down 11 points, the Mystics could’ve dug themselves an early grave.
Diggins-Smith finally got on the board at the free throw line missing her first but making the second shot. That would be her only point for the rest of the first half.
But have no fear, Cambage scored 11 of the Wings 17 second quarter points so even with Diggins-Smith not having the best shooting night, they were covered.
Looking re-energized, the Mystics opened the third on a 7-0 run. Cambage banked in a three to give the Wings their first points of the quarter. She went on to put up 10 points to close the quarter.
It’s also worth mentioning that EDD didn’t score a single point in the second and third quarter. Yes, you read that night. The All-Star scored seven points in the first and couldn’t buy a basket afterwards. She finally got back on the board at the free throw line.
You can thank the matchup between her and Thornton for that as her presence limited EDD more than anyone planned.
Thornton gave us a quick scare when she starting limping early in the fourth. The pain was too much and she soon headed to the locker room. Thornton returned to the game but remained on the bench.
The Washington Mystics made a late push in the fourth to make it a four-point game with just over two minutes left in play. But a few missed baskets set up the Wings to close out the game winning 90-81.
The Wings are now tied 4th with Atlanta in the standings. With this momentum, Dallas is in a prime position to go deep in the postseason.
Up next, the Wings head to Chicago tomorrow on the second night of a back-to-back.
