WNBA 2014: Indiana Fever 80, Washington Mystics 77

July 2, 2014, Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. – Before the game started, Washington Mystics Coach Mike Thibault congratulated  his colleague Lin Dunn – coach of the Mystics’ opponent, the Indiana Fever – on her induction into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame as well as on her final year of coaching. In appreciation, Dunn’s team took advantage of a porous defense and overwhelmed the Mystics, taking a 13-point lead, 42-29, in the first half.

Eventually this resulted in an 80-77 victory for Dunn and Indiana.  Throughout the game, the Fever (8-9) basically dared the Mystics (7-11) to take outside shots. The Mystics promptly obliged and attempted 17 three-pointers and made just two (11.8 percent). Otherwise, they made a very respectable 25 field goals out of 46 attempts, or 54.3 percent.

Thibault summarized Washington’s season so far with the following comments:

“When I came here, we went with younger players and we are trying to make changes. There is a way I want to play, [a] tempo I want to play at. And they haven’t grasped that,” he said.

“They need to learn how to play basketball,” Thibault added. “I think the women’s game – in general the WNBA – needs to be a more free-flowing game. I don’t want it to be a walk-it-up team, and I don’t want to play that way.”

The second half of the season will show if the Washington Mystics will play the type of game that Thibault is looking for.

Natasha Howard (right) led the Indiana Fever with 20 points. (photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Photos: Indiana Fever 80, Washington Mystics 77
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine