WNBA 2017: Mystics overcome last minute jitters, beat Dream, 78-72

Verizon Center, Washington, D.C., June 4, 2017 – Having led by as many as 18 points with seven minutes to go in the third quarter, the Washington Mystics (5-2) found themselves behind (by one point, at 71-72) for the first time with less than 44 seconds left in the game after a steal by the Atlanta Dream’s Tiffany Hayes (#15) and a 12-foot jump shot by Sancho Lyttle.

Hovering behind the three-point line, the Mystics’ Elena Delle Donne (#11) caught a subsequent inbound pass, faked a jump shot, drew an over-reach with Lyttle falling on top of her, and threw up a shot to the direction of the net.  The force of the charge by Lyttle sent Delle Donne sliding at least 10 feet beyond the three-point line.  Official Maj Forsberg called for a three-shot foul.

Delle Donne calmly made the three foul shots and put Mystics back in the lead, 74-72.  Two more foul shots by Delle Donne and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (#32) respectively provided the margin of the win over the Atlanta Dream (4-2).

Delle Donne was the high scorer for the Mystics with 23 points and a career high 15 rebounds.  Because three teammates (Natasha Cloud, Tayler Hill and Asia Taylor) were unable to play, rookie Walker-Kimbrough was assigned as the starting guard for the first time in her professional career in the WNBA.

The Dream’s Hayes was the high scorer in the game with 24 points.

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough of the Washington Mystics. (photo by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Photos: WNBA 2017 – Washington Mystics 78, Atlanta Dream 72
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine