Elena Della Donne led 5 Washington double-figure scorers with 24 issues and the Mystics clinched a playoff berth with a 100-77 rout of the host Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday.
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough shot 7-for-7 from the ground on how one can 17 issues as Washington (18-20) salvaged the finale of a three-game street swing. The Mystics dropped the primary two video games in their an important street commute, in opposition to the league-leading Las Vegas Aces and a Los Angeles Sparks crew vying for playoff place.
However the Mystics’ romp in Phoenix, coupled with Los Angeles (16-20) losing a 90-76 resolution previous within the night time at Connecticut, allowed Washington to wrap up a postseason bid.
The Mystics additionally moved a half-game forward of the idle Atlanta Deam, who discuss with Washington on Friday, within the race for 6th position.
Delle Donne shot 6-for-8 from the ground within the first 1/2 — a part of a 9-for-15 night time general — and notched 16 issues earlier than intermission.
She scored 8 issues over a 1:22 stretch to near out the primary quarter, powering Washington on an 11-5 run.
Phoenix (9-29) scored the primary 5 issues of the second one to drag inside unmarried digits, then were given outscored 19-10 the remainder of the length. The Mercury trailed by means of as many as 29 issues in the second one 1/2 en path to their 9th consecutive loss.
4 of Washington’s starters scored a minimum of 17 issues. Brittney Sykes completed with 18 issues, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Natasha Cloud recorded her first double-double since June 25, taking pictures 6-for-8 from the ground en course to twenty issues and dishing 10 assists. Cloud additionally grabbed 5 rebounds.
Myisha Hines-Allen, the lone Washington starter not to succeed in double-figure scoring, grabbed a game-high 8 rebounds and doled out 8 assists. Li Meng got here off the bench and shot 3-for-5 from 3-point vary — a part of the Mystics’ 13-for-23 barrage from lengthy vary — and completed with 11 issues.
Michaela Onyenwere led Phoenix with 19 issues. Brittney Griner scored 16 issues, and reserve Megan Gustafson shot 6-for-9 from the ground and contributed 13 issues and 6 rebounds. Moriah Jefferson added 11 issues.
—Box Stage Media
