Mystics end memorable season with loss in Finals

Asher Friedman-Rosen

The Washington Mystics became the second DC team to make their respective finals this summer. Led by Elena Delle Donne, the Mystics defeated the Los Angeles Sparks and WNBA superstar, Candace Parker, in Round 2 of the playoffs in a single elimination game. In the Conference Finals, the Mystics and the Dream went to Game 5 with Delle Donne and the Mystics coming out on top.
In the finals, the Mystics matched up with the Seattle Storm. The Storm Finished the WNBA regular season with the best record and proved their dominance in the Finals. In Game 1, Seattle’s Natasha Howard, Breanna Stewart and Jewell Lloyd combined for 64 of the Storms 89 points. Due to their struggling offense and Delle Donne only scoring 10 points, the Mystics lost game one by 23 points. In Game 2, the Mystics played better defense, holding Seattle to just 76 points, but lost by three in nail-biting fashion. In Game 3 the Finals came to DC and saw Seattle squash any hopes the Mystics had for a comeback. With Breanna Stewart and Natasha Howard combining for 59, the Storm brought Seattle their 3rd Championship.
The Mystics struggled with shooting throughout the series, going 0-16 from three-point range in Game 2, and shooting 18.3 percent from behind the arc in the Finals overall, when the rest of the season they averaged 35.8 percent. Though the season has ended, the Mystics will look to return to the finals and best the outcome of this historic season.