The No. 1 Washington Mystics are back in the WNBA Semi-Finals with game one tipping off Tuesday night at 8:30 pm ET at Entertainment and Sports Arena.
The Mystics enter the semis after having a double-bye through the first and second rounds. The No. 1 seed undoubtedly enters the playoffs as a favorite to win it all.
The No.4 Las Vegas Aces enter the game off an exciting, down to the wire round two win over the No 5. Chicago Sky (93-92) as Dearica Hamby drained a game-winning three-pointer in the final seconds off a Sky turnover.
The 2019 SIxth Woman of the Year, Hamby, stole a pass by Courtney Vandersloot near mid-court before sinking a running three-pointer to give her team the one-point win and secure their spot in the Semi-Finals.
The question now remains, can Hamby, Liz Cambage, and A’ja Wilson lead the Aces past the top-seeded Mystics? The underdog Aces enter the best of five-game series as one of the lone teams to defeat the Mystics at Entertainment and Sports Arena during the regular season. However, that was also one of a series of games the Mystics were without MVP front-runner Elena Delle Donne, who was out with a broken nose.
The other two times the Mystics and Aces faced off, Washington won by a combined 52 points. Delle Donne averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds versus Vegas in the two games she played in.
In the three times the two played each other through the regular season, at least four Mystics finished in double figures each time, with Ariel Atkins averaging 13 points against the Aces.
The Mystics are in the conversation for having one of the best offenses in league history for a reason. With a record-breaking, historic season on individual and team honors, the strength of the team extends beyond Delle Donne. Even with Kristi Toliver, the lone player on the roster to have won a championship, when she was with the Sparks, out injured, the dominance in the league continues.
The Washington Mystics have the right pieces in place including Head Coach Mike Thibault, Delle Donne, a deep bench, a resilient defense, and offensive shooting power.
Washington Is six wins away from a championship. The next step in the quest for the championship begins Tuesday night for the Mystics as they are determined to get back to the finals this year with a different outcome than the 2018 3-0 sweep to the Seattle Storm.
It’s a two-two-one format so Game two will also take place in D.C. on Thursday, September 19 at 8:30pm ET.
Game 1: Sept. 17 vs. Las Vegas 8:30 pm
Game 2: Sept. 19 vs. Las Vegas 8:30 pm
Game 3: Sept. 22 @ Las Vegas 5:00 pm
Game 4: (If Needed) Sept. 24 @ Las Vegas TBD
Game 5: (If needed) Sept. 26 vs. Las Vegas, TBD
Watch all of the action on ESPN2 at 8:30 p.m. ET as Elena Delle Donne and the Mystics take on A’ja Wilson and the Las Vegas Aces in game one Tuesday night.
Renee is a reporter and analyst with ESPN covering college athletics. She also hosts a daily show called "Locked on Wizards" with the Locked on Podcast network.