The Washington Mystics are taking the court tonight in D.C., hoping to clinch the team’s first-ever WNBA Championship title. The final series with the Connecticut Sun is tied 2-2, making tonight’s game a make-or-break 40 minutes of basketball for the Mystics, a team that has defined its 2019 season with record-shattering performances.
Last year, the Mystics made it to the finals for the first time in the franchise’s history, ending their streak of being the only WNBA team to have never made a championship appearance. After losing three straight finals games to the Seattle Storm, the Mystics returned this year with a renewed energy that led them to secure the best record in the league.
Over the course of the season, the Mystics set their franchise records for the most wins (26) and highest points per game average (89.3). They also set WNBA records for highest free throw percentage in a season (87.5), and most assists per game (21.9).
The team’s star forward and league MVP, Elena Delle Donne, proved to be a force on the court over the course of the regular season. Despite herniating a disk in her back earlier in the series, Delle Donne returned for Game 3 on Sunday, assisting the Mystics to a 94-81 win over Connecticut.
In Game 4 of the series on Tuesday, Washington left the first half down 16 points to the Sun. After a second-half full of sharp-shooting, the Mystics cut the deficit to only one point with less than a minute left to go. The Sun held off Washington in the last 60 seconds, leaving us with a high-pressure final game tonight.
A win in tonight’s game would mark many “firsts” for the team, as they cap off their first season in an arena of their own. In September 2018, The Entertainment and Sports Arena debuted as the new home arena for the Mystics, who previously played their games in Capital One Arena, a 20,000 seat facility (The ESA has a capacity of 4,200). The Mystics hoisting the championship trophy in a filled stadium of their own, with the Mystics logo painted right at center-court, would be a historic moment for the Washington franchise after a record-breaking season.
A Mystics win would also be the first championship victory for the team’s coach-general manager Mike Thibault, the winningest coach in WNBA history. This series is something of a reunion for him: Thibault previously spent 10 years as head coach of the Connecticut Sun.
If you’re looking to witness the decisive game in real time, resale tickets are still available. The game will be broadcast on ESPN for viewers at home. Events DC will also host a viewing party at Gateway DC Pavilion a few blocks away from the ESA, with food and a big screen to watch the game. It starts at 6:30 p.m.
This story has been updated with information about Events DC’s watch party.
Colleen Grablick