5:05 pm
September 22

Mystics @ Aces

Who will WIN this matchup?

Washington Mystics (26-8)

@ Las Vegas Aces (21-13)

 

Current odds:

Washington Mystics: (-170)

Las Vegas Aces: (+150)

 

• The spread for the game is Washington by 3.5 points.

• While two-time Most Valuable Player Elena Delle Donne gets most of the publicity as the face of the franchise, and rightfully so, it has been the emergence of forward Emma Meesseman that has turned the top-seeded Mystics into an offensive juggernaut that could go down as one of the best in league history.

• The Belgian was a second-round pick by the Mystics in the 2013 draft and had been a dependable starter from 2014-17, averaging between 10.1 and 15.2 points each season. The 6-foot-4 Meesseman sat out last season, worn out from splitting time among the Mystics, her European club team, and the Belgian national team.

• Las Vegas struggled throughout the first two games on its defensive rotations as Washington has run its pick-and-pop offense on the Aces seemingly at will. Meesseman’s stellar performances adds another layer of frustration since, in the words of Liz Cambage, “She ain’t missing any shots.”

• Aces coach Bill Laimbeer took an interesting tack to try and take the pressure off his team, reminding everyone they are ahead of schedule with regards to the three-year plan to turn Las Vegas into title contenders. Cambage’s arrival via trade before the season may have accelerated outside expectations for the Aces — some sports books made them preseason favorites to win the title — but Laimbeer thinks his team should play with nothing to lose since this series is gravy.

5/10
Confidence
StreakSmarter Pick
Washington Mystics
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