WNBA Playoffs: Cloud and the Mystics Look to Launch Deep Run at Sparks’ Expense

By ROB KNOX (@knoxrob1)

 

Now the fun begins for the Natasha Cloud and the Washington Mystics. 

 

The third-seeded Mystics (22-12 overall) begin what they expect to be a lengthy playoff run when they host the battled-tested and veteran Los Angeles Sparks (20-15) in a second round game at George Washington’s Charles Smith Center Thursday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

 

Connecticut hosts Phoenix at 8:30 p.m. also on ESPN2. 

The winners advance to the semifinals where they will play Seattle or Atlanta Sunday afternoon. 

A Mystics win sends them to Atlanta while a Sparks triumph earns them a trip to Seattle. Washington won a pair of elimination playoff games last season. 

 

The Sparks arrive in the nation’s capital after eliminating the defending champion Minnesota Lynx, 75-68, Tuesday night at the Staples Center. They  were paced by the dominating play of Chelsea Gray, who scored 26 points. Nneka Ogwumike added 19 points for Los Angeles and Riquna Williams scored 17. Parker, who averages nearly 18 points, was held to two points.

 

The Sparks will be making their second cross-country flight in three days. They flew from New York to Los Angeles on Sunday after a 3.5 hour bus ride from Mohegan Sun Arena after losing to Connecticut in the regular season finale. 

After beating the Lynx, the Sparks return to east coast. Not sure how much of a factor that will be once the ball is tipped.

 

This will be the second meeting between the Sparks and Mystics in six days. Cloud sank a step-back game winner from 18 feet despite terrific defense from Alana Beard to cement a 69-67 victory in an intense game remembered for some heavy pushing and shoving before halftime between Candace Parker and Tianna Hawkins last Friday. 

 

“My teammates put me in an extremely successful situation,” Cloud said last Friday following her game-winning basket. “They were confident in me even when I was not shooting well.

“Every time I came to the sideline, they were telling me to be confident, trusting the work that I put in the offseason, so means a lot to me that coach (Mike Thibault) trusted me to put me in the last couple possessions there, that he has enough trust in me to take care of the ball and to turn things around. Just appreciative and glory to God.”

 

The Mystics also showed lots of resolve in beating the Sparks last week. 

Washington rallied from two double-digit deficits to earn the dramatic victory. Elena Delle Donne led a balanced Washington effort with 16 points and 10 rebounds in the win last week against the Sparks. 

Three others reached double digits including Aerial Powers, who posted a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds).

 

Delle Donne was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Month for August, her fourth monthly honor in her six-year career.

The 2015 WNBA MVP ranked first among Eastern Conference players in scoring (20.0 ppg) and ninth in rebounds (6.3 rpg).  She also finished sixth in field goal percentage (53.5, 54-of-101) and three-point shooting accuracy (44.8, 13-of-29).

  Delle Donne scored in double figures in each of her last six games, including two games with 30 points.  She also recorded at least 23 points two times. 

 

Even though Delle Donne and Kristi Toliver are game-changing talents who play with tremendous heart, tenacity and poise, the dependable and steady performance of Cloud is one reason why the Mystics can win a championship. 

 

Cloud’s play throughout the season has been noticed by many veteran players and coaches. She averaged 8.6 points, 4.6 assists and 3.2 rebounds. Cloud led Washington in assists 12 times and scored in double figures 10 times this season.

 

“She’s a big point guard,” Beard said last Friday. “She does a great job of controlling the point and she understands the options around her. I think she is going to improve as she continues in this league. She’s also under a great coach in (Mike) Thibault. You can see that he is going to continue to push her to be the best that she can.” 

 

In three games against the Sparks, Cloud averaged 8.0 points to help the Mystics win the season series, 2-1. 

The former Saint Joseph’s star out of Broomall has been a more confident player and her jumper has been consistent. While the Sparks participated in the last two WNBA Finals, winning it all in 2016, the Mystics are confident.

 They won their eight games after the All-Star break before losing Sunday in Minnesota after the starters didn’t play the fourth quarter.

 

“It is a combination of this team right now,” said Cloud when asked about her confidence. “We are rolling. Everyone has a pretty high confidence in each other, as well as individually, and then the offseason work.

“I stayed home in the offseason for moments like this, for a season like this. Really just trusting in the process and the work I put in and my teammates having confidence in me, brings a lot of confidence in myself.”