Guru’s WNBA Report: Hines-Allen Has Washington Living Up To Defending Champs Identity in Season Opener

By ROB KNOX

(@knoxrob1)

By B 

By Rob Knox (@knoxrob1)

A slight smile creased Myisha Hines-Allen’s perspiration-covered face after delivering an exquisite one-handed touch pass to Emma Meesseman on a fast break that resulted in a basket for the reigning WNBA champion Washington Mystics during the third quarter. 

 

It was one of many brilliant moments for Hines-Allen. 

 

She had a blast in unfurling an incandescent 27-point and 10-rebound highlight reel during the Mystics 101-76 victory over the Indiana Fever Saturday afternoon in their season-opener at IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.).

 

In making 11 of 17 shots from the field, her sensational scoring spree made the “wubble” go wacky and allowed Washington to beat the Fever for the 11th consecutive time. 

 

“I am super happy with myself and how I played today,” said Hines-Allen wearing a white long sleeve shirt with the words “We Are Breonna Taylor” during her postgame Zoom interview. “It’s a great feeling to have a game like this.”

 

The 2020 WNBA season is being played in honor of Taylor, who was a Black emergency medical technician shot dead in her apartment by Louisville Metro Police officers. This performance would’ve made her proud. 

 

Before the game, both teams – like the Seattle Storm, New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury and Los Angeles Sparks in earlier contests – had a 26 second moment of silence before the start of the contest.

 

“We’re playing for something bigger than ourselves,” Washington guard Ariel Atkins said. “We want justice for Breonna Taylor. We want her killers to be arrested. We stand united as a league, and we back that. We will continue to back that until her and all the other Black women who have been treated without justice get their due justice. It’s a tough situation, but I appreciate, and I’m very thankful, to be part of a league that’s handling the tough stuff.”

 

Combining quickness and strength, Hines-Allen was focused and motivated from the beginning. 

 

In addition to Hines-Allen’s career-high scoring total, Aerial Powers hustled and bustled her way to 16 points, Meesseman, the Belgian native who was the first ever bench player to earn the MVP playoffs award last October, bullied her way to 14 points while Atkins and Temple product Shay Peddy added 10 points each. 

Washington made 35 of its first 50 shot attempts.

 

“The coaching staff and my teammates gave me confidence,” Hines-Allen said. “They told me don’t hesitate to shoot and I got text messages from my teammates. I had so much support today and with that, you can’t go wrong. I am always going to play hard and be aggressive. I had open shots and I was able to run the floor too. I just basically took what the defense gave me.”

 

Showcasing a panoply of scoring weapons, the third-year guard from Louisville also took what she wanted like a thief. 

 

Her dynamite performance was proof that great things happen for those who display a positive attitude while demonstrating patience and perseverance. She confidently believed her time would come. 

 During last season’s title run, Hines-Allen was enthusiastic and engaged as she supported her teammates by smiling, high-fiving, fist-bumping, and encouraging them despite the limited minutes she played down the stretch.  

 

“She’s worked hard and it paid off for her today,” Washington head coach Mike Thibault said. “I am expecting her to play well. She knew that when Tina or Elena wasn’t going to play, this would be a good opportunity for her. She just got stuck in a tough position last year with so many great post players.” 

 

Hines-Allen enjoyed flashes of brilliance during her fledgling career. However, after her 13-point outing in a win over Minnesota on Aug. 11, 2019, she combined to score 18 points in her final eight regular-season games. 

 

Helped by a 14-point first-quarter effort, Hines-Allen surpassed that total by intermission. 

 

She scored 22 points in the opening 20 minutes to help the Mystics sprint to an unfathomable 62-35 halftime bulge over the startled Fever, which got a team-best 25 points from Kelsey Mitchell. 

 

The game featured the subplot of Thibault facing off against former assistant coach and longtime friend Marianne Stanley, who was coaching her first game in charge of the Indiana Fever. Stanley received her championship ring before the start of the game from the Mystics organization.

 

“It was emotional,” Thibault said. “She meant a lot to the Mystics organization. She’ll be missed here, but I am happy she got the head coaching job (at Indiana). It was a special moment to give her a ring.”

 

NOTES: Hines-Allen’s 22 first-half points are the most by a Mystics player since Elena Delle Donne scored 25 first-half points against the Liberty (9/3/2019) … Last season, three Mystics players (Delle Donne, Meesseman, Toliver) scored 20+ points in a half … Washington 101 points are the most scored in a season-opener in franchise history … The previous high was 95 points (5/27/13 at Tulsa, 5/23/06 vs. New York) … The Mystics 25-point win over the Fever marks the first time Washington has won by 25+ points in a season-opener since May 23, 2006 (WAS 95, NYL 60) … The Mystics outscored the Fever, 43-16, over the final 13 minutes of the first half, including 26-9 in the second quarter.