Guru’s WNBA Report: Washington Rides Powers to Win Over Connecticut in Championship Rematch

By ROB KNOX (@knoxrob1)

 

Aerial Powers wasn’t pleased with the Washington Mystics four-point halftime deficit or her energy level.

 

Knowing more was needed, Powers quickly rectified that issue in the final 20 minutes. 

 

Playing with renewed vigor, determination, and enthusiasm, Powers transformed into a swirling mass of menace and muscle that attacked with merciless fury to fuel a massive Mystics surge early in the third quarter. 

 

It was the difference in the Mystics’ 94-89 victory over the Connecticut Sun at IMG Academy Tuesday night. 

 

In a rematch of last year’s memorable WNBA Finals series, Powers powered the shorthanded Mystics to their second consecutive victory of the 2020 season by scoring a career-high 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting. 

 

“I talked to the girls at halftime and in my opinion, I felt like we weren’t matching their intensity,” Powers said.

 “That made me mad. I was like let’s match their intensity. Dive on the floor for loose balls. We don’t let anyone outwork us. That’s one reason why I came out with a grin on my face to start the third quarter. My team count on me to bring energy every single day.”

 

While many faces of last year’s Finals competitors were different, the intensity wasn’t. Teams got floor burns from diving across the honey-colored hardwood. There were 53 fouls called and 51 free throws attempted.

 

A huge difference was that Powers got plenty of help from a committee of contributors. 

Helping the Mystics enjoy their second straight balanced scoring performance were Myisha Hines-Allen and Ariel Atkins, who had 16 points each. Emma Meesseman added 12 points and tied a career-high with eight assists.

 

Competing with a blast furnace-like intensity, Powers was the fulcrum of Washington’s 17-2 run in the third quarter that transformed a 54-48 deficit into a 65-56 edge with 5 minutes, 41 seconds remaining. The centerpiece of the run was a burst of 13 consecutive points. 

 

She provided the spark with seven points during the run, which was punctuated in a 62-second eruption with a layup in traffic, an assist that led to an open 3-pointer, a rebound and a deep 3-pointer as the shot clock was winding down. 

 

“We are a team that feeds off of each other’s energy, right and there’s nobody in the crowd,” said a laughing Powers. “So, we have to do that. I am thankful that they look to me for energy.”

 

With last year’s emotional leader Natasha Cloud focusing on social justice and choosing not to play this season, the Mystics needed somebody to fill that void. 

 

Being herself, Powers has happily stepped up for Washington. 

 

Her fiery demeanor is a sight to behold as she exhorts her teammates by clapping her, sharing words of encouragement and never displaying fear on the floor. 

 

“I told her at halftime, we feed off of your energy,” Myisha Hines-Allen said. “We know she can take it to the next level and it’s nothing for her to take over a game.” 

 

While emotion is great, Powers knows more is needed if the Mystics plan to order a matching championship banner in early October. She is also an offensive force with an improving jump shot leading to increased confidence. 

 

She scored 13 first-half points and 14 after intermission. It was the second consecutive game she has scored 10 or more points in the first half.

 Last season, Powers scored 10 or more points in a half 12 times. Known for battling for tough rebounds and using her elegant frame to score in traffic, Powers made four 3-pointers. She’s put the work in during practice to develop into a dependable scorer.

 

“It’s a carry over from last year,” Powers said. “Continuing to work on keeping a balanced shot, my feet square and hands ready to shoot at all times. I think I showed that a little bit tonight. 

“We had some times when the shot clock was winding down and I was the last option. I was ready to shoot. I’ve been working on that and consistently getting up shots when we can get into the gym.”

 

Powers delivered what many believed was a dagger when she nailed a 26-footer from the top of the key as the shot clock was running down to expand the Mystics lead to 91-80 with 3 minutes, 14 seconds remaining.

 

The Sun never got that memo.

 

Riding the brilliance of DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas, the Sun kept charging and playing. The Sun sliced the Mystics lead to 91-89 with less than 90 seconds remaining. Bonner had two chances to tie the game. 

 

Of course, the two possessions concluded with a Powers blocked shot and a rebound.

 

Bonner finished with 29 points and nine rebounds. The Sun’s new acquisition also had two steals to become one of six active players with at least 400 career steals (401). Thomas added 28 points and 11 rebounds. 

 

For the second consecutive game, the Mystics left the court before the playing of the national anthem.

 

“With everything going on in the world, we feel like there is still social injustice going on,” Powers said. “Breonna Taylor’s killers have not been arrested. 

“So, we decided as a team, and as a unit, that is what we are going to do. We are going to stand up for what is right. We wear these shirts for her [Black Lives Matter t-shirts]. So, that’s why we walked off, and we’ll continue to do that until things have changed.”

 

Notes: In scoring over 20 points for the seventh time in her career, Powers joined Atlanta’s Monique Billings as the only players this season to score at least 25+ points on 70 percent shooting in a single game … The Mystics had 35 rebounds … They are 16-1 over the last two seasons when they have finished with at least that many rebounds.