Shakira Austin Is Balling Out, and the Mystics Have One Shot to Prove They're For Real

Alright, you guys, we gotta talk about what's brewing in the WNBA because it's getting spicy! The Washington Mystics, who've been up and down like a ferry on Puget Sound, just smacked the Chicago Sky 90-72 on Tuesday. After dropping three of their last four, that's a huge bounce-back. Now, they're heading to College Park, Ga. this Saturday to face the Atlanta Dream, and this isn't just another game. Head coach Sydney Johnson's squad is gunning for their first set of consecutive victories this season. Can they do it? This is where they show us if all that talk about growth is legit.

Mystics on the Come Up?

You know I love a team that figures stuff out, and the Mystics might just be doing that. Coach Johnson is hyped on their ball movement, saying they're averaging 21 assists over the last three games. "What I love is that this young team is really trending in the right direction in terms of sharing the ball," Johnson said. "They're appreciating that teams are good at this level and you can't do it alone." He's seeing them play together, and that's exactly what you wanna hear from a young crew. Shakira Austin is absolutely killing it, putting up career-best numbers with 17.1 points and 8.6 boards a night. Kiki Iriafen is right there with her, chipping in 15 points and 10.5 rebounds. Those are serious numbers, but here's the kicker: they're still without their leading scorer, Sonia Citron. The 22-year-old, who drops 17.7 points per game, is out for her second straight contest with a left foot sprain. That's a massive hole, and it means Austin and Iriafen gotta step up even bigger.

Dream's Nightmare Scenario

Now, let's look at the other side of the court. The Atlanta Dream, sitting pretty atop the Eastern Conference at 6-3, just had a brutal night. They posted their lowest scoring output of the year, falling 83-71 on the road to the Indiana Fever on Thursday. And get this: they only managed 29 first-half points! Twenty-nine! You can bet Coach Karl Smesko is fuming. He's worried about that bad shooting night messing with their heads. "Sometimes when you're not shooting it well or you don't finish around the rim, you let it affect other parts of the game," Smesko said. "That's something you can't afford to do." Atlanta has some serious talent though. Allisha Gray is third in the league, dropping 20.2 points per game, and Rhyne Howard adds 17.9. And don't sleep on newcomer Angel Reese, who's averaging 12.8 points and absolutely dominating the glass with a league-leading 11.1 rebounds per outing. This team is tough, and they took three of four games against the Mystics last season, so they know how to beat 'em.

So, what's gonna happen Saturday? This isn't just about a W, it's about showing some consistency. Can the Mystics prove their recent win wasn't a fluke, even with Citron out? Can they finally string two together and show the league they're for real? Or are the Dream gonna shake off that dismal shooting night and remind everyone why they're at the top of the East? This is gonna be a battle, folks, and I'm already counting down the minutes. You know I'll be watching every possession!

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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.