The Washington Mystics head north Tuesday night to take on the Toronto Tempo in a matchup between two teams trying to gain ground in the WNBA playoff race. Washington enters the game at 11-10 after picking up an important win over the Seattle Storm, while Toronto sits at 10-13 after a two-point victory over the New York Liberty. With both teams coming off wins, this game could come down to which club handles the fourth quarter better.
The last meeting between these teams was decided by just one point, with Washington escaping 86-85. That result showed how evenly matched these teams can be. Expect another close game.
Washington has quietly played better basketball over the past few weeks. The Mystics have won six of their last 10 games and are getting stronger on both ends of the floor. Their young core continues to develop, and they have done a solid job attacking the paint while controlling the glass. If they can continue that approach, they should create plenty of second-chance opportunities.
Toronto has been more difficult to predict. The Tempo are coming off an impressive win over New York, but they have still dropped seven of their last 10 games. Their offense has produced points throughout the season, but defensive consistency has been an issue. Toronto has allowed more points than it has scored this season, and that has been one of the biggest reasons it sits below .500.
Several individual matchups could decide this contest. Marina Mabrey continues to lead Toronto’s offense and is capable of taking over stretches of the game with her scoring and playmaking. Washington will counter with a balanced attack led by Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin. The Mystics do not rely on one player every night, making them difficult to defend when multiple players get involved early.
One area to watch will be rebounding. Washington has been one of the stronger rebounding teams in the league, while Toronto has struggled to finish defensive possessions. Extra opportunities could become the difference in a game expected to stay close throughout.
Although Toronto has the home court advantage, Washington appears to be playing the more complete basketball entering this matchup. The Mystics have been more consistent over the past two weeks and have already shown they can beat the Tempo. If they defend without sending Toronto to the free throw line and continue to control the boards, they should have a slight edge late in the game.
- BettingBrain Pick: Washington Mystics Moneyline
- Score Prediction: Washington Mystics 84, Toronto Tempo 79.
