Top Mystics vs. Sparks Players to Watch - 8/23/2024

Dearica Hamby and Ariel Atkins will duke it out when the Los Angeles Sparks (6-22) play the Washington Mystics (6-22) at St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena on Friday, August 23 at 7:30 PM ET.

The Mystics average 79.0 points per game (ninth in the league) while allowing 84.2 per outing (eighth in the WNBA). They have a -146 scoring differential overall and have been outscored by 5.2 points per game.

The Sparks put up 77.9 points per game (11th in league) while allowing 85.6 per contest (10th in WNBA). They have a -217 scoring differential and have been outscored by 7.7 points per game.

How to Watch Mystics vs. Sparks

• Date: Friday, August 23, 2024
• Time: 7:30 PM ET
• How to Watch on TV: ION
• Live Stream: Sling TV
• Location: Washington D.C.
• Venue: St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena

Mystics’ Last Game

Washington suffered defeat by a final score of 83-77 in its last game against Seattle. Leading the way on offense for the Mystics was Atkins, who ended the game with 24 points and three steals. Shakira Austin posted 24 points, nine rebounds and three steals.

• Ariel Atkins: 25 PTS | 5 REB |1 AST | 1 STL | 1 BLK | 5 3PM
• Shakira Austin: 24 PTS | 9 REB |0 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 0 3PM
• Brittney Sykes: 12 PTS | 4 REB |5 AST | 3 STL | 1 BLK | 1 3PM

Sparks’ Last Game

Los Angeles is coming into this game having lost to Connecticut 69-61 in its last game. Rickea Jackson led the team with 14 points and six rebounds.

• Rickea Jackson: 14 PTS | 6 REB |1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 3PM
• Azurá Stevens: 14 PTS | 6 REB |0 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 3PM
• Kia Nurse: 9 PTS | 3 REB |2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 3PM

Mystics Players to Watch

• Atkins posts a team-best 15.8 points per game. She is also averaging 3.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists, shooting 42.1% from the floor and 33.8% from downtown with 1.9 made 3-pointers per game.
• Stefanie Dolson averages 10.6 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists per contest, shooting 51.3% from the floor and 51.3% from downtown (first in WNBA) with 2.1 made 3-pointers per game (10th in league).
• Aaliyah Edwards is tops on her team in rebounds per contest (5.8), and also puts up 8.3 points and 1.3 assists. Defensively, she delivers 0.7 steals and 0.8 blocked shots.
• Julie Vanloo posts a team-leading 5.0 assists per game. She is also averaging 7.9 points and 1.8 rebounds, shooting 34.3% from the floor and 32.5% from downtown with 1.9 made 3-pointers per game.
• Shatori Walker-Kimbrough puts up 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest, shooting 39.3% from the field and 34.5% from beyond the arc with 1.0 made 3-pointers per contest.

Sparks Players to Watch

• Hamby tops the Sparks in scoring (18.0 points per game), rebounding (10.1) and assists (3.5), shooting 50.7% from the floor. She also delivers 1.5 steals (ninth in WNBA) and 0.1 blocked shots.
• Jackson gets the Sparks 11.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per contest. She also puts up 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocked shots.
• Aari McDonald is putting up 9.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game, making 40.6% of her shots from the field and 31.5% from 3-point range, with 1.2 triples per contest.
• The Sparks receive 8.1 points, 1.2 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game from Kia Nurse.
• Odyssey Sims gives the Sparks 13.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game. She also averages 1.3 steals and 0.4 blocked shots.