A Mystical WNBA Finals
October 14, 2019
On Thursday, October 10, the Washington (D.C.) Mystics defeated the Connecticut Sun 89-78 to win the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) finals presented by YouTube TV. The Mystics won their first title by taking down the Sun three games to two in the best-of-five series. The Mystics made the 2018 finals, but were swept by the Seattle Storm. The Sun were also trying for their first WNBA championship. A capacity crowd of 4,200 fans packed the Entertainment and Sports Arena on the St. Elizabeths East Campus in Washington, D.C., for the deciding game five.
Emma Meesseman of the Washington Mystics shoots over a Connecticut Sun defender in game five of the WNBA finals on Oct. 10, 2019, in Washington, DC. Credit: © Rob Carr, Getty Images
The Mystics had the WNBA’s best record during the regular season (26-8), and the Sun had the second-best record (23-11). In the WNBA, the eight best teams make the playoffs and are seeded according to record, regardless of conference. This system allowed the Mystics and Sun—two Eastern Conference teams—to be seeded no. 1 and no. 2 and eventually meet in the WNBA finals. The Mystics and Sun also received automatic bids to the semifinals as the six lower-seeded teams duked it out in two playoff rounds. The no. 4 seed Las Vegas Aces emerged in one semifinal, which they lost three games to one to Washington. The no. 3 seed Los Angeles Sparks survived the other bracket, but were swept by Connecticut in that semifinal.
In the finals opener on September 29 in D.C., the Mystics jumped out early and held off the Sun for a 95-86 victory. The 2019 WNBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Elena Delle Donne powered the Mystics with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Washington forward Ariel Atkins scored 21 points and guard Kristi Toliver added 18. Connecticut guard Courtney Williams sank six three-pointers and led the Sun with 26 points.
In game two in D.C. on October 1, the visiting Suns stole a tough road victory, 99-87. Back spasms sidelined Washington power forward Delle Donne in the first quarter, clearing the way for the Suns to dominate inside. Connecticut center Jonquel Jones scored 32 points and grabbed 18 rebounds, and Sun forward Alyssa Thomas added 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 assists. Courtney Williams enjoyed another fine performance with 22 points and 6 assists. Washington forward Emma Meesseman filled in more than ably for Delle Donne, scoring 23 points and pulling down 8 rebounds.
The series moved to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, for game three on October 6. The road Mystics spoiled the Sun homecoming, however, with an impressive 94-81 win. Meesseman came off the bench again to lead a balanced Washington attack with 21 points. Mystics guards Toliver (20 points) and Natasha Cloud (19 points) had strong games, and a hobbled Della Donne added 13 points.
In game four in Connecticut on October 8, the Sun evened the series at 2-2 with a 90-86 victory. Sun center Jones again was a force inside, scoring 18 points with 13 rebounds. Sun forward Thomas had 17 points, 8 rebounds, and 11 assists. Mystics forward Aerial Powers came off the bench to lead the team with 15 points, while four other Mystics scored in double figures—including Meesseman, who had earned a new nickname: “Playoff Emma.”
In the deciding game five back in D.C. on October 10, the Mystics thrilled the home crowd with an 89-78 title-clinching win over the Sun. An 8-0 Mystics run broke a 72-72 tie in the fourth quarter, and Washington pulled away for the victory. Meesseman again came off the bench to lead the Mystics with 22 points. Delle Donne had 21 points with 9 rebounds, and the guards Toliver and Cloud each added 18 points. Connecticut’s Jones (25 points) and Thomas (21 points) led the Sun. Meesseman, a native of Belgium, became the first reserve player (non-starter) to be named the WNBA Finals MVP.
The WNBA is an American professional basketball league for women. The league was founded in 1996, and league teams began playing in 1997. The WNBA regular season runs approximately from May to September, followed by the postseason playoffs to determine the league champion.
