Reggie Love, Ted Leonsis, President Obama and Malia sit courtside cheering on the Mystics as they defeat the Tulsa Shock 87-62 Sunday afternoon. Photos W. Barron for DC UrbanSports.Starting the month of August off on the right foot, the Washington Mystics get a fifteen point, 87-62, win over rival Tulsa Shock Sunday afternoon at Verizon Center, their second win this week after a dismal three-game losing streak that saw Mystics players and its coaching staff all too ready to say goodbye to the month that was.
With guard Katie Smith coming out strong in the first quarter, scoring the team’s first six points of the game with 2 three-pointers, the Mystics were off and running. A three point shot by Crystal Langhorne, and lay ups by Lindsay Harding and Nakia Sanford also helped propel the Mystics on to a worthy 25-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Shock went scoreless the first six minutes of the second quarter before Tiffany Jackson’s jumper at the 6:21 marker. Johnson was the high scorer with fourteen points for Tulsa.
“We couldn’t buy a basket”, said Tulsa’s head coach Nolan Richardson who continues to see his team struggling to build a WNBA program that ranks last in the Western Conference.
“We just couldn’t get into a rhythm of anything,” Richardson told us after the loss by his team that features former gold medalist Marion Jones whose work ethic he praised.
“I’m happy with the way she comes to work every day. She’s the first to come in, and the last to leave. She’s truly a professional.”
Richardson, who came out of retirement to coach for the Shock, has a storied coaching career that has seen him coach Olympic teams in both Mexico, and in Panama – but never a WNBA team.
He admits the results “haven’t turned out as good”, but his love of the game fuels his dedication.
“Just like anything else you got to start from the bottom and hopefully work your way up to the top.”
The Mystics felt like they were on top as their lead stretched to 44-25 at the half.
We asked coach Plank if there was any coincidence in the number 44, since the 44th president attended the game.
“We did that on purpose”, laughed Plank.
Mystics GM Angela Taylor, after we made mention of the score said, “I’m glad we’re on the winning side of that score.”
Mystics’ Chasity Melvin, who had a total of four rebounds and two assists in the contest, dons the official #44 on her team jersey and was also surprised. “No way!”, she said.
Both Monique Currie and Katie Smith scored 15 points in the win for the Mystics.
The Mystics were up by as many as 26 points at the end of the third quarter, and before the game’s end had cemented their 15th win of the season, and their #3 ranking in the Eastern conference.“We just didn’t want to let up", said head coach Julie Plank.
"Tulsa makes you play ugly, and I was proud we handled the ball much better. We only had eleven turnovers. That was very impressive against a team like them.”
As the Mystics win in front of the Commander-in-Chief (who has attended previous sporting events at Verizon Center), Plank, who agreed it was nice that the president attended, is now focused on the team’s next opponent, the #1 ranked Atlanta Dream, whom the team will play on Tuesday.
“They’re playing extremely well”, said Plank of Atlanta's Dream. “They’re playing at home, they get great crowds, and they have three All Stars on their team. So we got to bring our A game down to Atlanta.”
Sunday’s game was also in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Week. The team wore pink uniforms and gave out pink gift bags. A silent auction was also held featuring various sports memorabilia. This is the third year the Mystics have participated in the awareness week, partnering with Sibley Memorial Hospital. This year's auction garnered $68,000, almost twice that of last year.
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Noteable Mentions
Washington outscored the Shock in all quarters, allowing six of its players to score double figures. Melvin (10), Langhorne (11), Coleman (14), Harding (10) join Currie and Smith with 15.
Despite an appearance by President Obama, the game still had many vacant seats.(Thanks to the WH press pool, Mystics media had to sit waaaayyy up here. Made for a nice angle, though).
Photo/CD Brown.
President Obama played basketball earlier Sunday morning at Fort McNair. He will turn 49 on August 4th.
Councilman Jim Gray also attended the game.
Mystics owner comments on President Obama's visit.
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