On the day when both the WNBA and NBA celebrated what would have been Kobe Bryant’s 42nd birthday, the Washington Mystics (4–8) took on the Phoenix Mercury (6–7). Both teams were missing key players, with Washington entering without Emma Meesseman for a second consecutive contest, while Phoenix were without star center Brittney Griner.
Early in the first, the Mystics committed several turnovers and suffered from a lack of communication. Despite some early stumbles, the team improved, with Ariel Atkins scoring eight of her 18 points in the first. Atkins also had four assists, one steal and shot 50-percent from three.