The Mystics and Storm faced off for the first time since the Storm swept the 2018 WNBA finals. Unlike last year, the Mystics came into the game with their roster reasonably complete and healthy, while the Storm were missing MVP Breanna Stewart and future Hall of Famer Sue Bird.
Despite a first quarter ejection for Kristi Toliver (more on that below) D.C. controlled the game comfortably through three quarters. But the Mystics went ice cold in the fourth quarter, and Mercedes Russell shredded their interior defense to fuel a Seattle run.
Natasha Howard tied the game with less than a minute remaining.