Kambui Bomani
Sports Writer
The WNBA Finals features a series between the leagues two best Eastern Conference teams in the Washington Mystics and the Connecticut Sun. The Mystics arrived at the winner’s circle behind the playoff with their best player and league MVP Ella Della Donne.
The two-time MVP joined the 50/40/90 club and averaged 19 per game during the 2019 season. Her play intensified during the playoffs as averaging over 21 through four games in the postseason enroute to Washington’s second consecutive Finals appearance.
The Connecticut Sun are led by the the MVP runner-up Jonquel Jones and her outstanding interior play inside.
Jones led the leauge in rebounds per game and tied Brittney Griner of the Phoenix Mercury for most blocks per game as well. Yet as much as she gives defensively in the interior, she supplies an abundance of floor spacing as well. Jibes has averaged 14.9 points per game and has shot 31 percent from deep throughout the season.
The two teams bring an array of styles on the court that coincide with their strengths.
The Mystics rely on their frontcourt play to do an array of the scoring. Donne has done wonders from a points perspective on the court with fellow teammate Emma Meesseman dominating at the Center position during the playoffs.
The Belgian product has averaged 21 points 6 rebounds and three assists during the Mystics playoff run providing a solid one-two punch with Ella for teams to worry about. Shooting at a 61 percent clip from three, Messeman has also provided a floor-spreading weapon to also go with her superb interior play.
For the Sun, they’ve had to rely on an array of teamwork and effort from their guards and bigs to get to this moment. While Jones is their defensive anchor and offensive instigator, the guard play of Alyssa Thomas and Jasmine Thomas have been key in their season run. Their pesky nature defensive and offensive productivity through scoring and distribution have helped the Sun throughout this run.
Game One of the finals pieces together what could be a common theme throughout the series Della Donne led the way for the Mystics with 22 points, but guard Ariel Atlins added 21 points on just seven shots to help lead a wave of efficiency for Washington enroute to an 95-86 victory.
Atkins scored her first eight points before the first media timeout, and then the Mystics interior game started blitzing the sun to the tune of a 30-17 lead. The Sun meanwhile had trouble involving their best player Jonquelle Jones who had only 12 points on eight shots. Guard Courtney Williams led the way for the Sun with 26 points.
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