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Takeaways: Washington Mystics ride rookies to upset win over Minnesota Lynx

By Lindsay Gibbs

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Myisha Hines-Allen #2 of the Washington Mystics reacts during game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 27, 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 27: Myisha Hines-Allen #2 of the Washington Mystics reacts during game against the Minnesota Lynx on May 27, 2018 at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 24: Myisha Hines-Allen #2 of the Washington Mystics handles the ball against the Indiana Fever on May 24, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – MAY 24: Myisha Hines-Allen #2 of the Washington Mystics handles the ball against the Indiana Fever on May 24, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Other Takeaways:

Sylvia Fowles faded as the game went on. Fowles scored the first six points of the game, and ended the first quarter with 13 points and five rebounds; Mystics’ center Krystal Thomas just simply couldn’t do anything with her. Fowles tweaked her ankle in the second quarter, but was back out there in the second half, so it didn’t seem to have a big impact on her game. She was undoubtedly rattled by the athleticism of Hines-Allen and Hawkins, though — she was held to four points and four rebounds in the entire second half.

But Sylvia Fowles also shot 100 percent from the field. Yeah, she was 8-for-8. And I guess you’d consider this an off day?

Shatori Walker-Kimbrough changed the game. Walker-Kimbrough was on the court for the fewest minutes of any Mystics player, but in just 5:34 she had a humongous impact on the outcome. Walker-Kimbrough led the charge in the second quarter, with seven straight points and a steal to get the Mystics right back into the game after a disastrous first quarter that they lost 26-11. She finished the game 4-for-4 for nine points in just 5:34. It was a bit surprising that she didn’t get any minutes in the second half, but head coach Mike Thibault is clearly still trying to figure out how this team fits together. But if she keeps making that much of an impact in the minutes she’s given, she’ll earn her keep for sure.

Latoya Sanders was active for the first time. Sanders, who has been battling an illness the first week of the season, dressed for the game today, but didn’t see any playing time. The Mystics have a road trip coming up, and Sanders won’t be travelling with team to Seattle on Tuesday, because she has one more doctor’s appointment. The plan is to have her meet the team in Phoenix for the game on Wednesday, and see how she’s feeling in practice and during warm-ups. With Thomas struggling at center early this year, getting Sanders healthy and active could be a big boost. Oh, and while we’re at it, Tayler Hill is still on track to be back in late June. (Thibault said 3-4 weeks.)

The Mystics’ starting lineup needs a shake-up. As exciting as it is to have the Mystics’ bench providing such a spark, it’s concerning how much better the bench is playing than the starting lineup. If I had to guess, I’d say Mo Currie and Thomas could be out of the lineup soon, as they’ve been the most ineffective starters, and Hines-Allen and Hawkins could slide in. Of course, if this happens, the Mystics are going to have to go small no matter what, because Thomas is their only true center. Tierra Ruffin-Pratt even played the small forward slot today for a while in the second half, but that had a lot to do with Delle Donne being out.

Thibault laughed when I asked him about lineup changes, and said he might have to just shake up the names and pull them out of a hat at this point. But, it does seem like he’s resigned himself to the fact that a change is needed; the Mystics can’t keep digging themselves into double-digit holes in the first quarter and expect to always come back. The good news for the Mystics is that this is an incredibly deep team; Thibault just needs to figure out how to best balance his talent.

Hines-Allen is going to be a superstar. Okay, yes, some recency bias might be at play here. But she is absolutely fearless — she wants to do it all, on offense and defense. After the game, she told me she was “in awe” when she first saw the Lynx take the court, but the second she got out there, she realized it was just basketball.

The best part about Hines-Allen? She wasn’t surprised she got a double-double against the Lynx. In fact, she was upset it hadn’t happened sooner in her career.

“In college I always got a double-double, so I was like, when is it going to happen, when is it going to happen, because I’m so used to it,” she said after the game. When I reminded her that this was only the second week and fourth game of her WNBA career — she didn’t exactly wait a lifetime — she didn’t rescind her comment.

“It wasn’t like I was even coming close, though,” she said.

I have no clue what this means for the Lynx. I’m sorry. My focus this game was the play from the Mystics’ rookies, but obviously the way the Lynx faded down the stretch, scoring only 10 points in the fourth quarter, is a concern. Rebekkah Brunson and Seimone Augustus did not have very effective games, and the only two bench players to make an impact were Danielle Robinson (9 points) and Tanisha Wright (10 points). But, I’d put your panic buttons down, Lynx fans. For now.

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