Shatori Walker-Kimbrough made the most of her minutes. In her sophomore season, Walker-Kimbrough has almost been an afterthought on the Mystics’ squad, thanks to the elite play of rookies Atkins and Myisha Hines-Allen. In fact, Walker-Kimbrough didn’t get any playing time at all in the Mystics’ last three games.
But the Maryland stand-out — who, by the way, is the best player to keep an eye on if you enjoy bench celebrations — didn’t get discouraged. Instead, she did that thing that coaches always tell players to do, and she treated practice like they were her games. The coaching staff noticed, and Thibault told High Post Hoops that they went into the game tonight determined to get her some minutes. She made the most of them — 10 of her 14 minutes came in the second quarter, where she had seven points and one steal and helped the Mystics go on a 22-11 run that put the game out of reach headed into the half.
Walker-Kimbrough is a phenomenal shooter who can also cause a lot of irritation on the defensive side of the ball — in this game alone, she had two steals and a blocked shot. But her problems in her young WNBA career have been focus, energy, and consistency. She’s been very candid about that, and in a conversation with High Post Hoops after the game on Tuesday, said that beyond just growing more comfortable with the physicality of the league, she’s devoted herself to becoming a smarter player. Now, she knows the strategy, the weaknesses and strengths of each player, the game plans, the tendencies; even from the bench, she says she’s watching the game more as a coach than as just a passive participant, which helps keep her more engaged when she’s off the court, and more assertive when her number is called.
Keep an eye on her development. And, might I remind you again, her celebration dances. (When asked about her dances, she said she “likes to stay warm.”)
Krystal Thomas had her most effective game of the season. Thomas was the shock of the Mystics’ season last year, and a big reason why the team held together despite many injuries and illnesses to Meesseman and Delle Donne. But this year, the true center has had a harder time finding her niche — and her shot — on Thibault’s squad. Still, when the Sky were dominating in the post early on thanks to stellar off-the-bench play by Cheyenne Parker, Thomas came off the bench and helped settle things down in the post. She tied her season-high in rebounds, with six, and scored four points, which believe it or not is the most she’s scored all month. While she was a starter last season, this year she’s going to be much more of a spot player; games like this showed that she can still contribute from that position.
Chicago has some work to do. Look, it was an awful night for Chicago. There’s no sugar-coating it. They only shot 29.7 percent from the field, none of their starters scored in double digits, and they had 18 turnovers which led to 26 points by the Mystics.
However, it was just one game. Stefanie Dolson was out with an injury, and she’s their most important piece. Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot shot a combined 4-for-20, which is unlikely to happen on a regular basis. And there were impressive performances off of the bench, with Parker getting 18 points, 9 rebounds, and former Mystic Kahleah Copper with 13 points, four rebounds.
The Sky get another swing at the Mystics on Friday in Chicago, so we’ll see if Amber Stocks and co. have learned any lessons.