The Washington Mystics are preparing for their first playoff appearance with their core of Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin. They are sixth in the standings and regularly beat much more experienced teams with their size, physicality, and defense.
Two glaring weak spots for the Mystics have been their somewhat lacking point guard play and their below-average 3-point shooting. Michaela Onyenwere and Shakira Austin are the only players shooting above 33% from deep for the season, and, after an ACL tear that cost her last season, Georgia Amoore just hasn’t looked ready to be a high-level contributor on a playoff team for most of the year.
Over the last few games, Amoore has looked much more comfortable and ready for the big moments. If she can keep it up, the turnaround couldn’t come at a better time. With the playoffs right around the corner, the Mystics need everyone playing their best.
Georgia Amoore might be finding her rhythm
For most of the season, the Mystics closed tight games with Cotie McMahon next to the other four starters in Amoore’s place and trusted Sonia Citron to run the offense. In a close game with the Mercury, Amoore turned out to be the fourth-quarter hero. She scored 17 points to lead the Mystics to an 80-73 victory.
Amoore finished the game with 25 points on 56.3% shooting from the field and 54.5% from three, 2 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. It was by far her best game of the season. But it wasn’t her only good scoring game over the Mystics’ three-win stretch. She also recorded 13 points on 4-6 shooting from the field and 3-4 from deep, 3 rebounds, and 1 assist in a five-point win against the Portland Fire.
Amoore could improve her assist-to-turnover ratio, but the Mystics need another perimeter scorer next to Austin. If Amoore can be that, it will only make the Mystics more dangerous in the playoffs.
The Mystics’ playoff potential is deceptive
Washington is the youngest team in the playoffs. Their youth and lack of experience make them seem like an obvious first-round target that all the top teams would like to make short work of.
But it may not be as easy as it sounds. The Mystics’ size, physicality, and defensive tenacity make them a tiring opponent. If Amoore can boost the offense Citron, Iriafen, and Austin create, beating them in a best-of-three series will be difficult. If the season ended today, the Mystics would face the Aces. Las Vegas just lost NaLyssa Smith to a season-ending injury.
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