Angel Reese has become a two-way focal point for the Atlanta Dream; if the Washington Mystics have any chance of progressing in the playoffs, head coach Sydney Johnson must have a blueprint to limit her paint dominance. Fielding Lauren Betts alongside Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen could be a creative formula that could provide the Dream a much-needed edge.
Since landing in Atlanta, Angel Reese has gone from strength to strength on both sides of the ball. Evidence suggests that few players will ever best Reese in the battle of the boards, and to make matters worse for Washington, the 24-year-old has significantly improved her shooting efficiency in recent weeks.
In her last 10 appearances for the Dream, Reese has shot above 50% from the field on six occasions. In Atlanta's 124-88 blowout win over the Los Angeles Sparks, the LSU alum registered 20 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, shooting 100% from the field on nine attempts.
Unfortunately for the Mystics, Reese has discovered her offensive rhythm at exactly the wrong time. Intensity in the playoffs is vastly different from the regular season, and it's fair to assume Reese's relentless mentality will take her performances to a new stratosphere. Washington needs to find a way to cool her hot streak.
Betts and Austin could sway the rebounding momentum
To solely focus on Angel Reese would be a catastrophic mistake for the Mystics. What makes Atlanta so dangerous is their loaded offense, with Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray both having scoring seasons to remember. However, Reese's versatile skill set presents a unique challenge, and Washington can't afford to be dominated in the paint.
Lauren Betts has had a relatively quiet rookie year after leading UCLA to a historic National Championship. The 22-year-old has averaged just 17.7 minutes per game, proving that Sydney Johnson prefers a lineup spearheaded by Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen.
While 6.4 points per game are hardly numbers that will sway her head coach's tactical decisions, Betts' interior presence could be highly beneficial against a team that relies heavily on Reese establishing a rebounding outlet.
Throughout her time in the NCAA, Betts averaged 7.8 rebounds and 2 blocks per game. When individually comparing these statistics with those of Angel Reese, there is only one clear winner. But if Johnson can increase Betts' role in the rotation and partner her with other physical frontcourt options such as the much-improved Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen, the Mystics stand a serious chance in this matchup.
Having Betts, Austin, and Iriafen in the same lineup will give the Mystics size, physicality, and a critical defensive edge. The issue then becomes: what havoc will Gray and Howard cause from beyond the arc? Can a lineup this size defend the perimeter sufficiently?
Shakira Austin and Kiki Iriafen are more than capable of holding their own from that defensive range. The duo has showcased their defensive switchability all season long. This has been a major contributing factor in the Mystics cementing their place as the second-highest-ranked team in the WNBA's defensive rating standings (103.3). Ironically, Lauren Betts is arguably the one player who has yet to prove her worth when defending the perimeter.
The Washington Mystics could be the team to watch in the 2026 WNBA playoffs; they have defied the odds all season to secure a postseason place. Nevertheless, they won't be resting on their laurels and will hope to continue their spectacular journey. And to do that, Sydney Johnson must limit Angel Reese's influence in the series. Fielding a taller lineup, with Lauren Betters on the floor, could be a wise move.
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