The Washington Mystics, hoping to catch some of the “Caps-mania” that has swept the District, are throwing open the Capital One Arena doors Thursday afternoon for a free game — that’s right, no admission charge — against the Minnesota Lynx, with a lot of those fans likely to stick around for the Stanley Cup Final watch party later that night.
The arena and the streets outside the building have become the place in the District to root for the Capitals in Las Vegas, where they’ll be taking on the Golden Knights in Game 5, with just one win standing between Washington and the Stanley Cup.
The Mystics could use some of the Capitals’ karma. After a 4-0 start, their best in franchise history, injuries have taken a toll.
Instead of Caps fever, Mystics superstar Elena Delle Donne is struggling with a stubborn case of the stomach flu, with the 2015 WNBA MVP out indefinitely after being diagnosed with an illness that has affected her movement and productivity.
In her absence, the Mystics have gone 1-3 and are struggling to find a consistent scoring option.
Guard Kristi Toliver, averaging 14.4 points per game while shooting an efficient 40.9 from distance, has picked up some of the load.
In the one game the Mystics won with Delle Donne sidelined, Toliver scored a season-high 30 points on 10-16 shooting from the field and 4-7 from behind the arc.
Delle Donne is averaging career lows in points, blocks, and steals, but the star small forward is still a solid bet for 2018 All-Star honors.
The WNBA announced a new format this week for the All-Star Game, a change that is similar to the NBA’s new system. The two players that receive the most votes in each conference will be named as the All-Star captains. The remaining All-Stars will be chosen by the fans, media personnel, and current WNBA players and coaches.
After all 22 All-Stars have been selected, the captains will select from the pool.
The Mystics, in second place in the Eastern Conference, will look to tap into some of the Capitals’ magic when the game begins at 4 p.m.
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