Game 1 did not exactly go as planned for the two WNBA teams making their return to the postseason after a few years off. The Washington Mystics and Dallas Wings, both back in the playoffs for the first time since 2023, stumbled hard out of the gate, reminding everyone just how brutal a three-game first round series can be. Instant improvement isn’t just a suggestion; it is straight-up required.
Mystics Blew It, Now What?
The Washington Mystics, a No. 5 seed, showed flashes of brilliance against the Atlanta Dream. They had a strong first half, even taking an 11-point lead. Then, poof! Gone. The Mystics absolutely failed to maintain that level of play in the second half. Even their star second-year players, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, acknowledged it. Citron’s quote after Atlanta took control, “It’s never over till it’s over,” rings a little hollow when you lose the first game, doesn’t it?
The path forward for Washington is clear, according to Beckett Harrison: take care of the ball. Reduce those turnovers, and they can be right there with the Dream. But let’s be real, that’s easier said than done for a team that’s known for being turnover-prone, lacks a high-level primary initiator, and is going up against one of the league’s most “ravenous, turnover-generating” teams in Atlanta. So what if they keep coughing it up? The alternative, as pointed out by Cotie McMah, would be for the Mystics to go “BIG” and “lean into their big, bully-ball stylings.” That would make a Dream supporter pretty nervous. Washington has a way forward, but they have to execute.
Bueckers’ Brilliance Can’t Mask Wings’ Disaster
Over in Dallas, the No. 7-seed Wings had an even more discouraging Game 1. They got absolutely steamrolled by the No. 2-seed Golden State Valkyries. Yeah, it was *that* bad. The biggest bright spot, maybe the *only* bright spot, was Paige Bueckers. She had a spectacular playoff debut, dropping 21 points on a ridiculous 90 percent shooting (9-for-10!). You love to see a young star shine under pressure, but what gives when literally none of her “more veteran teammates” could provide efficient, or even *any*, production to back her up?
The 2023 Wings squad, which actually won their first-round series before getting swept in the semifinals, had names like Arike Ogunbowale, Odyssey Sims, Maddy Siegrist, and Awak Kuier. But Siegrist and Kuier didn’t get big minutes then, and now the current team just got clobbered in Game 1. It’s tough to see how Dallas gets this job done, especially after that kind of Game 1 beatdown. They need their veteran leaders to show up, big time, or Bueckers’ incredible effort is going to be wasted.
The Mystics host Game 2 against the Dream tonight at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN, trying to keep their season alive. Then, the Wings will try to salvage their playoff hopes against the Valkyries at 9 p.m. ET. One more loss for either of these teams and their postseason dreams are done. You gotta make those adjustments, and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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