Published Jul 5, 2:02am ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jul 5, 2:02am ET
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Updated Jul 5, 2:02am ET
One of Monday's WNBA matchups features the Washington Mystics hosting the Golden State Valkyries. Who has the edge in our Mystics vs Valkyries pick?
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| Washington Mystics | +3.5 (-109) |
| Golden State Valkyries | -3.5 (-111) |
After suffering back-to-back losses, Washington has won two straight. The team's latest triumph was an 81-76 victory against the Atlanta Dream on Jul. 2.
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Washington got off to a slow start, trailing 41-32 at the break, thanks to 18 turnovers and attempting 22 fewer shots. However, the narrative was different after intermission, with the Mystics outscoring Atlanta 49-35, including a 25-16 advantage in the fourth quarter.
Shakira Austin powered the offense with 21 points, nine rebounds, and three assists on 9-for-14 shooting from the field. Kiki Iriafen posted a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds.
True, the Mystics were efficient across the board, shooting 55 percent overall and 56 percent from beyond the arc. All the same, the bigger story was their defensive effort, as Washington held the Dream to 37 percent shooting and just 23 percent from three, a level of resistance that ultimately shaped the outcome.
Following consecutive losses to Minnesota and Las Vegas, the Valkyries have reeled off four straight wins. This stretch includes an 88-83 victory against the Atlanta Dream on Jul. 4.
Fast-forwarding to the fourth quarter, the Dream took a 77-74 lead behind five straight points from Angel Reese. But Golden State responded with an 8-0 burst, and the road team stayed ahead over the final 1:38.
Veronica Burton was one of three players in double figures. She led the way with 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists, connecting on six of her nine shot attempts. Janelled Salaun paced the bench unit with 13 points, knocking down three 3-pointers.
Washington enters this tilt as a 3.5-point underdog. Here's what you need to know for both teams ahead of this showdown.
The Mystics have won three of their last five at CareFirst Arena, while Golden State is 2-3 in its previous five road outings. Even so, the Valkyries have won all four meetings in this series and rank first in points allowed and second in defensive rating. With that in mind, Golden State has the edge in this interconference battle.
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Pick
Golden State Valkyries (-3.5)
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