“I’m a shooter — period,” Cloud stated with a smirk. “[It was] just my teammates finding me in successful positions, kicking the ball out. I thought we did a really good job of controlling the pace, coming out, punching them in the mouth first. And that was our mission to get out. We didn’t want them to have the energy on their home opener.”
Cloud went scorched earth within the first half with all 19 of her factors, capturing 4 for six from behind the arc for the Mystics (2-0). She drove for layups, hit midrange pull-up jumpers and buried wide-open three-pointers. The 30-year-old has by no means averaged greater than 9 factors in a season, however she posted 17 in Friday’s season-opening win and topped that Sunday. At one level, Cloud had 19 factors and the Lynx had 21.
“We just wanted to keep the pace fast,” Mystics Coach and General Manager Mike Thibault stated. “And if she could turn the corner and create, teams are going to find out she can shoot. The scouting report for her was let her shoot threes, and she’s making them. … Tash has worked on her game. It’s paid off.”
Vocal management all the time has been a part of Cloud’s ability set, however she was significantly outspoken throughout coaching camp and has carried that into the season. On Sunday, she may very well be heard getting her teammates prepared within the hallway close to the doorway to the court docket, huddling them up and emphasizing the necessity for everybody to contribute with simply eight gamers obtainable.
That’s precisely what occurred. Ariel Atkins posted 20 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Myisha Hines-Allen added 11 factors, eight rebounds and three assists. Rookie Shakira Austin had her first double-double in her first begin with 13 factors and 10 rebounds. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 10 factors and 5 rebounds.
Jessica Shepard paced Minnesota (0-2) with 16 factors and 12 rebounds. The Lynx made a livid comeback try within the fourth quarter because the Mystics fatigued and misplaced among the crisp ball motion that helped them construct a 27-point lead. But Atkins made some large performs down the stretch to shut out the victory.
“We needed to get that win,” she stated. “I think, more than anything, we’ve been getting better little by little, every day. … [Sunday’s victory] showed us what we’re capable of.”
Here’s what else to know in regards to the Mystics’ win:
The consequence was determined within the second quarter, when the Mystics outscored the Lynx 23-4 to take a 47-23 halftime lead. The Lynx had been terrible offensively within the second, capturing 7.1 p.c and lacking all 4 of their three-point makes an attempt.
Austin did a masterful job battling seven-time all-star Sylvia Fowles, refusing to present an inch to the 36-year-old in her remaining season. At one level, she compelled the Lynx right into a three-second violation as Fowles fought with elbows excessive, making an attempt to get publish place that Austin refused to surrender. Fowles completed with 13 factors and eight rebounds; she surpassed 6,000 factors to maneuver into tenth all-time in WNBA scoring.
“You’re talking about playing against a Hall of Fame center,” Thibault stated, “and in many ways [matching] her as far as the statistical part. But also it kept us from having to help as much in the paint because she was active. She just played her butt off.”
“This is why we drafted Shakira,” Cloud stated. “We knew she could come in and have an immediate impact on our organization.”
The Mystics had been calling themselves the “Elite Eight” on Sunday with Elena Delle Donne, Alysha Clark (foot) and Tianna Hawkins (private) again in Washington. Delle Donne had a scheduled break day; the Mystics will combine these in throughout the season to maintain her recent and never overwork her surgically repaired again. Clark has but to make her season debut after lacking all of 2021, and Hawkins had a demise within the household.
“We’re all we got. We’re all we need,” Cloud advised her teammates earlier than the sport. “… The ‘Elite Eight’ and we’re putting the W on notice — we’re a good [expletive] team regardless of who we have on the floor.”
That left rookies Austin, Rui Machida and Katie Benzan and lately signed Stephanie Jones to hold elevated hundreds. Austin began for Delle Donne, and the opposite three had been the one bench gamers obtainable.
“They just told me it was going to be a big load, but I was prepared for it,” Austin stated. “I’ve guarded some great players in college, so I just took that mind-set and just applied it to now.”
Machida confirmed off among the court docket imaginative and prescient she displayed whereas main Japan to the silver medal eventually summer season’s Tokyo Olympics. She discovered Cloud for a number of open three-pointers, and he or she completed with three assists and 4 rebounds.
Benzan made her WNBA debut, enjoying two minutes with an help.
The Mystics had been granted one other hardship roster spot with Kennedy Burke nonetheless not with the workforce. They introduced again Benzan, a former Maryland guard who traveled with the workforce in anticipation of clearing waivers at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Mystics shall be shorthanded for a number of weeks, however Thibault offered an replace Sunday. He hopes that Clark shall be prepared Friday vs. Dallas. (Washington’s subsequent sport is Tuesday vs. Las Vegas.) Burke, who has been enjoying in Spain, is scheduled to reach in Washington on May 16 and is slated to journey to a sport at Dallas the subsequent day. Elizabeth Williams stays out till her Turkish workforce wraps up its postseason.