The Washington Mystics opened the 2019 season with a blowout 84-69 loss to the Connecticut Sun Saturday. The Mystics shot 37.5 percent from the field and made just 3-of-21 three-pointers. Stats aside, the Mystics may have suffered a greater loss.
Already down star Elena Delle Donne with knee soreness, the Mystics lost All-Star Kristi Toliver to an apparent knee injury in the first half.
Toliver initially bumped knees with Sun forward Alyssa Thomas in the first quarter. She limped off to the bench to get checked on. Meanwhile, the Sun took a 22-18 first quarter lead.
We thought this looked familiar. @KristiToliver givin’ us déjà vu pic.twitter.com/cqmpQYpaci
— Washington Mystics (@WashMystics) May 26, 2019
Toliver would return and ultimately scored 11 points, but in the second quarter she suffered another misfortune. As she drove to the lane to give the Mystics a 37-32 lead with a layup, Toliver’s momentum took her into the sitting lap of a court side cameraman.
She twisted her right leg in the process.
Toliver would return to the game a second time, before exiting the game for good midway through the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the Mystics without their two leading ladies fell out of rhythm. Connecticut behind Thomas’ game-high 23 points, outscored the Mystics 40-28 in the second half to pull away for the statement win.
Following the game, Mystics head coach Mike Thibault said he was a “little concerned” about Toliver’s status.
Washington will have a full week before their next game — Jun. 1 home opener against the Atlanta Dream. They can only hope both Delle Donne and Toliver get on the mend and can return to the court sooner than later to help their quest to return to the WNBA Finals.
