The Game 

It’s camp day!

The Lynx are taking on the Washington Mystics on Wednesday afternoon at Target Center in what has become a fun tradition for the team. Playing a game during the day on a Wednesday opens up the opportunity to bring in a lot of local youth who are attending summer camps around the Twin Cities. There will be lots of yelling and more viral dance crazes than you can possibly imagine but it will also undoubtedly be one of the most psyched crowds of the year.

Fun aside, this is also an extremely important game for the Lynx. They have lost two in a row and three of four, including their first double-digit loss of the season to the Seattle Storm. While it is encouraging that the Lynx have been in contention in so many games it is equally disappointing that they haven’t come out of more of their contests with victories.

Finishing strong will be of critical importance against a very good Mystics team that just destroyed the Dream 93-65. The Mystics are 11-6 on the season, just two games ahead of the Lynx who are currently 10-9. The margins separating the top and the bottom of the league are extremely thin, and every game represents both an opportunity to rise and a potential to be set back.

What: Lynx vs. Mystics
When: 12 p.m.
Where: Target Center
Watch: NBA TV, Fox Sports North
Listen: Live on the Minnesota Lynx app, tape-delayed until 7 p.m. on BOB FM 106.1.

Delle Dominant

Elena Delle Donne is on quite the run right now. After missing a few games with a broken nose, she returned with a fury, and has scored 28 points in back-to-back games. In Washington’s latest game against Atlanta, Delle Donne missed just three shots and went four-for-four from three-point range.

Slowing down Delle Donne will need to be a combined effort by the Lynx. Damiris Dantas will start on her but because Dantas is still working her way back from injury, Napheesa Collier will undoubtedly see some time on Delle Donne as well. The two of them will need to be at their best to give the Lynx a chance to win.

Turnover Battle

The Lynx average more turnovers per game than any other team and the Mystics are the best in the league at taking care of the ball. Winning that battle will be crucial for the Lynx, who have been doomed in quite a few games this season by their carelessness with the ball.

While Minnesota hasn’t been good at limiting turnovers, the good news is that they are very good at forcing them. The Lynx have still actually forced more turnovers (they are second in the league in that category) than they’ve given up on the season. They need to do the same against Washington.

Injury Report:

Lynx: Seimone Augustus (knee), Karima Christmas-Kelly (knee) and Jessica Shepard (ACL) are out.
Mystics: Ariel Atkins (Achilles) is questionable, Kiara Leslie (knee) is out.

Probable Starters:

Lynx: PG—Robinson, SG—Sims, SF—Dantas, PF—Collier, C—Fowles
Mystics: PG—Cloud, SG—Toliver, SF—Powers, PF—Delle Donne, C—Sanders