Mystics vs. Mercury WNBA odds: Washington upgrades Elena Delle Donne to doubtful Tuesday
The Washington Mystics are very short-handed right now due to injury, part of the reason they have lost 10 of their past 15 games. While a few key players remain out for tonight’s #WNBA game at the Phoenix Mercury, it’s possible that All-Star Elena Delle Donne could return. The Mercury are -2.5 with a total of 157.5 – on which SBIA’s analytics model has two heavy leans.
Delle Donne, a seven-time All-Star and two-time league MVP, suffered a left ankle sprain in mid-July but has been upgraded to doubtful for Tuesday – which still makes it unlikely she returns but no longer out of the question. Delle Donne has been limited to 15 games overall this year but leads the team in scoring (18.2 ppg) and rebounding (6.0 rpg).
Still out for @WashMystics are: Ariel Atkins (left ankle sprain), Shakira Austin (left hip strain) and Kristi Toliver (plantar fasciitis). Austin hasn’t played since June 25 and is averaging 11.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. Atkins has been out since July 11 and averages 12.5 points and 3.4 rebounds. Toliver, who is a reserve, has been sidelined since June 16 but she only averages 4.4 ppg.
The Mystics enter off a 91-83 home loss to Los Angeles on Sunday. Brittney Sykes hit a jumper to give Washington an eight-point lead with six minutes to play and the Mystics still led by three with three minutes to go before fading. Sykes was ejected from the game late after a bit of a scuffle with L.A.’s Layshia Clarendon but Sykes avoided a suspension. She leads the WNBA in steals at 2.2 per game.
@PhoenixMercury All-Star center Brittney Griner returned from a three-game mental break on Saturday but Phoenix was upset at home by Seattle 97-91. Griner had 22 points, six rebounds and four assists in 24 foul-plagued minutes. Diana Taurasi had 28 points after she scored 42 on Thursday night and became the first-ever WNBA player to reach 10,000 career points.
Phoenix guard Shey Peddy was hit in the head by an elbow before halftime, removed from the court on a stretcher and taken to a hospital. The 34-year-old is out Tuesday. She averages 5.2 ppg.
Washington leads the season series 2-0, easily winning both meetings at home. The Mystics’ 19-point win on June 16 was their third-largest margin of victory in series history and biggest since June 21, 2005 (+21). Washington has won only two road games against the Mercury since 2010, though, with both in 2018.
The Mystics are 1-4 ATS in their past five in Phoenix and there’s currently a 69% lean on the Mercury ATS at one major sportsbook. Not much total action yet.
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