Game Preview: Atlanta vs. Washington

Overview
Atlanta and Washington meet for the second time this season when the Mystics visit Philips Arena Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Dream won the first meeting between the teams this season, claiming a 73-63 victory in Washington D.C. on June 2.

Washington (4-5) has dropped four straight games after a 4-1 start to the season, including a hard-fought 101-97 defeat at home against Phoenix Thursday night. The Mystics will have their work cut out for them, flying to Atlanta on Friday morning for Friday night�s game. The Mystics rank seventh in the league in scoring offense (78.6) and field goal percentage (.434), but are tops in the league in 3-point percentage (.396). Ivory Latta averages a team-best 16.3 points per game, while Crystal Langhorne adds 15.0 points and a team-best 6.9 rebounds.

Atlanta (8-1) has won four straight for the second time this season. The Dream continues to excel defensively, leading the league in scoring defense (69.2), steals (13.1) and turnovers forced (19.1), and ranking second in field goal percentage defense (.390). The Dream�s lone weakness has been 3-point shooting, as the team ranks last in the league making 30.0 percent from behind the arc.

Series History

Atlanta leads the all-time series, 11-10, and has won the last six meetings dating back to 2011. The Dream has a 5-4 edge in games played in Philips Arena and has won the last three. All six wins during the winning streak against the Mystics have come by at least eight points.

Last Meeting

Atlanta took home the victory in the last meeting with the Mystics by a score of 73-63 on June 2 in the Verizon Center. Leading the Dream was Angel McCoughtry with 15 points, and following behind was Erika de Souza with 14 points and Sancho Lyttle with 12. McCoughtry scored 12 of her 15 points in the second half. After having its 17-point lead trimmed to 54-48 after three quarters, Atlanta opened the fourth with a 10-0 spurt, including a layup and free throw from McCoughtry, to regain control. Leading for the Mystics was Crystal Langhorne with 15 and Ivory Latta with 14. Washington committed 10 turnovers in the opening quarter and finished the first half with more turnovers (14) than field goals (13). Using a lineup featuring three rookies brought the Mystics closer at 30-24, but the Dream scored nine points in 90 seconds and led 39-26 at halftime.

Noteworthy
� Atlanta has won 10 straight regular-season games at Philips Arena dating back to last season, all by at least seven points.
� Of Atlanta�s eight victories this season, only one has been by fewer than nine points.
� The Dream�s eight wins have come by an average of 11.9 points per game.
� Atlanta is allowing just 13.9 points on average in the third quarter.
� Angel McCoughtry has scored at least 15 points in every game this season.
� Alex Bentley has made her last seven 3-point field goal attempts.