Gameday: Mercury at Mystics

Washington faces its first significant test as a defense-first team when they take on the high-flying Mercury tonight. These two teams usually make for some exciting match-ups, but right now there are a lot of questions percolating. Such as: Will the Mystics, who regularly like to speed up the tempo, try to slow the pace down to slow Phoenix? Can they be disciplined enough defensively to keep the Mercury under wraps for an entire game? Will Washington come out for its first fast start in three games?

Tipoff: 7 p.m., Verizon Center
Stream the game online via LiveAccess by going here and downloading the plugin for Windows or Mac.

What To Watch For

*Several Mystics talked about how they can't afford to have many more slow starts to games. A slow start could be very dangerous especially against Phoenix, because there's a good chance the deficit could grow to much more than the 10 point hole Washington found itself in by halftime against Chicago. There is less room for error, or dry shooting spells, against a team that averages over 91 points per game.

"We've got to start out strong like we did the first game of the season," forward Monique Currie said. "We know we can fight back but we don't want to be fighting back all the time. It needs to be 'get ahead and stay ahead.'"

*Matchup problems. Diana Taurasi and Cappie Pondexter are likely going to get their points, and the Mystics haven't needed to shut down a pure scoring threat like Taurasi yet this season. Keep an eye on how the Mystics' perimeter defenders try to limit her lethal propensity for 3-pointers. And don't forget about rookie DeWanna Bonner, who Phoenix has moved between four positions to exploit any weaknesses they sense.

Bonner was one of the players Washington interviewed extensively before the draft and the coaching staff is fond of her, perhaps that will make them better able to deal with her rangy style.

"She's a great kid. We talked to her a lot before the draft," Coach Julie Plank said. "She's on a perfect team for her too. She creates a lot of mismatches, she's really good at starting the offense and running the floor. She can pick and roll, pick and pop and she's long. She likes to defend to block too so we'll need to keep an eye on her."

Probable Starters

For Washington: The usual combination of PG Lindsey Harding, G Alana Beard, F Monique Currie, F Nakia Sanford and C Chasity Melvin.

For Phoenix: PG Temeka Johnson, G Diana Taurasi, F Cappie Pondexter, F Le'coe Willingham, C Tangela Smith.

By Katie Carrera  |  June 25, 2009; 1:17 PM ET
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