Mystics creating defensive identity

Each time the clock was reset to 10 seconds at the end of practice Tuesday, the Mystics asked questions. For nearly the last half hour they ran numerous late-game scenarios, the majority intended to rehearse defensive strategies for when Washington would be up by two or three points as "regulation" ticked away.

Whenever they added a new variable to the situation -- changing the location of the in-bounding ball, imagining there was a three-point sharp-shooter and so on -- Coach Julie Plank would rearrange her players and answer their questions, discussing who was responsible for which opponent, when they swapped or set screens. While starting the season 2-0 is nice, the Mystics are determined to establish their reputation around defense.

"I think our defense is our staple. We set the tone with that," Plank said. "We defended Indiana with their pick and roll very well, we shut them out of the paint. Last year they shot probably 11 more free throws than us a game and we kept them off the line. ... We put in our zone defense right before those two games and it helped tremendously in keeping people out of the paint. That's what we're going to rely on and I was pleased we were able to get some points after getting stops."

In both games, Washington shot a higher field goal percentage and outrebounded their opponents, and Plank was pleased with the efforts of Nakia Sanford, Chasity Melvin, Crystal Langhorne and Monique Currie off the glass. Melvin garnered specific praise after hauling in nine rebounds in 23 minutes against Minnesota and six in 16 minutes against the Fever.

"Those are big for us," Plank said. "I told [Melvin] I don't care about the scoring, you've got to rebound. Our front line really pursued the ball really well throughout, especially in our Indiana game."

Washington may add another rebounder to the mix when they host the New York Liberty at 7 p.m. on Friday at Verizon Center. Rookie forward Jacinta Monroe is listed as day-to-day but participated fully in practice on Tuesday and is nearing full strength after she sprained her ankle early on in training camp.

The injury prevented the 6-foot-5 Monroe from appearing in either of the team's two preseason games or taking part in practice for the bulk of camp, but she said the most recent time off, which included the scrimmage against the Polish national team and opening weekend, were precautionary.

"I feel good," Monroe said. "I sat out for the right reasons, just trying to be safe for those games. We've just been working at getting my cardio level back so I can just fit in. In the games that have already passed the team has started to build chemistry so I hope I can feel my way through it and just help my teammates on the court."

Along with the chance of seeing Monroe suit up for her first WNBA game Friday, attention will be on small forward Monique Currie who announced her presence with a strong performance in the first two games. Shooting at a 60 percent success rate from field goal range and 100 percent on free throws, she notched a staggering 48 points and lived up to the expectations she has for herself this season. You'll be able to read more on Currie in Friday's paper.

There will be an important new wrinkle when the Liberty visit Verizon Center though, in the form of explosive Cappie Pondexter, who asked to be traded from the Phoenix Mercury during the offseason. A shooting guard/small forward, Pondexter's presence adds extra credibility to any team's offense. New York also added Nicole Powell via the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft and signed a veteran that the Mystics are familiar with in Taj McWilliams-Franklin.

As for Pondexter though, there likely won't be any one player assigned to shadow the fifth-year guard out of Rutgers who scored 22 points in the Liberty's opener.

"Whatever team Cappie Pondexter is on she makes them a lot more dangerous in many ways," Currie said. "She's a scorer, she can create and she's just a tough match-up for a lot of teams but it will be a collective effort against her. ...You can contain players like her but you can't expect to completely stop her but you can take things away from her."