Mystics vs. Fever: 'A real test for where we are as a team'

It was uncanny how soon after the Mystics defeated defending WNBA champion Phoenix on Sunday that the players' thoughts turned to the Indiana Fever. Questions about the Mercury transformed into discussions comparing the two opposing styles. Suggestions of momentum became statements on why beating Phoenix is nice, but how Washington (9-5) fares against Indiana (9-5) will tell much more.

"It's just a real test for where we are as a team," Monique Currie said. "We'll see how we do on Tuesday because Indiana actually plays defense, and they play really good defense. We're going to have to be smart and we're really going to have to take advantage of the things they take away. I told [Crystal Langhorne] she'll have to be ready because they're not going to let happen what Phoenix let happen. She's not going to be able to play one-on-one, most of us probably won't be able to. We're going to have to share the ball and execute."

In 2009, Indiana tormented the Mystics. Regardless of what schemes they tried in the six meetings between the two teams, the result was a Fever victory. Katie Douglas and Tamika Catchings seemed to reach new heights against Washington, setting new franchise records and flirting with career highs.

But all of that, the Mystics maintain, is in the past. Washington won 72-65 when the teams met in the 2010 season opener on May 15, and although both groups have evolved since the debut, there is no lingering sting from Indiana's dominance in the previous year.

"I think last year they were just the thorn in our side," Nakia Sanford said. "I think this year is a little different because our nucleus is the same, but we've added some defensive pieces like Katie [Smith]. I know they're going to be eager to come in here and play hard against us because we beat them in their home opener. We know they're going to be coming in here ready. The biggest challenge is just going to be who's tougher."

Katie Smith had many of her own battles against the Fever as a member of the Detroit Shock, and she's looking forward to taking on the reigning Eastern Conference champions again.

"They play hard, they're a good team they have really good players. I think wanting to face them is just a competitive thing," said Smith, who notched her 1,000th career assist early against Phoenix. "You want to play against a good team that expects to win. We want to be that. We want to be that consistent and we have a chance to prove that. We're all still battling and jockeying for position in the East still trying to stay in the mix for playoff spots, so obviously it's a huge game in a lot of ways."

Heading in to Tuesday's 7 p.m. contest at Verizon Center, which will be broadcast on ESPN2, the Fever and Mystics have allowed the fewest points against in the league at 71.64 and 72.64, respectively. Indiana leads in steals (11.21) and blocks (5.36).

They don't have a plethora of prolific scorers - Tamika Catchings (15.6) and Katie Douglas (14.5) are the only two in double figures - but rather rely on a group that can score whenever called upon. Most recently, Indiana's bench led the way to a 70-64 win over Chicago on Sunday.

"We can do things to slow them down, we've got to take away what's comfortable," Currie said. "We know them pretty well, they're mostly the same team that they were last year. While we have Katie Smith, who will help us out defensively especially with Tamika, who has been a handful for us since forever it seems. Players like [Catchings] and Katie Douglas you can't expect to stop them but you can take things away from them. I think that's what we have to do."