Sky at Mystics: injuries, recent form and the matchup

Game outlook

The Washington Mystics host the Chicago Sky on Thursday, September 24 at Capital One Arena. The first market snapshot is not posted yet, so the early read is form, scoring, rest and availability.

Availability

The observed injury report lists six Sky players. Out long-term: Skylar Diggins (Out, out for the season; feed updated Sep 1) and Rickea Jackson (Out, out for the season; feed updated May 19). Listed with the observed estimated return date of September 24, the day of this game: Aicha Coulibaly (Out; feed updated Sep 22), DiJonai Carrington (Out; feed updated Sep 21), Natasha Cloud (Out; feed updated Sep 21) and Azura Stevens (Out; feed updated Sep 21) — the observed estimates, not confirmations.

The Sky have already played one game of their last five without Aicha Coulibaly (September 22 against the Tempo). The largest minutes increase in that game was Elizabeth Williams’: 30, against 18.8 a game in the other four. That is box-score observation, not a published lineup.

Natasha Cloud appeared in three of the Sky’s last five games, so the rotation in that window already reflects her absence.

Azura Stevens appeared in three of the Sky’s last five games, so the rotation in that window already reflects her absence.

The Mystics have no one on the observed injury report.

How they match up

Over the full season the Sky (16-27) score 86.6 points a game and allow 90.4, a -3.8 differential; the Mystics (27-16) score 83.6 and allow 82.5, +1.1. The Sky are 5-16 on the road; the Mystics are 14-7 at home.

The pace differs — an estimated 84.2 possessions a game for the Sky, 80.4 for the Mystics: the Sky score about 102.6 points per 100 possessions, the Mystics 104.1 (points per game divided by estimated possessions).

The Sky shoot 43.9% and hold opponents to 44.7%; the Mystics shoot 45.2% and allow 42.8%. On the glass the Sky are -3.8 a game and the Mystics +7.7 a game (season team stats).

Recent form adds to that picture: the Sky are 4-6 over their last 10 with a -9.9 average margin, the Mystics 8-2 at +8.3. The Sky’s worst result in that stretch was a 110–80 loss at home to the Mystics on September 17. The Mystics’ was 94–84 at home to the Lynx on August 21.

Rest does not separate them: the Sky come in on 1 days of rest after their last game on September 22, the Mystics on 1 days after September 22 (PropSports schedule, whole days between tips).

Season series: WSH leads series 2-0: the Mystics won 110–80 in Chicago on September 17; the Mystics won 90–72 at home on June 2.

The line

No market snapshot exists for this game yet. Snapshots run at 8:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET.

Before tip

The observed estimated return date for Aicha Coulibaly, DiJonai Carrington, Natasha Cloud and Azura Stevens is game day (feed updated Sep 22 and Sep 21); none is a confirmation, and each confirmed return or scratch changes the rotation described above.

Player props enter the board inside 36 hours of tip, which is usually where a minutes change becomes visible first.