Indiana Fever guard Kristy Wallace (3) scrambles for the ball against Washington Mystics guard Jade Melbourne (5)Wednesday, June 19, 2024, during the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Stefanie Dolson attempts to continue her hot streak when the Washington Mystics visit the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday night.
Dolson has scored at least 14 points in each of her past five games, most recently recording a season-best 23 in Washington’s 88-77 home loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Saturday. She also matched her season high of five 3-pointers in the setback and has made four or more in four of the past five games.
“She’s obviously in a good rhythm,” Mystics coach Eric Thibault said of Dolson. “Trying not to say too much to her. That’s like a baseball hitter on a streak — you just don’t say much and keep it moving.”
Dolson has already set a career high with 44 3-pointers this year. She leads the WNBA in 3-point percentage at 50 percent.
Washington (4-15) has dropped its past two games as it enters a four-game road trip.
The Sparks (4-14) are beginning a stretch in which they play seven of eight games at home after going winless during a seven-game road trip. Five of the losses were by at least 10 points.
Los Angeles received another bad break before its 92-78 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Friday when it revealed that guard Lexie Brown will be sidelined indefinitely due to Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory bowel disease that causes major issues in the digestive tract.
Brown played just seven minutes against the New York Liberty on June 20 and missed the rematch two days later.
Last season, Brown was limited to just 12 games due to gastrointestinal issues, even undergoing an emergency surgery during the campaign. In November, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease.
Before the season, the 29-year-old discussed her challenges at length with Athletes Unlimited.
“I set really high expectations for myself, that motivated me to get back healthy, get back to support, get ready for camp, get ready for the league, but now I’m just trying to manage it and get back to my health again,” Brown said.
Brown has averaged 8.1 points in 16 games (eight starts) this season.
The Sparks are also without standout rookie Cameron Brink (averages 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds) for the season due to an ACL tear in her left knee.
Brown scored a season-high 20 points when the Sparks posted a 70-68 win over the visiting Mystics on May 21.
–Field Level Media
