History was made in the Washington Mystics’ 89-71 win over the Los Angeles Sparks. Former WNBA MVP Tina Charles finished the game with 20 points and 10 rebounds recording her 158th career double-double.
This moved her past Lisa Leslie for the 2nd-most career double-doubles in WNBA history. Charles is 11 shy of Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles, the active double-doubles leader.
Through eight games in the 2021 season, Tina Charles has been the WNBA’s leading scorer averaging 25.2 points and 8.6 rebounds. This was just her second double-double this season.
With the win, the Mystics improved to 4-5 winning consecutive games for the first time this season
Mystics guard Ariel Atkins led the team with a game-high 23 points on 70% shooting, five rebounds and two steals. Myisha Hines-Allen finished the game with 10 points and six rebounds.
Playing without Chiney and Nneka Ogwumike, the Sparks dropped to 4-4 with the loss. They had a rough night shooting from the field shooting 32% from the field.
Te’a Cooper led the Sparks scoring 11 points followed by Brittney Sykes who scored 10 points off the bench.
The Washington Mystics started off the game hot building a double-digit lead six minutes into the game. They led by as much as 13 points in the first quarter ending the period up 23-14. Tina Charles and Ariel Atkins combined to score 18 of the Mystics 23 points in the first.
Outside of making the first two baskets in the second quarter cutting the Mystics lead to five, the Sparks were unable to make the game competitive trailing by as many as 24 points.