Emily Engstler stars for the surging Mystics in a rout of the Wings

July 31, 2024

When a flurry of baskets and assists by Emily Engstler prompted the Dallas Wings to call a timeout late in the second quarter Saturday afternoon, her Washington Mystics teammates took turns invading her space. Some shouted their enthusiasm. Others offered exuberant shoves. Later, Karlie Samuelson put her arm around Engstler and affectionately called her a dog.

The depleted Mystics ran away from the struggling Wings for a 97-69 victory at Entertainment and Sports Arena as Engstler — a 2022 lottery pick who has bounced around the WNBA, in which roster spots are scarce — finished with career highs of 23 points and three three-pointers.

Washington, which started a franchise-worst 0-12, has won three of four since. Its 97 points were its most since Sept. 5.

“It took us a long time to get that first win, obviously, but we were close in a lot of those games, and I think we never lost confidence,” Samuelson said. “... It just feels good to keep adding to that win column and especially when we’re down bodies, too.”

The Mystics (3-13) entered at a disadvantage in the frontcourt, facing a towering Wings team that had five players available who are 6-foot-4 or taller. Washington’s injuries made the size discrepancy even more pronounced. Forward Shakira Austin (6-5), who hasn’t played since May 31, remained out with a hip injury. And her replacement in the starting lineup, rookie Aaliyah Edwards (6-3), missed a game for the first time in her WNBA career; she sat out with a back injury.

Engstler helped offset Dallas’s height advantage. With 3:26 remaining in the first quarter, the former Louisville standout already had a season high in points. After a second-chance layup just before the third-quarter buzzer, she topped her career high.

“She’s finding a nice rhythm,” Coach Eric Thibault said. “... She’s been doing the work when people haven’t been around to see it. She’s made hustle plays and stuff for us, but there’s more to her game than that. … It was just kind of a matter of time before she made some shots, and we wanted to take advantage of that, too. So I love that she came in the game aggressive and ready to let it fly.”

Despite the size disparity, the Mystics outrebounded the Wings 39-36 and outscored them in the paint 34-22. Dallas (3-12) entered the game as one of the WNBA’s top teams in both categories but saw its losing streak stretch to 10.

Engstler, who is on her third team just two years after being drafted fourth overall, added nine rebounds, three assists and two steals in 25 minutes.

“I think it’s just a confidence booster,” she said. “... I think the biggest thing about playing well is that we won at the end of the day. If I got this stat line and we lost, I don’t think it would feel as great.”

Center Stefanie Dolson, who at 6-5 was the tallest Mystics player on the floor, had 16 points and 10 rebounds while stretching the floor with her perimeter shooting and defending the Wings’ 6-7 centers, Teaira McCowan and Kalani Brown.

Samuelson had 17 points and went 3 for 5 from beyond the arc. It was her third consecutive double-digit scoring game.

“I liked that she got 12 shots up,” Thibault said after Samuelson shot 5 for 12. “I think that’s always the biggest thing — can we get her enough shots? Because if we do, I think she’ll make them. [I] thought she had a pretty quick trigger today, which is great.”

Samuelson also took on the task of defending Wings star guard Arike Ogunbowale, who entered as the league’s second-leading scorer at 25.4 points. Ogunbowale never found a rhythm Saturday: She had six points, a season low, and shot 0 for 6 from beyond the arc.

The skidding Wings have tumbled to the bottom of the Western Conference after reaching the WNBA semifinals last season. Two-time all-star Satou Sabally has yet to play this year after an offseason shoulder injury. Second-year forward Maddy Siegrist, in the middle of a breakout season, is out through the Olympic break with a broken finger. And Natasha Howard was on a minutes restriction as she returns from a broken foot; she had a team-high 19 points.

Both teams probably will be undermanned when they meet again at 3 p.m. Sunday at Entertainment and Sports Arena. Edwards’s status is uncertain, Thibault said before the game. And guard Brittney Sykes remained out with a left foot sprain; she was seen on the bench Saturday in a walking boot.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7uK3SoaCnn6Sku7G70q1lnKedZMCxu9GtqmhqYGeBcHyVaGlrZ5Witq3FjJ6loKukobKzecyyqq2hk6h6uLXNoKpmr56XrnA%3D