It’s time for another episode of the Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast. The latest episode features host Missy Heidrick, who is joined by The Next’s Washington Mystics beat writer and managing editor Jenn Hatfield for a Washington Mystics playoff preview.
Missy and Jenn discuss all things Mystics as the playoffs draw closer, including the health and rest of Elena Delle Donne, the vibe of the team, a standout rookie and much more.
Jenn on the vibe of the team heading into the final weekend of the regular season, including an on-paper easy game against Indiana:
[Head coach Mike] Thibault pointed out this week, after one of the team’s practices, that the Mystics were actually down to Indiana the second time they played them this season … back in May. They were down at the half and had to come back. … This isn’t going to be a cakewalk. They respect Indiana; they know they’re going to have to be prepared.
Jenn on the evolution of rookie Shakira Austin, whom she recently wrote about here at The Next:
The thing that stands out to me personally is her confidence. It leaps off the page. Maybe I notice it more because that was the one thing I never had in my athletic career, a healthy dose of confidence. But she’s just brimming with confidence. No one can bring her down. That kind of goes back to her childhood, where her dad told her from a really young age, “You’re different. You’re special. You’re going to be somebody if you put the work in.”
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For more coverage of the Washington Mystics from our Jenn Hatfield, click here.