WNBA-best Lynx take on Mystics squad on a roll

Field Level Media|published: Sat 20th June, 14:48 2026

Jun 19, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) gestures after scoring a basket against the Golden State Valkyries during the second quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-Imagn Images

There's been little that has slowed down the league-best Minnesota Lynx through six weeks of the regular season.

The Washington Mystics will hope to provide a challenge, though, as the teams square off for the first of two straight meetings on Sunday in Minneapolis.

Minnesota (13-3) has won at least 13 of its first 16 games for the third straight year, while leading the league in scoring (92.3 points per game), field goal percentage (50.1%) and 3-point percentage (39.3%).

Winners in 11 of their last 12, the Lynx have a multitude of options in late-game scenarios. The team boasts four players averaging 14 points or more, including Courtney Williams' 16.9 clip.

Williams -- a 10-year veteran -- is enjoying a career year in the scoring column and cherishes having the ball in her hands at the end of games. She had 21 points and 12 rebounds, while making all seven of her free throw attempts in Minnesota's 81-75 road win over the Golden State Valkyries on Friday.

"All you've got to do is tell Courtney she can't do something," Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said of Williams' motivation. "Courtney wants to be in the frontcourt at the end of the game and be the one getting fouled to seal it. Courtney's so darn competitive and if I question for a second that she can't do something, she's going to prove me wrong."

Rookie Olivia Miles leads the Lynx with 18.3 ppg, while Natasha Howard adds 17.1.

Washington (7-7), meanwhile, enters the two-game set playing some of its best basketball of the season. The Mystics have won back-to-back games for the first time this year and are looking for their third consecutive road victory.

After an inconsistent start to the season, Washington's youthful squad appears to have found its rhythm.

"This is the first time we've won two games in a row this season, so we're really excited about that," second-year forward Kiki Iriafen said after Washington's 86-83 win over the New York Liberty on Friday. "We played the Liberty last week and they smacked us, so we were very intentional when we came out today."

Sonia Citron paces Washington with 17.3 ppg, followed by fellow 22-year-old Iriafen's 15.1.

Minnesota and Washington will play in the nation's capital on Wednesday.

--Field Level Media

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