Dream-Mystics Preview

The Washington Mystics have been hard to figure.

They have gone 5-2 on the road but will be looking for their first home victory of the WNBA season when they play host to the Atlanta Dream at Verizon Center on Saturday.

Washington, 0-5 at home, defeated the Dream 86-79 in Atlanta on June 5.

"It's going to take our best game," Mystics forward Emma Meesseman told The Washington Post about ending the team's home losing streak. "We have to play the type of game we played in Atlanta, and better. More blockouts, being aggressive, attack the basket. Just everything trying to be as perfect as possible."

Atlanta entered Friday night's home game against Chicago leading the Eastern Division with a 7-3 record.

Washington had won three of its past four games, with Meesseman at the center of the action. She is the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and the fourth-year pro scored a team-high 23 points on Tuesday night in a 109-106 triple-overtime victory at the Connecticut Sun.

Better health has helped the Mystics recently, although starting point guard Tierra Ruffin-Pratt has missed practice this week to rest a sprained ankle. Her availability for Saturday was in question.

Washington forward LaToya Sanders, a staunch defender who this week helped Turkey clinch a spot in the Olympics in the FIBA qualifying tournament in France, should rejoin the team next week.

Atlanta forward Angel McCoughtry scored a game-high 28 points when the teams met earlier this month. She entered Friday night's game averaging 20.3 points, third best in the WNBA behind New York forward Tina Charles (21.6) and Phoenix guard Diana Taurasi (21.4).

Saturday's game at Washington will mark the only time this season that Atlanta will play on consecutive days. That follows a four-game homestand.

The Dream will be without forward Sancho Lyttle (6.8 points, 8.9 rebounds per game) for the third consecutive game because of Olympic qualifying in France. She scored 24 points on Friday to lead Spain to victory and a clinching berth. She is expected to return Wednesday against New York.

Washington is 0-5 at home for the first time since 1999.