WNBA: Mystics beat Sun in Game 5 to capture 1st crown
WASHINGTON — The Washington Mystics won their first WNBA championship, getting 22 points from Emma Meesseman and 21 from bangedup league MVP Elena Delle Donne to beat the Connecticut Sun 8978 in Game 5 of the Finals on Thursday night.
It was a fitting conclusion to an entertaining series and WNBA season. This was the seventh series in league history that had gone to a deciding Game 5, and the home team has won five of them.
Delle Donne, who has been dealing with a herniated disk in her back, scored four points during a decisive 80 run that gave the Mystics an 8072 lead with under three minutes left. But it was Meesseman, the softspoken Belgian who unveiled a new, aggressive “Playoff Emma” persona during the title run, who was named MVP of the Finals.
Meesseman missed last season while playing with the Belgian national team.
“I don’t think I’m the missing piece,” she said. “I’m their teammate (and did what) I need to do help my team win a championship. This is my family right here.”
Delle Donne came to Washington three years ago in a trade from Chicago, hoping to get the Mystics their first title. She grew up about an hour from the city in Delaware and wanted to be closer to home. She’s been battling injuries and illnesses all season, breaking her nose early in the year. She still wears a mask to protect it. Delle Donne also wears a brace on her right knee after suffering a bone bruise in last year’s Finals.
The victory gave coach Mike Thibault his first WNBA championship. The league’s alltime winningest coach had reached the Finals three times in his career — twice with Connecticut — and last season with Washington, but fell short each time.
Jonquel Jones had 25 points for the Sun and Alyssa Thomas added 21 points and 12 rebounds.
Meesseman got rolling when the Mystics desperately needed her, with Connecticut leading by nine. She scored 11 points in the third period on an array of post moves and outside shots to get the Mystics within 6462 heading into the final quarter.
Meesseman said her motivation was simple.
“The trophy,” she said. “It’s a championship game. That’s all I need. I’m just playing basketball. Today I just shot my shot.”