Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever: Starting Lineups and Depth Charts | 2024 WNBA Season (September 19)

By Rob Andrew Lo

Modified Sep 19, 2024 11:30 GMT

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The Indiana Fever will finish its historic regular season campaign against the Washington Mystics on Thursday. The Fever is already locked for the sixth seed, having won 20 games this season. Meanwhile, the Mystics are playing for their tournament lives, as the game is a must-win for a chance to make it into the playoffs.

The Mystics need to win versus the Fever and hope for the Atlanta Dream to lose their final to sneak into the eighth seed and book a first-round matchup against the top-seed New York Liberty in the playoffs.

Otherwise, the Mystics will have to settle for an outside shot to get the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s WNBA draft, which is expected to feature college sensation Paige Bueckers.

Meanwhile, Fever’s rookie Caitlin Clark will also wrap up her terrific rookie season in front of a Washington crowd. Clark has steered the Fever to an impressive upsurge in the second half of the season en route to a sure playoff spot.

A Mystics win would put them at 14-26, while a Fever victory would preserve their above .500 record at 21-19.

Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever: Starting lineups and depth charts

Washington Mystics' starting lineup and depth chart

The Mystics will have to be on their best form in the final game of the regular season against the streaking Fever. Head coach Eric Thibault is expected to rely on his usual starting lineup, featuring Ariel Atkins, Julie Vanloo, Aaliyah Edwards, Brittney Sykes and Stefanie Dolson.

Washington Mystics' depth chart:

G	Julie Vanloo	Shatori Walker-Kimbrough	Sug Sutton
G	Ariel Atkins	Karlie Samuelson	Jade Melbourne
F	Brittney Sykes	Emily Engstler
F	Aaliyah Edwards	Sika Kone
C	Stefanie Dolson	Shakira Austin

Indiana Fever's starting lineup and depth chart

The Indiana Fever has assured themselves of a playoff spot ahead of the season-finale game, making their game versus the Mystics a non-bearing one. If the fever decides to not rest up their key players before the playoffs, head coach Christie Sides is expected to go with her regular starting lineup of Caitlin Clark, Lexi Hull, Kelsey Mitchell, NaLyssa Smith and Aliyah Boston.

Indiana Fever's depth chart

G	Caitlin Clark	Erica Wheeler
G	Lexi Hull	Kristy Wallace	Grace Berger
F	Kelsey Mitchell	Victoria Saxton
F	NaLyssa Smith	Katie Lou Samuelson	Damiris Dantas
C	Aliyah Boston	Temi Fagbenle

Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever: Players to watch

The Washington Mystics will need to lean on the offensive skills of Ariel Atkins in the crucial game. The guard has been the Mystics' leading scorer this season, averaging 14.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. However, the Mystics will have to get more production from their supporting casts led by Aaliyah Edwards and Julie Vanloo.

The Indiana Fever will again be bannered by Caitlin Clark, who has been averaging 19.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 8.4 apg and 1.3 spg. Aside from Clark, Kelsey Mitchell should also be a marked player as she normed 19.6 ppg this season, leading the Fever in scoring.