Chasity Melvin News

Tamika Catchings talked earlier this summer about having her kettle on "boil" all of the time.

Comment: Coach Lin Dunn has said for the Fever to excel, Hoffman must perform well.

Loading... 1 of 7 Quanitra Hollingsworth, center, eyes a rebound between Mystic players Marissa Coleman and Chasity Melvin.

WASHINGTON While Congress continues to debate health care nearby on Capitol Hill, there was nothing debatable about the way the Washington Mystics took care of its own health issues Thursday night in enhancing their WNBA playoff hopes with a 78-67 win over the Seattle Storm at the Verizon Center.

The Washington Mystics were able to shrug off a sluggish start Tuesday night, but a late perimeter assault from the Detroit Shock proved too much to handle.

Mystics head coach Julie Plank has her team near the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

Washington's Chasity Melvin battles Detroit's Alexis Hornbuckle, left, for a rebound at Verizon Center.

Nakia Sanford froze for one moment in the final minute of the Washington Mystics' 70-66 victory over the Detroit Shock on Friday night at Verizon Center. With less than 12 seconds left in the game and the Mystics clinging to a four-point lead, Sanford was defending Kara Braxton on the block, when an inbounds pass sailed over her head, giving Braxton a clear path to the basket.

'As long as it wasn't a three, I was okay. But I was still like, 'Crap!' ' Sanford said after the game, as she signed autographs for a long line of fans. 'It was still scary.'

After being burned by their inability to defend one WNBA All-Star, the Washington Mystics will try to fare better in containing another.

In just 18 games, the Washington Mystics have already matched last year's total with 10 wins.

Even though the Washington Mystics have dropped both their games against the Indiana Fever this season, they have walked away from each loss assured that they can hang with the Eastern Conference front-runners. Talent hasn't been a problem for the Mystics against Indiana - that all five starters scored in double figures Tuesday night serves as ...

Katie Douglas poured in a career-high 34 points with nine rebounds as Indiana got by Washington, 85-81. Tamika Catchings posted 15 points while Ebony Hoffman added 10 points and a game-best 10 boards for the Fever, who improved to 7-2 in July and have captured 13 of 15 since starting the season with consecutive losses.

Check out this list of notable stats and milestones within reach during Tuesday's games around the WNBA.

WASHINGTON Crystal Langhorne scored 19 points and Lindsey Harding added 16 to lead the Washington Mystics to an 87-73 victory over the Sacramento Monarchs on Sunday.

Washington Mystics coach Julie Plank has kept an eye on the Eastern Conference standings all season.

Crystal Langhorne had 16 points and 10 rebounds, Lindsey Harding scored 15 points, including nine in the fourth quarter, and the Washington Mystics earned a 75-64 win over the Chicago Sky on Thursday night.

Lindsey Harding scored 23 points, including two free throws with 8.2 seconds left, to lead the Washington Mystics to a 68-67 victory over the New York Liberty on Saturday night.

The Los Angeles Sparks continue to adapt to a roster in flux. Their surroundings won't be very consistent for a while, either.

The Lynx scratched and clawed for this victory. Especially Renee Montgomery. The 5-7 rookie guard kept driving to the basket and making layups despite being knocked to the floor repeatedly.

Chamique Holdsclaw scored 18 points, and Sancho Lyttle added 16, helping the Atlanta Dream snap a two-game losing streak with a 72-65 victory over the Washington Mystics on Friday night.