Before tipoff, Fever head coach Christie Sides appeared unsure of the right path to take with the team's key starters in a non-consequential game against Washington. While Sides said she'd be "cautious" with their minutes,

Kelsey Mitchell played just four minutes and Caitlin Clark sat most of the second half in the regular-season finale which didn't matter for the Fever.

On Thursday night, the Fever raced out to an 18-2 lead, but the Mystics playing for their playoff lives, fought back and took control of the game by halftime. The lead swelled in the second half before Christie Sides turned to her bench.