{"id":205876,"date":"2026-07-22T06:00:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T10:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=205876"},"modified":"2026-07-22T00:21:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T04:21:51","slug":"aces-vs-mystics-july-22","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2026\/07\/22\/aces-vs-mystics-july-22\/","title":{"rendered":"Aces vs Mystics: Prediction, Preview & Latest Odds for July 22"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wednesday evening on the WNBA hardwood as the Las Vegas Aces pay a visit to CareFirst Arena, grappling with the Washington Mystics in both teams’ last game before the All-Star break. Las Vegas comes in off a 109-83 road win over Toronto to move to 18-8 on the year. Washington checks in at 13-12 on the year after a huge 90-82 road win over Golden State. These teams split the four meetings a year ago. Let’s dig in and see how this Aces vs Mystics game will play out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aces vs Mystics: Prediction, Preview & Latest Odds for July 22<\/h2>\n

Current Odds<\/h3>\n

Aces -6.5; Over\/Under 163.5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Las Vegas Aces Team Preview<\/h3>\n

Las Vegas rolls into Washington after a dominant win over Toronto, a game where the Aces’ offense fired on every level. A\u2019ja Wilson<\/a> led with 26 on 11\u2011for\u201114 shooting, while Jackie Young<\/a> added 24 and controlled the pace throughout. Chelsea Gray<\/a> posted 14 with seven assists, and NaLyssa Smith<\/a> delivered 18 in one of her most efficient outings. The Aces have now won 14 of their last 19. Their road form remains elite at 11\u20113, and their spacing continues to overwhelm opponents. With the All\u2011Star break looming, Las Vegas aims to close strong against a Washington team that thrives defensively.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas averages 90.7 points per game and shoots 48.8% from the field, the best mark in the league. Wilson leads the team at 25.6 points and 9.6 rebounds, while Young adds 16.4 with strong perimeter efficiency. Gray contributes 12.3 points and 7.4 assists, and Smith adds 12.2 with excellent finishing. Defensively, the Aces allow 85.8 points per game and opponents shoot 43.7%. To win here, Las Vegas must stay patient against Washington\u2019s physical interior defense and avoid early turnovers that feed transition chances.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Aces\u2019 recent surge has been driven by improved ball movement and consistent shot creation. Wilson\u2019s dominance forces defenses to collapse, and Young\u2019s perimeter shooting stretches the floor. Gray\u2019s playmaking remains the engine, and Smith\u2019s efficiency has added a new dimension. However, Las Vegas has occasionally struggled with defensive lapses, especially against teams that attack the paint. The Aces must maintain discipline and avoid giving the Mystics second\u2011chance opportunities. If they control tempo and keep spacing sharp, their offense can dictate the matchup.<\/span><\/p>\n

Las Vegas enters this game with confidence but must respect Washington\u2019s defensive identity. The Mystics have been one of the league\u2019s toughest teams to score on, especially recently. The Aces must start fast, protect possessions and avoid letting Washington slow the game into a grind. Their road success suggests they can handle the environment, but execution will matter. If they maintain rhythm and keep Wilson involved early, they can close the first half of the season with another strong showing.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Washington Mystics Team Preview<\/h3>\n

Washington returns home after a huge win over Golden State, a game where their offense finally matched their defensive intensity. Kiki Iriafen<\/a> delivered 23 with relentless interior work, while Sonia Citron<\/a> added 17 and controlled key stretches. Shakira Austin<\/a> posted 15 points and a massive 15 rebounds, and Michaela Onyenwere<\/a> contributed 12 with timely shooting. Georgia Amoore<\/a> added nine with eight assists. The Mystics<\/a> improved to 13\u201112 and split the two\u2011game set in San Francisco. Their defense held the Valkyries to 43% shooting and continues to be one of the league\u2019s most reliable units.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington averages 80.0 points per game and shoots 43.5% from the field. Citron<\/a> leads the team at 17.0 points, while Austin adds 14.5 with 9.6 rebounds. Iriafen contributes 14.9 points and 9.2 boards, and Onyenwere adds 10.1 with improved perimeter efficiency. Defensively, Washington allows just 82.5 points per game and opponents shoot 42.2%. To win here, the Mystics must control the glass, limit Las Vegas\u2019 early runs, and avoid long scoring droughts that allow the Aces to build separation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Washington\u2019s recent success has come from defensive consistency and improved offensive balance. Austin anchors the paint, and Iriafen\u2019s activity often shifts momentum. Citron\u2019s scoring versatility helps stabilize possessions, while Amoore\u2019s passing has elevated their half\u2011court structure. However, the Mystics have struggled at times with turnovers and cold shooting stretches, especially at home where they are just 5\u20116. They must maintain pace and avoid letting the Aces dictate tempo. If they stay composed and rebound with urgency, they can challenge the Aces\u2019 rhythm.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mystics<\/a> enter this matchup with confidence after beating a strong Golden State team on the road. They split four meetings with Las Vegas last season and understand the physicality required to compete. Washington must start sharp, defend without fouling, and keep the game in the half court. The Mystics’ defense gives them a chance, but they must generate consistent offense to stay within reach. If they maintain structure and keep Austin and Iriafen active, they can push the Aces deep into the fourth quarter.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Aces vs Mystics Prediction<\/h3>\n

Las Vegas -6.5 lines up cleanly with how these teams have been performing of late. The Aces have gone 11\u20113 on the road and have outscored opponents by 7.6 points per game in those contests, which is exactly the kind of margin needed to lay a mid\u2011range number. Their road offense has been even better, averaging 92.3 points per game, while Washington sits at just 82.0 per game at home and has been a shaky 5\u20116 in its own building. With Las Vegas pushing pace and carrying far more scoring reliability, the matchup leans toward the Aces covering.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Over 163.5 fits the rhythm both teams have been playing with. Las Vegas road games have averaged 177 points, and its last 15 overall have averaged 178.8, which is a massive gap compared to this total. Washington\u2019s defense is strong, but its offense showed it can play faster in the second Golden State game. The Mystics will need that tempo again to keep up. Both teams have scoring depth, and the Aces\u2019 pace tends to pull opponents into quicker possessions. The number is high, but the environment supports it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Together, the Aces -6.5 and Over 163.5 complement each other. Las Vegas should dictate tempo, Washington should be forced to match pace, and both offenses have shown they can produce extended scoring bursts. If the game starts fast\u2014as Vegas road games often do\u2014the total will climb quickly, and the Aces\u2019 road strength gives them a clear path to separation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Final Predictions: Las Vegas -6.5 & Over 163.5<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wednesday evening on the WNBA hardwood as the Las Vegas Aces pay a visit to CareFirst Arena, grappling with the Washington Mystics in both teams’ last game before the All-Star break. Las Vegas comes in off a 109-83 road win over Toronto to move to 18-8 on the year. Washington checks in at 13-12 on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5785,"featured_media":205910,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,49087,49709],"tags":[1631,50111,50103,3859,4664,49181],"class_list":["post-205876","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-basketball-betting","category-wnba","tag-aja-wilson","tag-chelsea-gray","tag-kiki-iriafen","tag-las-vegas-aces","tag-nalyssa-smith","tag-washington-mystics"],"modified_by":"Jordan Pagkalinawan, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205876","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5785"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=205876"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205876\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":205911,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205876\/revisions\/205911"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/205910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=205876"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=205876"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=205876"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}