Mystics coach Julie Plank said after practice today that All-Star guard Alana Beard will be a game-time decision for Washington’s game against the Storm tomorrow.
Beard sprained her left ankle late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win against Minnesota. She has been held out of this week’s practices and has been receiving hours of treatment each day. The Mystics are in the middle of a playoff chase, but Plank does not want to push the issue and risk further injury.
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“She’s a competitor. She’s not going to want to sit out,” Plank said. “But we have to be smart. I’m not going to play her unless [trainer Navin Hettiarachchi] tells me she’s ready to play. If she’s ready, she’ll play. If not, we’ll check her the next day.”
Complicating things further is that the Mystics play again on Friday on Sunday, a span of three games in four days for the first time this season.
Plank is confident in her roster if Beard has to miss any time. Regardless, if she plays Thursday, she will more than likely be limited. So either way, Washington’s bench play will be critical.
“We do have depth. It’s just a challenge for other people to step up and they need to be ready to do that if she doesn’t play,” Plank said. “Last game we had six players in double figures, so we can do those different things.
