The Shock improved to 3-1 on the season behind 18 points off the bench from Jennifer Azzi. Neither team led by more than five points in the first half, and after 20 minutes of play Detroit and Washington found themselves tied at 36. The Shock took the lead on a Val Whiting lay-up with 2:33 gone in the second half, gradually building on their advantage throughout the period never leading by fewer than six points over the game’s final eight minutes.

The Mystics connected on 45.9 percent of their shots compared to 40.4 for Detroit, but the Shock made up for it with a 17-point advantage from the free throw line. Detroit’s bench also outscored Washington’s reserves 38-13. Nikki McCray (19 points) and Chamique Holdsclaw (18) paced the Mystics who fell to 1-3 on the year.