(d)Ejection. On Friday in San Antonio, the Mystics played three quarters of basketball, which was sufficient to beat the Silver Stars. Tonight in DC, however, the Mystics only played the last two quarters, which was not enough to beat the Storm. During the first half, the Mystics committed 13 turnovers and hit 9 field goals. You don't win too many games with that kind of stat, and indeed the Mystics dug themselves a hole that proved insurmountable despite a terrific second half by the team, including a career high 30 points by Alana Beard (still playing with a bad ankle) and another double double by Chasity Melvin. With 38.3 seconds left, Richie Adubato was called for his second technical and ejected. That pretty much summed up the game, as the Mystics lost, 73-71. Alana couldn't have said it better: "We didn't come to play and you can't do that in this game. You've got to come for 40 minutes."

There were a few memorable moments, though:

In nearly nine years of watching Mystics games, the BasketCases have never seen the game ball disappear, not even during half time magic acts. But tonight, with about 5 minutes left in the game, the officials and the teams returned to the court after a time out, only to find the game ball missing. Official June Courteau finally realized that the time out entertainment guys had taken it off the court with them after a kiddy shoot out contest. She called for the ball, and one was thrown out to her from a tunnel. Unfortunately, it was a cheap rubber ball, so June threw it back and asked for the real ball. Finally, a leather ball was thrown out. It was getting to be like a vaudeville act. June inspected the ball carefully, and handed it to Alana Beard, who likewise gave it a good looking over. They decided it was a go.

Sue Bird spent more time after warmups signing autographs and posing for pictures (graciously) than just about any player we have ever seen. She is a class act.

Latasha Byears, still on injured reserve (but expecting to play on Tuesday), was in black street clothes tonight, and the BasketCases do mean street clothes. Wendy Palmer was also in black street clothes, but all similarities ended there.

During pre-game warmups, WNBA Supervisor of Officials Dee Kantner came walking onto the court. Seattle Coach Anne Donovan and virtually all of the Storm players got big hugs from Dee. The BasketCases knew the Mystics were in trouble when they did not get so much as a long distance wave from her. And indeed they were.