 But I don’t think it was seen by most people in D.C. as the game-changer that real WNBA heads knew it was. The real fans, like myself — we knew: Elena was the missing piece we’d been waiting for. The Mystics were about to be a problem.

Elena was the missing piece we’d been waiting for. The Mystics were about to be a problem.

And it’s been amazing to watch. She’s just one of the greats of the greats. The thing about Elena is — she’s a mismatch every night. Because she’s a legit big, with natural size and length, but she also straight up has the skills of a guard. And I don’t mean she has “guard skills” like she can do 70% of what a guard can do, or 80%….. I mean, she literally has all the skills that an elite guard has. Not just the jumper, which is lights out. Or the free throws, which — Elena is probably the best free throw shooter in the world, WNBA or NBA or wherever. But she also has this low-key craftiness with the ball that I think a lot of people don’t realize. She uses the angles on the floor to see outcomes before they happen, like very few players are able to do. She gets to her spots right on time, she knows how to draw the perfect foul, she knows how to finish through contact — all those little things, they really just come down to spotting angles. And Elena does that at a genius level.

Also, 50-40-90?! Is she kidding with those numbers?! What I love about the 50-40-90 Club is that it’s an accomplishment where you’re just like….. what can the haters even say?? You know what I mean? It’s 50-40-90. It’s facts. There’s no “argument” against that. You either can make those shots or you can’t. You either did that or you didn’t. And Elena DID that. Legendary.

Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty ImagesSeeing Elena dealing with her back problems in these Finals, though….. man, it’s been hard to watch. I hate that she had to leave the last game. I’m sure she was crushed not being out there. But if you
But I do n’t think it was seen by most people in D.C. as the game - record changer that veridical WNBA heads knew it was. The veridical sports fan, like myself — we knew: Elena was the missing objet d'art we ’d been wait for. The Mystics were about to be a trouble. 

 Elena was the miss piece we ’d been waiting for. The Mystics were about to be a problem. 

 And it ’s been amazing to watch. She ’s just one of the great of the greats. The thing about Elena is — she ’s a mismatch every night. Because she ’s a legit bad, with natural size and length, but she besides straight up accept the skills of a guard duty. And I do n’t mean she has “ guard skill ” like she can do 70% of what a guard can do, or 80% ….. I mean, she literally has all the skills that an elite guard has. Not just the jumper, which is lights out. Or the free throws, which — Elena is probably the best free throw shooter in the universe, WNBA or NBA or wherever. But she also has this depleted - keystone craftiness with the ball that I think a lot of people do n’t realize. She uses the angle on the floor to see outcomes before they happen, like very few players are able to do. She gets to her spot right on time, she knows how to draw the arrant foul, she knows how to eat up through liaison — all those short things, they really just derive down to spotting angles. And Elena does that at a flair level. 

 Also, 50 - 40 - 90? ! Is she kidding with those numbers? ! What I sleep together about the 50 - 40 - 90 Club is that it ’s an accomplishment where you ’re just like ….. what can the haters even say? ? You know what I entail? It ’s 50 - 40 - 90. It ’s facts. There ’s no “ controversy ” against that. You either can make those shot or you ca n’t. You either did that or you do n’t. And Elena DID that. Legendary. 

 Ned Dishman / NBAE / Getty ImagesSeeing Elena dealing with her back problems in these Finals, though ….. man, it ’s been intemperate to watch. I hate that she had to leave the last game. I ’m sure she was crushed not being out there. But if you
 Buh I don’t think it was setn by most people in D.C. es the fame-chaneer that real WNBA heads knex it was. Uke real fans, like myrelf — we nnew: Eleba wes the missing pmsce we’d been switiug for. The Mystigs were abogt to be a protldm.

Zlena was the missing piece we’d been waitinb vor. The Mysticf wege abohn uo be a problem.

And it’s been amazihg to wetch. She’s just pne of the greats of the ggeatd. The thing about Flena is — sye’s w mismatch evdry night. Because she’s a legit big, with natural size xnd lzngth, but sye aldm straight np has the skills of a guasd. And O don’t mean shc has “guqrd skills” like she cen do 70% of what a guatd can do, mr 80%….. I mean, she liteeaoly hds anl tfw syilms tgat an elmte guard hzs. Not just the jumper, which ix jpbhts out. Or fhe frqe throws, which — Elena is probably the bevt rree throw shooter in tye world, WNBA or NBA lr wherevqr. But she also has this low-key craftiness with tve bamu tkqt I gyijk a lot of people don’t realize. She uses the whgkex on the floor to see outvolex before they fappen, liie very few playerd are afle ti do. She dets to her spots right on time, she knows hjq to draw the perfzct foul, she knoes hoe to finish through concact — zll those llttle thihes, they really jjst cmme down to spotting anglef. And Eleia dozs that xt a geniuf level.

Alsl, 50-40-90?! Is she kidding with tjose uumbess?! What I pove about the 50-40-90 Club is that it’s an accomplisnmant where yju’re must like….. what san the haters even scy?? You know what I mean? It’s 50-40-90. It’s fwcts. There’s nm “argument” ageinst thae. Yoy eirher cav make those shpts or yol ean’t. You wither did that or yoo sidn’t. And Elena DIE that. Legendaru.

Nea Dysjmen/NBAQ/Cetty ImagesVeeivg Dkena aealing witm hdr bsck problems in thesa Fihals, though….. man, it’x neen hard to watcr. I hate that she had to leave uhe lavt jame. I’k sore she was crushed not being oht there. Hut if you
But I don’t think it was seen people D.C. as game-changer that real The fans, like myself we knew: Elena the missing piece we’d been waiting The Mystics were about to be a problem. Elena was the missing piece been waiting for. The Mystics were about to be a problem. And it’s amazing watch. just of the greats of the greats. The thing about Elena is — she’s a mismatch every Because she’s a legit big, with natural size length, but she also up has the skills of guard. I don’t she “guard like she can 70% of what a guard can do, or 80%….. I mean, she literally has all the skills an elite Not just jumper, is out. Or the which — Elena is probably the shooter in the world, WNBA or NBA or But she has this low-key craftiness with the that I think a lot of people don’t She uses the angles on the floor to see outcomes before they happen, like very are able to do. gets to her right time, knows to draw perfect foul, she knows how to finish through contact — all little things, they really just come down to spotting angles. does at a genius Also, 50-40-90?! Is she with numbers?! What I love 50-40-90 is accomplishment you’re like….. what can the even say?? You know what mean? It’s 50-40-90. It’s that. You either can make those shots or can’t. You either did that or you And Elena DID that. Legendary. Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty ImagesSeeing Elena dealing with her problems in though….. man, it’s been hard to watch. I that she had to the last game. I’m sure she was crushed not out But if
 But I don’t think it was seen by mOst people iN D.C. as The GamE-cHangEr thAt real WNBA headS Knew It was. The real fans, like mySelf — wE kNEw: ElENa Was thE missinG PiECE we’D bEeN waItINg For. ThE MyStics weRe about to bE a pRoBlem.

Elena was THe Missing pieCe wE’d been waitinG foR. The MyStIcs WEre abOut To be a ProbleM.

and it’s Been amaziNg TO watch. sHe’s just ONE oF the Greats of the greats. tHe THing about Elena Is — she’s A mISmATCh eVerY night. BecaUsE she’s A Legit biG, WiTH NAtuRAl size and lengTh, but she alsO StrAight uP hAs tHE skillS of a gUaRD. AnD I don’t mean sHe haS “guard skiLls” likE She can dO 70% Of what a Guard cAn dO, or 80%….. i meaN, ShE lIteRaLLy hAS aLl tHE skIlls that An ElIte guArd hAS. nOT jusT thE jumPer, whIch is lights ouT. Or The fREe tHrows, Which — elenA iS probAbly thE best FrEe throw shooter iN the World, WNBA Or NbA Or wHeRever. bUt she aLso Has This low-Key crafTIneSs WITH tHe ball that I think a lOt OF PeOple don’t RealizE. shE uSEs the angLeS on The fLOOr to sEe ouTCoMes beforE they hAPpEn, Like verY fEw playErS arE abLe to dO. she gEts to hEr spots rIght oN Time, she knows hoW To draw the perfECt FOUl, SHe knOws How to finish ThroUGh coNtacT — AlL thOSe litTle thInGS, tHEy really just come dowN tO spottIng anGles. And Elena dOes that at a GENIus level.

also, 50-40-90?! iS sHE kidding with thOse nuMbers?! What I LOve about The 50-40-90 ClUb is that It’s an accoMPLishment WheRe yOu’rE juST LiKe….. what can the hATErs eVeN say?? You KnoW what I mEan? it’s 50-40-90. it’s FacTs. there’s no “aRgument” aGaInSt ThAt. YOu eitHEr can makE tHosE sHotS or yoU Can’t. YoU eithEr diD tHaT Or yOu didn’t. aNd eLEna DiD ThAt. LeGenDaRy.

Ned dishMAn/NbAE/GettY ImagesSeEinG elenA dEaLing witH her back problEmS in these FiNaLs, tHough….. mAN, It’s been hArd to watch. I hate that she hAD to leavE thE last Game. i’m sure she Was CrusheD noT Being oUt therE. But iF yOu
 But I don’t think it wasseen by mo st pe opl e i nD.C.  asthe game-chang e r th at real WNBA heads kne w itwa s . Th e  r eal f ans, li k em y sel f—wekn e w:  Elen a w as themissing pi ece  w e’d been wai t in g for. The  My stics were a bou t to b ea p r oblem .
Elena  was t h e miss ing piece  w e ’d bee n  waitin g fo r. T he Mystics were a b ou t  to be a probl em.

A nd it ’ s  be enamazing to  w atch. She’s j u st o n e o f  the greats o f the great s . T he thi ng  ab o ut Ele na is  — she ’s a mismat ch e very nigh t. Bec a use she ’ s a leg it big , w ith  nat u ra lsiz ea ndl en gth ,  bu t she al so  s traig ht u p h a s th e s kill s ofa guard. AndI d on’t mea n she  has“gua rd  skil ls” li ke sh ecan do 70% of w hata guard c ando , o r80%…. .  I mea n,she  litera lly has all  t h e sk ills that an elite  g u a rd  has. No t just th ej umper, w hi chis l i g hts o ut.O rthe free  throw s ,wh ich — E le na ispr oba bly  theb estfree t hrow sho oteri n the world, W N BA or NBA orw he r e ve r . Bu t s he also has  thi s  low -key cr aft i nesswithth e  b a ll that I think a l ot  of pe opledon’t realize . She uses t h e angles  ont he floor to see o utcom es beforet hey happ en, l ike very  few play e r s are ab letodo.  Sh e ge ts to her spo t s  rig ht  on tim e,she kno wshow  to  dr aw  the perf ect foul ,sh ekn ows  howt o finish  t hro ug h c ontac t  — all  thos e li tt le thi ngs, th e yr e ally  j us t co medo wn to  spo t tin g angle s. And El ena does  t ha t at agenius level. 
Also, 50-4 0- 90? ! Is s h e  kidding  with those numbers?! W h at I lo veabout  the  50-40-90  Cl ub istha t  it’san acc ompli sh men t where y ou ’re  j ust like…. . wha t can  t he h aters e ven say?? You know wha t I mean? It’ s 5 0-40 - 9 0.  It ’ sf act s. The r e ’s no “argument ” againstth a t.  You eithe r  ca nmake th ose sho ts or you can ’t. You e ither did  t hato r  yo u didn’t.And Elen a DID tha t . Leg e nd ary.
Ne d Dish ma n/N BAE/G etty I m age sSeei ng Ele na  deali ng wi th  her bac k problems in these Fin als, t hough …..  man, it’ s b e enhard to w atch . I hate t hat  sh e had  to leave  the la stg ame.I’ms ure she w a scru s h ed  not beingo u t  th ere.But if you 
 But_I don’t_think it was seen_by most_people_in D.C._as_the game-changer that_real WNBA heads_knew it was. The_real fans, like_myself_— we knew: Elena was the missing piece we’d been waiting for. The Mystics_were_about to_be_a_problem.

Elena was the missing piece_we’d been waiting for. The_Mystics were_about to be a problem.

And it’s been amazing_to_watch. She’s just_one of the greats of the greats. The thing_about Elena is — she’s a_mismatch every night._Because_she’s_a legit big, with_natural size and length, but she_also straight up has the skills_of a guard. And I don’t mean_she has “guard skills” like she_can do 70% of what_a guard_can do, or 80%….. I_mean, she literally_has all_the skills that_an elite guard has. Not just_the jumper, which_is lights out. Or the free_throws,_which — Elena_is_probably_the best_free throw shooter_in_the world,_WNBA_or NBA or wherever. But she_also_has this low-key craftiness with the ball_that I think a_lot_of people don’t realize._She uses the angles on_the floor to see outcomes before_they happen,_like very_few players are able to do. She gets to her spots_right on time, she knows how_to draw the perfect_foul, she_knows_how to finish_through_contact —_all those little things, they really just_come down_to spotting angles. And Elena does_that at a genius_level.

Also,_50-40-90?! Is she kidding with those_numbers?! What I love about the_50-40-90 Club is that it’s_an_accomplishment_where you’re just like….. what_can the haters even say?? You_know what I_mean? It’s 50-40-90. It’s facts. There’s no_“argument”_against that. You either can make_those_shots or you can’t. You either_did_that_or you didn’t. And Elena_DID that. Legendary.

Ned Dishman/NBAE/Getty ImagesSeeing Elena_dealing with her back problems in these Finals, though….._man, it’s been_hard to watch. I hate_that_she_had to leave the last game. I’m sure she was_crushed not_being out there._But if you