LOS ANGELES — After practice, Stefanie Dolson walked off the court at El Camino College and plopped down in a courtside chair. Moments later, she rolled her eyes when she realized she would be the topic of conversation. That reaction from one of the most personable players in the WNBA wasn’t mean-spirited; she just prefers to talk about nearly anything else — and avoid any possible jinx.
Entering Tuesday night’s game at the Los Angeles Sparks, the Washington Mystics center was enjoying the best stretch of her career, which includes two all-star seasons. She had scored in double figures in five straight games, her most since a run of six in 2018. And she was averaging 17.8 points in that span, the highest average of her career over a five-game stretch.
“I’m just trying to stay consistent with whatever I’m doing,” she said of her increasing role. “I think it is a lot, but it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I think the leadership part is probably the hardest.”
The 32-year-old’s sterling play of late is part of a career resurgence in her first year back with the franchise that drafted her sixth overall in 2014. The Mystics wanted an experienced post player who can stretch the floor but also sought the right character as they reconstructed their roster. All of that fit the 6-foot-5 Dolson, who was seeking more playing time after averaging 11.9 minutes in a bench role with the New York Liberty last season.
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