Who Says You Can't Come Back?

July 17th, 2011.

The date formally known as the greatest day ever (a.k.a. my birthday).

But in WNBA circles, it also gets marked down in the record books as the single biggest 2nd half comeback in the league's history.

Now, that might not be that big of a deal to most of you, unless you happen to be a Washington Mystics fan. Which I sorta am.

Although, I interviewed for a job with them and didn't get it. Plus, I almost died in the parking garage at their offices. So yeah...I'm still holding a slight grudge.



The Comeback Kids



Anyhoo, on Sunday the Mystics managed to come back against the LA Sparks in the Staples Center, an arena where LA had yet to lose this season. It seemed improbable, unlikely, and any other similar word you want to add in here.

But heart and determination go a long way in sports, and on this any given Sunday, the Mystic used theirs to prevail 89-85. Quite a feat for a team that's only 3-10 on the season and whose star player is out injured, don't ya think???

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Elsewhere in the land of women's sports on Sunday, however, the US Women's World Cup team couldn't quite get the grasp on the concept of a comeback.

Of course, there probably shouldn't have been a NEED for a comeback during the US's game against Japan, as the Americans had a 2-1 lead late into extra time. Even after the Japanese tied it at 2 all, fate seemed to bounce back in the USA's court. They were awarded a free penalty kick off an issued red card against Japan's Azusa Iwashimizu, but it looked like the red, white and blue wearing Lady Luck was ready to leave the building.

Doing what she does best, veteran Abby Wambach gave her team one last gasping breath with a beautiful slicer to the top corner of the goal in a shoot-out. It wasn't enough to rally goalie Hope Solo to the cause, though. A subsequent USA miss and Japanese made goal gave Japan a 3-1 win in the best-of-five situation.

Hope "Ridin" Solo during the disastrous penalty kicks

By all intents and purposes, this was a team who should have won. Not to discredit the Japanese, but the Americans were among the favorites coming into the World Cup. After host Germany and Brazil were defeated, the championship seemed to be theirs.


Kinda like being up 24 points in a basketball game.....it's not over until it's over. 

Ya know?



Images provided by wnba and jimrome.