Mystics Extend Winning Streak To Three-Straight, With Wins Over Seattle & Chicago (8-29-24)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: Arturo Jones-LMS Network
Chicago, IL – The Washington Mystics have won their last three games in five days, against the Los Angeles Sparks, Seattle Storm, and Chicago Sky.
Washington beat the Seattle Storm 74-72, on Monday evening at Climate Pledge Arena. Then, they headed back east to defeat the Chicago Sky wednesday evening, 74-70.
During this stretch, guard Brittney Sykes has had a hefty production on the floor, averaging 18 points, 5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, one steal, one block, and shooting 47% from the field.
Vs. Seattle 8/26
Sykes led Washington in the scoring column with 20 points and hit the game-winning free throws to seal the victory with 1.1 seconds left.
Both squads received balanced scoring punches from starters and reserves.
Washington forward Emily Engstler scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and had three steals in 17 minutes off the bench. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 11 points as well.
For Seattle, guard Jewell Loyd was their scoring leader with 16 points and two three-pointers. Each Storm player who entered the game scored.
The fourth quarter was tight, with neither squad gaining any separation over a four-point lead. Engstler made a putback basket to give D.C. a 72-68 lead with 1:40 remaining. Veterans Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike scored back-to-back baskets to tie things up with less than a minute left.
Each team had possessions to make go-ahead baskets but neither capitalized, leaving the Mystics with the final chance coming off a missed Seattle basket where Brittney Sykes drew a shooting foul on the final shot attempt to get to the line.
Vs. Chicago 8/28
Entering the game, the Mystics knew they had a chance to do something they haven’t done yet this season, and that’s won three straight games.
Going into the final quarter, Washington trailed 58-54. They got off to a fast start immediately, getting a three-pointer from Karlie Samuelson, and a basket from Walker-Kimbrough to retake the lead by one.
The Mystics offense would fizzle out, not scoring another field goal for almost five straight minutes allowing Chicago to take a 68-61 lead.
First-rounder Aaliyah Edwards ended the dry spell for D.C. scoring a tip-in shot with 4:20 on the clock.
Chicago’s offense went cold, allowing Washington to score the next 11-points including the previously mentioned Edwards shot to lead 72-68 with a minute left.
Center Kamila Cardosa ended the run with a hook shot, as the Sky only trailed by two.
Washington came up empty on its next offensive possession but forced a shot-clock turnover when Chicago could’ve tied or taken the lead. It was forcing a take-foul situation sending Julie Vanloo to the line. Vanloo made the first but missed the second, but Sykes came up huge with the offensive rebound all but ending things.
Stefanie Dolson scored 17 points for D.C., while Atkins added 15 points and was a +12 on the floor.
Chicago got good production from forward Michaela Onyenwere scoring 15 points and guard Diamond DeShields off the bench with 12 points.
Rookie of the year candidate Angel Reese finished with 7 points and 14 rebounds.
The Mystics will look to keep the winning momentum going, returning home to take on the Connecticut Sun on Saturday at 3 p.m.
