Washington Mystics Open 2026 WNBA Regular Season at Toronto on Friday (5-7-26)
By: Jaden Golding
Headline Photo Credit: WNBA
TORONTO, CANADA — After stalled negotiations on the CBA, the WNBA Draft, free agency, and preseason, the Washington Mystics return for regular-season basketball Friday night. Washington faced the newly added expansion team, the Toronto Tempo, debuting this season. Let’s dive into this first matchup….
Game Details:
● Where: Coca-Cola Coliseum, Toronto, ON
● When: Friday May, 7th
● Game Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
● How to Watch: Ion
Injuries:
Washington- Cotie McMahon (out: elbow energy)
Toronto- No Injuries
Storyline:
The Washington Mystics enter the 2026 WNBA season with one of the deepest young cores in the league that will provide the Nation’s Capital with a ton of excitement for years to come. Washington has a core trio led by Sonia Citron, Kiki Iriafen, and Shakira Austin.
They are joined by a talented 2026 draft class, highlighted by the duo out of UCLA, Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalić, who provide size, defensive presence, and physicality to the team. Cassandre Prosper and Rori Harmon, second-round picks by Washington, join Lucy Olsen off the bench as playmaking offensive scorers.
Toronto is led by two-time WNBA Champion head coach Sandy Brondello, who joined the franchise after not having her contract renewed by the New York Liberty after a first-round exit in the playoffs last season. A familiar face leads the Tempo roster to D.C., Brittney Sykes, and her running mate is Marina Mabrey, forming a nice 1-2 punch in the backcourt. The duo is surrounded by nice veteran pieces in Kia Nurse, Isabelle Harrison, Nyara Sabally, and 2026 first-round draft pick Kiki Rice.
This will be an interesting opening matchup for both teams. Toronto has a group of experienced players building most of the roster, while Washington has a young group of rookies and two-year players filling out its roster. Washington head coach Sydney Johnson will look to find more consistency on a game-to-game basis and build winning habits to close out games in year two at the helm.
