Brittney Sykes leads Mystics to victory over Sparks

In a much-needed win, the Washington Mystics defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 80-74 on Friday night, ending a five-game losing streak. Brittney Sykes led the charge for Washington, scoring a season-high 28 points, while Shakira Austin contributed significantly with 14 points and 11 rebounds, marking her first double-double of the season. Ariel Atkins also added 15 points, and Stefanie Dolson recorded a season-high eight assists, showcasing a well-rounded team effort. The game saw the Mystics trailing at halftime, down 41-38, and entering the fourth quarter behind 55-54. However, Washington turned the tide with a strong fourth-quarter performance, starting with a 10-0 run. Sykes played a pivotal role, assisting Austin on consecutive layups, followed by a basket from Emily Engstler that extended the lead to 64-55 with just over seven minutes remaining. Despite a brief response from the Sparks, who saw Dearica Hamby score and convert a free throw to cut the deficit to six, they could not close the gap further. Rickea Jackson led Los Angeles with 17 points, while Hamby and Azurá Stevens contributed nine points each, with Hamby also grabbing 10 rebounds. The Sparks, now on a six-game losing streak, struggled offensively, shooting just 37.3% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc, alongside committing 18 turnovers. With this victory, the Mystics improve to 7-22, while the Sparks fall to 6-23, continuing their challenging season.