In an impressive display, the Washington Mystics secured a much-needed victory, defeating the visiting Los Angeles Sparks 80-74 to break their five-game losing streak. Brittney Sykes was the standout performer, scoring a remarkable 28 points for the Mystics.
Sykes, who recently made her comeback after missing 12 games due to a sprained left foot, showcased her skills by sinking 12 of 20 shots from the field. In addition to her remarkable scoring, she also contributed six rebounds and five assists to her team’s success.
Shakira Austin also made a significant impact for the Mystics. With 14 points and 11 rebounds, she displayed her versatility and crucially contributed eight points during the fourth quarter. Ariel Atkins also played a vital role, chipping in 15 points for the team.
Despite a commendable effort from rookie Rickea Jackson, who scored 17 points, the Sparks suffered their sixth consecutive defeat. Dearica Hamby provided support with nine points and 10 rebounds.
Washington found themselves trailing 55-54, but a decisive burst in the final quarter turned the tide in their favor. Austin, assisted by Sykes, scored with a cutting layup to initiate their 10-0 run with 9:27 remaining on the clock.
Less than 30 seconds later, Sykes and Austin combined once again for another bucket. A series of consecutive scores from Emily Engstler, Sykes, and Engstler again resulted in a 64-55 lead for the Mystics with 7:24 still to play.
The Sparks attempted a comeback, but despite Hamby’s contributions with three consecutive points, they failed to reduce the deficit further.
During the third quarter, Jackson orchestrated a 48-43 lead for the Sparks with a layup and made one of two free throws. However, the Mystics responded emphatically with a 9-0 run, driven by back-to-back baskets from Sykes, including a 3-pointer, resulting in a four-point lead, their largest of the game.
Washington demonstrated superior shooting accuracy, with a 45.2 percent success rate from the field in contrast to Los Angeles’ 37.3 percent.
The halftime score was 41-38 in favor of the Sparks, as both teams struggled to establish substantial leads throughout the game.
In the first half, Jackson guided the Sparks with seven of their first nine points, finishing with a total of 16 points. Sykes countered with 14 points of her own, including a six-point streak during the second quarter.
At halftime, Washington celebrated the induction of Alana Beard into the team’s Hall of Fame. Beard, the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, spent her initial six seasons with the Mystics, bolstering the team with an average of 16.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.
After enduring injury setbacks that prevented her from playing in the 2010 and 2011 seasons, Beard joined the Sparks for eight years, finally retiring after the 2019 season.
Discover more from Tension News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.