After opening the year with 12 straight losses — the fourth-worst start in WNBA history — the Washington Mystics won their second straight game against the Chicago Sky on Friday, 83-81.
Washington set the tone from the jump, leading 9-0 in the opening minutes and holding a 23-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Rookie forward Aaliyah Edwards led the Mystics with 10 points and six rebounds in the opening period. Chicago went on an 11-1 run in the second quarter to cut the deficit to eight, but the Mystics went into halftime with a 47-36 lead.
Washington maintained its lead despite several comeback attempts by Chicago. At one point, the Sky went on a 10-0 run to get within five with three minutes left. Guard Lindsay Allen got Chicago within two, 83-81, with 51 seconds to play.
Following a missed 3 for the win by Allen, Kamilla Cardoso collected the offensive rebound and found Sky guard Marina Mabrey, who drew a foul and had a chance to tie the game with 0.2 seconds left. She missed both free throws, and Washington escaped with its second straight win of the season.
Here are some key takeaways from the Mystics’ nail-biting win:
Three Mystics in double figures, led by Atkins’ season-high
Mystics…
