For the second-consecutive year, the Washington Mystics were swept in the first round of the WNBA playoffs. This year was probably more painful simply because of how the team was eliminated—an overtime loss to the New York Liberty.
Despite an up-and-down season, here’s what went right, wrong, and what’s next for the Washington Mystics:
What went right?
Let’s start with Brittney Sykes, who signed a three-year deal with the Washington Mystics back in February. No one could’ve expected her to have the season she did.
Sykes averaged 15.9 points, 3.8 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game, all of which were career highs. She also shot a career high from 3 this year and carried the team’s offense for long stretches of the season. With the team decimated by injuries, Sykes often was tasked with guarding opposing teams’ centers, while also spending time as the primary on-ball defender and as a help defender—all in the same game. For the fourth consecutive season, Sykes was named to the All-Defensive Team.
Sykes established herself as a top-25 player in the league this…
