In their first game off the All-Star break, the Washington Mystics came up short, 93-86, vs. the Los Angeles Sparks.

For the first part of Tuesday night, the Mystics were in control. They came out of the gate with energy, rhythm, and a 15-3 burst that had the home crowd at CareFirst Arena buzzing.

Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen, and Sug Sutton each got on the board early, while Brittney Sykes, fresh off her first career All-Star selection, set the tone with steals, stops, and baskets. Sykes and Austin combined for 12 points and three steals to help Washington build a 26-16 after one. The Mystics shot over 60 percent from the field and turned seven turnovers into 12 points.

But the Sparks, led by veteran Dearica Hamby, didn’t stay down for long.

By the second quarter, the game started to shift. Hamby’s physicality inside and LA’s defensive adjustments slowed the Mystics’ rhythm. A 7-1 run midway through the quarter chipped away at the lead, and by the time the halftime buzzer sounded, the Sparks had taken a 40-35 lead. Just like that, the Mystics’ hot start was erased.

Still, Washington didn’t fold.

The third quarter turned into a shootout, and the Mystics met the moment. Sykes scored seven in the period, Sutton knocked down two big threes, and the team closed the quarter on a 12-5 run to tie things up at 67 following a last second make by Sykes off a heave by Jade Melbourne.

Early in the fourth, the Mystics took control. Sykes hit two free throws, Sonia Citron nailed a jumper, and Washington took a brief four-point lead.

But then came Rickea Jackson.

The Sparks' second-year forward dropped seven points during a 9-2 run, swinging the momentum back in LA’s favor. Citron responded with a pair of free throws that cut the lead to one, but every time the Mystics made a push, the Sparks had an answer.

Over the final six and a half minutes, LA outscored Washington 19-13, making the key plays down the stretch to escape with a 93-86 win.

For the Mystics, it was a game full of flashes, but not quite enough to close the door.

Sykes led the way for Washington with 18 points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Sykes has scored in double figures in four of her last five games and has recorded six games this season with 15+ points and 5+ assists.

"I think it's the first game back after the All-Star break, and it’s the first of 22 games left in the regular season," Sykes said postgame. "So, no, I don’t think, the sky is falling. Do we wish we didn’t have that second quarter the way we did? Yes. But at the same time, when those quarters happen, our focus shifts to how we respond, and I think we responded well. Some shots just didn’t fall, and there were a couple of loose balls that didn’t go our way. But at the end of the day, it’s a process. We’re 23 games into the season."

Austin added 17 points, a team-high six rebounds, and filled the box score with four steals and two blocks. She set a new career high with four steals and has recorded 15+ points and 5+ rebounds in four of her last five outings. Across that stretch, she’s totaled nine blocks, matching her best five-game span.

Iriafen chipped in 13 points, four rebounds, and an assist. Iriafen has reached double figures in four of her last five games. Her 17 games with 10+ points rank third among WNBA rookies, trailing only Citron and Paige Bueckers (18).

Stefanie Dolson paced the bench with a season-high-tying eight points, including two made threes.

Washington’s 26-point first quarter was just three shy of its season-high (29 on June 16 at Las Vegas). The Mystics dished out 22 assists, reaching 20+ in three of their last four games. They also tied a season-high with nine first-quarter assists.

Defensively, it was the third time this season that three or more players recorded multiple steals. The Mystics forced 19 Sparks turnovers and turned those into 27 points. They’ve now scored 20+ points off turnovers in eight games this season, posting a 6–2 record in those contests.

Washington will host the Seattle Storm on Saturday with tip-off at 7:30 PM ET.