SEATTLE, WA – Brittney Sykes sank two free throws with less than 2 seconds on the clock and the Mystics got key contributions off the bench in a 74-72 win over fourth place Seattle.

Brittney Sykes was certainly on a mission, leading the Mystics team in scoring for the second consecutive game with 20 points. “After that Seattle loss at home, we all had a vengeance to get them back”, the star guard said postgame. Sykes also claimed six rebounds, three assists, and two steals–now needing five more steals (295) to hit the 300-mark in her career and eight more to hit 100 with Washington.

Emily Engstler was the Mystics’ second highest scorer, leading the bench with 12 points and achieving a season-high nine rebounds and three steals. Taking over in the final stretch, Engstler surpassed her 2022 career-high of six rebounds in a single quarter after getting eight of her nine rebounds in the fourth quarter yesterday. Additionally, she stepped up to make a crucial defensive stop against the Storm’s Nneka Ogwumike in the fourth to secure the win for Washington–praising the coaching staff for helping her grow that defensive aspect of her game. Earning co-hard hat player alongside Engstler, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough also had a productive night, scoring 11 points off the bench with two blocks. As of today, Walker-Kimbrough now has 211 points coming off the bench this season and needs nine more bench points to surpass her previous high of 219, which she achieved during the 2019 season.

Adding five more rebounds to her stats, rookie Aaliyah Edwards (154) transcended into the franchise’s top five most rebounds in a rookie season. Edwards passed Stef Dolson’s 2014 rookie season mark of 149 boards. Dolson, for the second time this season with double-digit rebounds, led the team with 10 boards. This marks the second game this season the Mystics have had five players with 5+ rebounds in the same game (last: Ariel Atkins, Shakira Austin, Stefanie Dolson, Aaliyah Edwards, Jade Melbourne, 8/20/24 vs. SEA).

The Mystics outrebounded the home team 42-33, achieving a new season high. The team tied their record for the most rebounds in a quarter in franchise history (five times; last: Sep. 4, 2020), bringing down 14 boards in the first. Putting up 30 points in the contest, the Washington bench is currently ranked second in the WNBA behind the LA Sparks (25.3) in bench points per game averaging 25.0 points.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Washington Mystics take on Chicago tomorrow night before returning to host the Connecticut Sun for the final time this season at ESA. This Eastern Conference showdown is scheduled to commence Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

Buy Tickets