Subscribe
Follow Us
The Washington Mystics and Atlanta Dream had the honor of tipping off the 2025 WNBA season, and their head-to-head battle certainly didn't disappoint. The thrilling contest came down to the wire, and when the Mystics needed a hero, Brittney Sykes delivered with a diving steal to preserve their nail-biting 94-90 win.
With 27 seconds remaining in the game, Sykes drove to the basket for a layup to keep the Mystics just ahead of the Dream. She then hustled to steal the inbound pass and dished it out to rookie phenom Sonia Citron, who was fouled and knocked down two free throws to solidify the win.
Tied at 90 with :34 seconds to play…
Brittney Sykes lays it in then snatches the steal!
Sonia Citron gets fouled then buries 2 at the line!The @washmystics close it out 94-90 for their first dub of the season at home! 🔒#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/l4nepRWapa
— WNBA (@WNBA) May 17, 2025
Sykes ended the close contest with a team-high 22 points, including 19 in the second half, and five assists. Citron added 19 total, with 15 coming after halftime, over 24 minutes, showing how smooth her game truly is. The No. 3 pick went 6-for-7 from the field, 2-for-2 from beyond the arc, and 5-for-6 from the line, earning the most efficient outing in a rookie debut in WNBA history.
The Mystics were without notable players in Aaliyah Edwards, Shakira Austin, and 2025's No. 6 overall pick Georgia Amoore, but that didn't phase them as the team withstood the comeback attempts by Brittney Griner and the Dream.
All three will be out for the forseeable future, with Amoore set to miss the entire year, meaning Skyes, Citron, and the rest of the squad will have plenty more chances to shine and shock the W.
After starting the campaign at home, Washington will head out on the road to take on the Connecticut Sun on May 18 for the first of four straight road games.
