No. 8 Washington is locking in, as the young Mystics carry a five-game winning streak into twin weekend clashes with 15 regular-season games to go.
DC earned a key midweek win over No. 5 Dallas, overcoming a 20-point deficit to silence the Wings 96-92 behind center Shakira Austin’s 27-point, 13-rebound double-double.
“Toughness and togetherness — it’s a connected group,” said head coach Sydney Johnson. “Any lineup we put out there, we’re really trusting how connected they are.”
Washington sits 5.5 games above the playoff line. However, it faces a tough test tonight in No. 4 Atlanta.
The Dream bounced back from Monday’s steep 109-87 loss to No. 2 Las Vegas. Atlanta handled No. 12 Phoenix 96-82 on Wednesday, with sharpshooters Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray combining for 43 points.
“The first half they were just unbelievable,” head coach Karl Smesko said of the duo. “Gave us a bit of a cushion.”
Washington takes on Atlanta tonight at 7:30 PM ET (ION).
No. 11 Washington saw coach Sydney Johnson ejected from the game this weekend, as the Mystics offense collapsed in Saturday’s 109-77 WNBA Commissioner's Cup loss to No. 2 Atlanta — the third-highest margin of defeat in team history.
Johnson overshadowed the team’s stumble, getting escorted out after repeatedly arguing with officials.
“I don’t want to take away from Atlanta playing really hard and from us having a learning moment for our team,” Sydney Johnson said after getting ejected from the WNBA game. “Not a great moment for our team or me.”
With an average age of 23.4, the WNBA’s youngest squad has battled to a 4-5 record. However, the Mystics continue to struggle against experienced opponents.
“In terms of the youth of our roster, you’ve kind of got to earn your way in the W,” Johnson added. “And frankly, we’re up for that challenge.”
“We just need to play better team defense and communicate more,” said star guard Sonia Citron. “We’ve got to help each other out.”
How to Watch Mystics vs Fever WNBA Commissioner's Cup Game
Washington returns tonight against Indiana at 7 PM ET, live on Peacock.
The league's top first- and second-year talent takes center stage on Tuesday, when young 2025 WNBA All-Stars battle it out for a spot above the playoff line.
Indianapolis-bound Washington Mystics rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are currently hosting fellow All-Star reserve and WNBA sophomore Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky, with both teams desperate to ascend the WNBA standings.
"She's just more present and confident, and they're playing through her," Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson said of Reese and her recent record rebounding.
Tuesday's slate features four teams aiming to curb recent skids before the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend takes over the league:
- No. 12 Chicago Sky vs. No. 9 Washington Mystics, 11:30 AM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Mystics hope to break out of ninth place against a struggling Sky, though Chicago's looking up after going toe-to-toe with the league-leading Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.
- No. 8 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 3 New York Liberty, 8 PM ET (ESPN): Las Vegas follows their up-and-down form into a matchup with recent rivals New York, while the lagging Liberty manage injured starters and a string of tough losses.
All-Stars step up in the biggest moments, and every move matters as the 2025 WNBA season inches closer to its mid-point.