The Chicago Sky return to Wintrust Arena on Tuesday night to host the Washington Mystics. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 PM ET. Washington comes in at 13-15 and sits in fourth place in the East. Chicago is 7-21 and currently fifth in the conference, well outside the playoff race.
This will be the fourth meeting between the teams this season. Washington has won all three matchups, including a 103-86 home win on July 29. In that game, Mystics rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen each set career highs in scoring. The Mystics are trying to bounce back after losing two straight, while the Sky are looking to avoid a ninth loss in a row.
Mystics Preview – Looking to Get Back on Track
Washington started the summer hot with a 6-2 stretch from late June through mid-July. Since then, they’ve dropped five of seven games. Their most recent loss came Sunday in Atlanta, where they gave up 99 points while turning the ball over 22 times. The Mystics started strong but couldn’t keep pace with the Dream’s 56.3 percent shooting.
Despite the loss, the team got solid games from Iriafen and Citron. Iriafen had 22 points, five rebounds, and three steals. Citron added 16 points and has now made eight of her last 13 three-point attempts against Chicago this season. Both players are earning more minutes and producing well, especially against the Sky.
Washington ranks tenth in scoring at 78.8 points per game but leads the league in free throw attempts at 22.9 per game. They shoot just 43.5 percent from the field and only 5.5 threes per game, which ranks last in the league. Defensively, the Mystics allow 87.0 points per game, but they force 15.6 turnovers, which helps balance things out.
Sky Preview – Injuries, Cold Shooting, and More Struggles
Chicago has dropped eight straight games and hasn’t won since July 12. The team continues to deal with injuries, with Ariel Atkins still out and Angel Reese missing the last two games with a back issue. The Sky are 4-10 at home and 3-11 on the road. They last lost nine in a row back in 2012.
In Sunday’s 83-67 loss to Phoenix, Chicago shot just 37.1 percent and went 5-of-20 from three-point range. The Sky allowed 30 fast-break points and never led in the second half. Michaela Onyenwere had 13 points, but the rest of the team struggled to find offense. Kamilla Cardoso continues to shine, putting up 12 points and 10 rebounds, her sixth straight double-double.
Cardoso has totaled 39 points and 20 rebounds in two games against Washington this year. She is averaging 13.7 points and 11.0 rebounds during this current streak. However, the rest of the roster is not contributing enough. The Sky are last in three-point shooting and near the bottom in assists and steals. Their defense is giving up 87 points per game, and their effort has been questioned by their own players.
Betting Prediction
Washington is listed as an 8-point road favorite. The total is set at 158. The Mystics have already beaten the Sky three times this season, including a blowout win last week. Chicago is dealing with injuries, poor shooting, and low confidence. Even if Reese plays, the Sky are giving up too many easy buckets and struggling to stay close late in games.
Washington’s young players are gaining confidence, especially against this Chicago roster. Citron and Iriafen have found success scoring against the Sky’s weak perimeter defense. The Mystics should control the tempo and win the rebounding battle. A final score around 84-70 looks reasonable. Washington has the edge in scoring, health, and depth.
Pick: Mystics -8
