Now that the FIBA World Cup break has ended, we have four games left in the WNBA regular season to settle the playoff picture. And the Washington Mystics have a lot to play for. Currently, Washington is tied with the Liberty and the Wings for the sixth seed, making each game crucial. Home-court advantage for the first round is within reach, but a first-round matchup with the dominant Minnesota Lynx looms threateningly. The Chicago Sky, with nothing to lose, will try to play the spoiler.
The Mystics enter as 3.5-point road favorites with -162 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Sky are +136 underdogs, with the game total set at 167.5 points.
Let’s dive into a preview, prediction, and pick for this Mystics-Sky matchup.
Mystics vs. Sky Preview
This is the second of three regular-season meetings between Washington and Chicago; they’ll finish the season series on the last day of the regular season. The first matchup was on June 2nd, when the Mystics held their home court for a 90-72 win. Their All-Star frontcourt fueled their success; Kiki Iriafen recorded a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, while Shakira Austin added 17 points and 8 rebounds. Arguably the best rebounding team in the league, Washington dominated the glass, winning 46-29 in the rebound battle despite yeoman’s work from Sky center Kamilla Cardoso.
Since that last matchup, things have changed for the Sky. Skylar Diggins has gone down for the season, partly due to injury and partly because of spats with management. DiJonai Carrington has stepped up as an important contributor, but she’s dealing with injury issues herself. Undrafted rookie Sydney Taylor rose into the top scoring role, but has fallen off in a big way as of late, averaging 8.8 PPG on 31% shooting over her last five games. Some may be eager to see this season end in Chicago after so many ups and downs.
Things are just chugging along for the Mystics. Despite having the youngest roster in the WNBA, Washington has been remarkably consistent defensively and continues to develop their offensive game. They’ve won 12 of their last 16 games, going from playoff hopefuls to a possible top-four seed. Austin and Iriafen set the tone for them defensively, but it’s Sonia Citron who sets the ceiling for this team. Her elite drives, playmaking, and shot-making ability can transform their offense when she’s got it going. Adding in her excellent defense, she’s the ideal guard for head coach Sydney Johnson’s team.
Now that we know these two teams a bit better, who will take home the win?
Mystics vs. Sky Pick, Best Bet
It’s hard to see a way through for the Sky here. Despite getting an A1 defensive game from Kamilla Cardoso in their first matchup, Washington’s frontcourt continued to set the tone offensively, leaving Chicago with little chance to catch up. They don’t have a defensive answer for Sonia Citron, and if she’s able to get it going offensively, the Mystics will coast to a road win on the back of their elite defense.
