Brittney Sykes' late free throws lift Mystics past Storm

Brittney Sykes scored 20 points, the final two coming on a pair of game-winning free throws, as the Washington Mystics scored consecutive wins for the first time since June with their 74-72 defeat of the host Seattle Storm on Monday.

In the final seconds of a fourth quarter in which neither team led by more than four points, Sykes came up big for Washington (8-22). Her rebound of a missed Skylar Diggins-Smith jumper, which would have given Seattle its first lead since the 8:46 mark, set up the decisive final possession.

Sykes went one-on-one with Diggins-Smith on Washington's final possession, drawing a foul on a step-back jumper attempt. She made the ensuing foul shots with 1.1 seconds remaining to secure the win.

Sykes grabbed six rebounds and dished three assists in the win. Emily Engstler came off the bench to score 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting from the floor, including 2-for-2 from 3-point range, and grabbed nine rebounds. Julie Vanloo and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough each added 11 points for the Mystics.

Seattle (18-11) dropped its third decision in four games since returning from the Olympic break with Monday's loss. Jewell Loyd led the Storm with 16 points, but shot just 5-for-18 from the floor. Diggins-Smith added 10 points and Sami Whitcomb came off the bench to score 11 points.

In her first WNBA appearance of the 2024 season, Gabby Williams posted three points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals in reserve duty for the Storm.

Nneka Ogwumike posted nine points and grabbed 10 rebounds, matching Washington's Stefanie Dolson for a game high. Ogwumike was held to 4-of-14 shooting, part of a 28-for-74 night for Seattle as a team. The Mystics shot 30-for-68 from the floor, doing enough offensively to overcome committing 19 turnovers to Seattle's 12.

--Field Level Media