Mystics aim to sweep season series with lowly Sky

Perhaps a date with the reeling Chicago Sky will help the Washington Mystics halt their own struggles.

The visiting Mystics can avoid a third straight defeat Tuesday night by sweeping the four-game season series with the depleted Sky, who have lost eight in a row.

Vying for a playoff spot, Washington (13-15) went 6-2 from June 22 to July 13, but has lost five of seven since.

Following a one-point loss to expansion Golden State on Thursday, the Mystics scored the game's first 10 points and led 23-12 after one quarter Sunday at Atlanta. However, they turned the ball over 22 times and allowed the Dream to regroup and shoot 56.3 percent in a 99-83 loss.

The good news for Washington is that Chicago (7-21) is in an even worse state.

The Sky haven't won since stunning Minnesota on July 12 and have lost by 10 or more points in seven of the last eight. Injured stars Ariel Atkins (leg) could miss an eighth straight contest and Angel Reese (back) her third in a row.

Reese's last game was a 103-86 setback at Washington on July 29, when Mystics star rookies Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen each scored a career high with 28 and 22 points, respectively.

"We're so lucky to have them in a Mystics uniform," Washington coach Sydney Johnson said. "They're unbelievably coachable."

Citron has gone 8-of-13 from 3-point range in those three games against the Sky. Meanwhile, Iriafen has totaled 33 points and 20 rebounds over the last two versus Chicago.

During Sunday's 83-67 home loss to Phoenix, the Sky shot 37.1 percent, went 5-of-20 from 3-point range and yielded 30 fast-break points. Chicago last dropped nine straight in 2012.

"There has to be a will to win, and we don't have that right now on a consistent basis," Chicago's Michaela Onyenwere said.

Chicago's Kamilla Cardoso remains a bright spot while averaging 13.7 points and 11.0 rebounds during a stretch of six consecutive double-doubles. She's totaled 39 points and 20 boards in two games versus Washington this season.

--Field Level Media