Sky start hot, beat Mystics to end eight-game slide

Elizabeth Williams had 18 points with 10 rebounds while Kamilla Cardoso added 16 and 13 rebounds as the Chicago Sky snapped an eight-game losing streak with Tuesday night's 78-64 victory over the visiting Washington Mystics.

Washington traded Brittney Sykes, its leading scorer at 15.4 points per game, to Seattle for Alysha Clark and a 2026 first-round draft pick earlier in the day.

While injured Chicago star Angel Reese (back) sat for the sixth time in eight games, teammate Ariel Atkins returned to action and scored 15 in 24 minutes after missing the previous seven games with a leg injury.

The Sky scored 52 points in the paint and distributed 22 assists in the loss.

Sonia Citron had 13 points and Kiki Iriafen scored 10 for Washington, which was held to 41.5 percent shooting and went 2-for-15 from 3-point range. The stellar rookie pair weren't nearly as potent on Tuesday as when they combined for 50 points during Washington's 103-86 rout of Chicago on July 29.

The Mystics (13-16) lost for the sixth time in eight games.

Williams and Michaela Onyenwere (12 points) helped the Sky build a 35-28 halftime lead. The pair combined for nine points during a third quarter where Chicago did not commit a turnover and outscored Washington 26-18.

Washington's Shakira Austin scored the first field goal of the game, then Chicago reeled off the next 14. Williams and Onyenwere combined for 10 points during that run.

Cardoso had eight rebounds during a first quarter where Chicago shot 12 of 19 and scored 22 points in the paint to lead 25-10 entering the second period.

However, the Sky got sloppy by committing nine turnovers in the second quarter. Washington took advantage, outscoring Chicago 18-10 in the period, despite Cardoso recording 12 points and 10 rebounds.

--Field Level Media