Tonight was a thrilling night in Uncasville. After quite a to-and-fro game, the Sun finally rose higher up than their visitors. However, one of the biggest reasons behind the Mystics’ fall can be the team’s star guard Brittney Sykes going out of the game much earlier than anyone would have wanted. It surely brings back the memories of last year. While Washington kept up with the flow, they ultimately could not match the intensity of the hosts in Connecticut. Here’s what went on tonight in the Mohegan Sun Arena.
Just six minutes into the jump ball, Washington faced a huge hurdle in the form of Brittney Sykes’ injury. With the shot clock reading 4:05 and Washington leading 10-9, Sun’s Jefferson picked up a loose ball and made a coast-to-coast run. Trying to block the move, Sykes tried to guard the 5-ft-6 guard. However, before she could stop the hooper, Mystics’ No. 15 took a hit. Initially, it was thought to be a clash between the two. However, on further replay, Sykes could be seen moving sideways, missing the guard altogether, and spraining her left ankle.
Following the same, fellow Washington players came to help the 4x All-Defensive player off the court. Consequently, Eric Thebault used his first timeout to check the extent of the injury. The Mystics’ head athletic trainer, Dr. Christina Kennedy, and other staff members later helped the injured player to the locker room for a better look. From what could be seen in the video, Sykes winced in pain as she came to the sidelines limping and then rolled to the floor.
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While the injury status is not known yet and her availability for the next game is threatened by the injury, how would have Sykes helped Washington in its run in the regulation?
What does Brittney Sykes bring to the table for the Mystics?
Being the second-best scoring leader for her team, the 2022 WNBL Defensive Player of the Year adds to both sides of the floor. Despite the two losses so far in the 2024 WNBA season, Sykes has ensured that her numbers add on. Currently, she is averaging 14 points in every outing. This number trails only Ariel Atkins who adds 20 points per game. Apart from her offensive abilities, she is very well known for her backcourt skills. Leading Washington with 10 rebounds per game, with 9 being defensive, Brittney Sykes proves why she gets the honors of being one of the best defenses almost every season.
She is also a good playmaker with a high basketball IQ. Another stat that she leads the Mystics is her assists. Every game, she delivers an average of 7 assists. Tonight, as well, in the starting 6 minutes of the game, she grabbed 2 points from free throws and 2 rebounds. Certainly, she is a force to reckon with when she is on the floor.
“That’s a hard balance for a point guard to figure out: When do I look for my own, and when do I facilitate? But that’s why we are interested in Slim [Brittney Sykes] in that spot because she’s such a threat to get to the rim and get in the paint. … She’s a very willing passer,” Coach Eric Thibault said in trusting the point guard position to Skyes. With the regular season only getting more intense with every game, her entrusted role and presence proves quite significant for the team.
