The Washington Mystics aim to mount a late playoff push on Monday when they visit the Seattle Storm.
Washington (7-22) enter Monday four games behind the Chicago Sky for the league’s final playoff spot.
Four of the Mystics’ next five games are on the road, beginning with a rematch against Seattle, which won 83-77 at Washington last Tuesday.
The Mystics are seeking consecutive wins for the first time since June 22-23 following their 80-74 home victory over the Los Angeles Sparks on Friday. The win snapped a five-game losing streak.
Brittney Sykes scored 28 points for Washington in just her fifth game since returning from a leg injury on June 11.
Sykes is averaging 15.2 points in those games, including her 12 points against the Storm on Tuesday.
“Each game has been kind of a piece of the puzzle,” Sykes told the Washington Post.
“And I’m just always going to keep giving credit to my teammates and the coaching staff and trainers. Everybody poured into me to be able to stay afloat. Days where I didn’t have it, my teammates, they kept my head up.”
Sykes and the Mystics visit a Seattle squad that has not played since its win at Washington last Tuesday.
The Storm (18-10) return to Seattle for the first time since July 14 to begin a three-game homestand.
Monday marks another homecoming for the Storm, as forward Gabby Williams rejoins the team for the first time since suffering a season-ending foot injury last year.
Williams re-signed with Seattle on Tuesday after helping host nation France to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
She averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals in 10 games for the Storm last season.
“The deciding factor was as long as I felt healthy mentally and physically, I would finish the season with Seattle,” Williams said. “Physically, I feel healthy. I feel good. I took about a week mentally after the Olympics.
“This feels like home,” she added. “It’s a system I’m familiar with, a staff I’m familiar with, players I’m familiar with.”
Williams adds meaningful depth to complement Jewell Loyd, who averages 20.3 points per game. Currently fourth in the league, Seattle holds a half-game lead on the Las Vegas Aces for the final home-court advantage slot in the playoffs.
–Field Level Media