Brittney Sykes Just Dropped 38 Points, And Washington's Rookie Problem Has NO Answer

Holy smokes, Seattle! You hear about the Toronto Tempo? They're an expansion team, but they're playing like seasoned vets, especially with Brittney Sykes going absolutely OFF. The Tempo are red-hot, riding a two-game winning streak straight into a Commissioner's Cup clash against the Washington Mystics this Friday. And honestly, if you're a Mystics fan, you gotta be sweating, because their rookie-heavy squad is showing some serious growing pains at the exact moment Sykes is dropping bombs.

Sykes and the Tempo Are ON FIRE

Alright, so the Toronto Tempo are sitting pretty at 7-5 overall and 2-1 in the Commissioner's Cup, looking like they mean business. They just pulled off a wild 106-102 overtime win against the Connecticut Sun, and you know who was leading the charge? Veteran guards Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey, who combined for a ridiculous 59 points! Mabrey chipped in a cool 21, but Sykes? Man, she was on another planet. Brittney Sykes absolutely exploded for a career-high matching 38 points on 11-for-20 shooting. Thirty-eight! She's already third in the entire WNBA, averaging 21.6 points per game, but that Sun game was something else. Tempo coach Sandy Brondello knew what was up, saying, "We put the ball in her hands a fair bit near the end, and she made great things happen." Sykes even helped them erase an 11-point halftime deficit, scoring 14 of her points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Brondello admitted they "weren't happy with the way we played" in the first half, but that comeback win "shows we're a resilient bunch." You love to see that kind of fight, right?

Mystics Are Stumbling, Rookie Roster Showing Cracks

Meanwhile, Washington is heading into this game completely reeling. They're 4-6 overall, 1-2 in the Commissioner's Cup, and have lost their last two games straight. Their latest heartbreak? A tough 78-76 loss to the Indiana Fever on Monday. Imagine this: rookie Cotie McMahon gambles on a steal in the final seconds, misses, and Caitlin Clark drains a game-winning three with just 1.2 seconds left. Ouch. It's clear the Mystics are building for the future, but it's a rough ride right now. Their 13-player roster has only TWO players who aren't rookies or second-year players. Talk about growing pains! Michaela Onyenwere, the oldest Mystics player at 26, led them against Indiana with 17 points, and guards Sonia Citron and Georgia Amoore each added 12. To make things worse, they lost standout forward Kiki Iriafen for most of that Indiana game after she sprained her ankle early on. She's a big part of their offense, averaging 14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds. Mystics coach Syndey Johnson summed it up, "We just came up short one possession," but still gave props to her team, saying, "But I couldn't be prouder of how they acquitted themselves throughout that game." We know Washington actually beat Toronto 68-65 back on May 8, but that feels like a lifetime ago considering how these teams are trending now. So, here we go, Friday night! Can the Mystics figure out their rookie woes and shut down a scorching Brittney Sykes, or will the red-hot Tempo keep rolling and make a statement in the Commissioner's Cup race? You know we'll be watching to see if Washington can turn this around!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.