Rickea Jackson's Injury Means The Sky's Season Is Already Spiraling and Nobody Can Stop It

Holy smokes, did you see what went down Tuesday night? The Washington Mystics absolutely ROLLED the Chicago Sky 90-72. For the Mystics, it’s their first home win in three tries this season, a much-needed win to get them to 4-4. But for the Sky, it's a full-blown crisis: their fifth straight loss. They’re 3-6 now, and you have to wonder if their season is already sunk before summer even hits.

Mystics Finally Get It Done at Home, Even Without Their Star

The Mystics came in needing a big pick-me-up after losing three of their last four. Shakira Austin was an absolute force, dropping 17 points and 8 boards, even leading the Mystics with 9 points at halftime. Kiki Iriafen was a beast, with 15 points and 11 rebounds for her fourth double-double in eight games, having missed one by a single rebound in her previous two! Michaela Onyenwere chipped in 13 points and 7 rebounds, while Angela Dugalic added 7 boards. The Mystics were a dominant plus-17 on the glass. They were balanced, too, with Cassandre Prosper and Onyenwere each hitting seven points by halftime. What's crazier? They did this without leading scorer Sonia Citron, who missed her career's first game with a left foot sprain. Huge, proving they can win without her!

The Sky Are in a FREEFALL and Their Numbers Are Getting Brutal

Man, the Sky are just not getting it done. Their fifth straight defeat isn't just bad, it's a huge red flag. They're clearly reeling without top scorer Rickea Jackson, who went down with a season-ending knee injury on May 17. Brutal blow, and they haven't adapted. They've lost four of these five games by double digits, even trailing by 22 points against the Mystics. Sydney Taylor tried with 15 points. Kamilla Cardoso had a monster game: 12 points, 13 rebounds, career-best six blocks, plus five assists. Cardoso even led all scorers at halftime with 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting, with Skylar Diggins adding 14 and Elizabeth Williams 10. But individual efforts weren't enough. They shot 50% in the first half but still trailed 47-40 by seven. Then the third quarter crushed them. Their accuracy dropped to 41.2% while the Mystics, shooting 40%, capitalized on four Sky turnovers to outscore them by nine. Losing the rebounding battle and those crucial third-quarter turnovers? Tough look.

What's Next?

The Mystics definitely caught a break, snagging their first home win of the season and showing some serious grit. If they build on this, the Mystics could turn their season around. For the Sky, the path ahead is brutal. Jackson's season-ending injury has them in a deep hole, with no consistency in sight. They need answers, and fast, before this spiraling season becomes unsalvageable. Every game is now about finding a spark to pull them out of this brutal slump.

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