Their strong start to the season erased, the Chicago Sky will try to avoid a fifth straight defeat Tuesday night against the host Washington Mystics, who take another shot at their first home victory of the year.
Chicago (3-5) and its revamped roster opened 2026 at 3-1, but the Sky have lost four straight since — all at home and without leading scorer Rickea Jackson (18.0 ppg), who suffered a season-ending knee injury in the club’s most recent victory, 86-79 at Minnesota on May 17. Three of the Sky’s last four losses have come by at least 10 points.
Minus Jackson, prized rookie Gabriela Jaquez (knee) and veterans Courtney Vandersloot and DiJonai Carrington, neither of whom are ready to debut from their respective injury recoveries, the Sky shot 28.6% overall and 5 of 30 from 3-point range during Friday’s 79-58 loss to the Lynx.
Chicago’s 24.7% shooting from 3 ranks last in the WNBA.
“Nobody’s given up on where we’re at, what the vision is or what the season could be,” Chicago coach Tyler Marsh said. “We’ve gotta come together and fix it.”
Despite the Sky’s struggles, Kamilla Cardoso is averaging 12.9 points and a team-best 9.6 rebounds and has posted four double-doubles this season. She averaged 18.3 points and 11.0 boards in three games versus Washington last season.
The Mystics (3-4), who went 3-1 against the Sky in 2025, are playing just their third home game of 2026. They lost the first two — against New York (in overtime) and Los Angeles — by a combined 10 points.
Shakira Austin had 25 points with 10 rebounds and Sonia Citron scored 21 on Friday for Washington, which shot 50.8% against the Sparks but allowed the visitors to make half their 66 shot attempts in the 92-87 loss.
“(These) are the situations we want to be in, having multiple (close games),” said Austin, who has totaled 43 points and 23 rebounds in the last two contests.
“It’s exciting to be able to go out there and compete every day. … Obviously, we want to get the win.”
Citron averages a team-leading 17.7 points. She scored 28 as a rookie during Washington’s 103-86 home win over Chicago on July 29, 2025.
–Field Level Media
