{"id":116473,"date":"2025-08-28T15:32:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/116473\/"},"modified":"2025-08-28T15:32:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T15:32:12","slug":"washington-mystics-whats-changed-since-sykes-edwards-trades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/116473\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Mystics: What’s changed since Sykes, Edwards trades"},"content":{"rendered":"

That makes sense because Sykes was their leading scorer and assister, averaging 15.4 points<\/a> and 4.4 assists per game. She was also named a WNBA All-Star for the first time in her career this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t replace what Slim brought to the table overnight,\u201d Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson told reporters on Aug. 15, referring to Sykes by her nickname.<\/p>\n

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But if you look beyond the record, a lot hasn\u2019t changed about how the Mystics are playing without Sykes and two other players who helped them exceed expectations<\/a> earlier in the season. The Mystics also parted ways with reserve forwards Sika Kon\u00e9<\/a>, who was waived as part of the Sykes trade<\/a>, and Aaliyah Edwards<\/a>, who was traded in a separate deal<\/a> on Aug. 7. Kon\u00e9 had played in 11 games this season<\/a> and was averaging 6.7 minutes. Edwards was averaging 6.0 points and 3.3 rebounds in 13.3 minutes per game.<\/p>\n

Not having those three players \u201cdoesn\u2019t change how I look at [the Mystics] at all,\u201d Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon<\/a> told reporters before facing the Mystics on Saturday, adding that they play \u201cextremely hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s still the same team in what they\u2019re trying to do,\u201d Los Angeles Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts told reporters on Aug. 17. \u201c\u2026 Same coach, same system, just maybe a little different pieces.\u201d<\/p>\n

What looks the same<\/p>\n

Several of the Mystics\u2019 statistics look similar before and since the Sykes trade, according to data from WNBA Stats<\/a>. (Unless otherwise hyperlinked, all data in this story is from WNBA Stats.)<\/p>\n

Offensively, the Mystics are scoring nearly the same number of points per game: 78.8 in 28 games before the trade and 78.5 in 10 games since. Their 3-point attempts and turnover rate have also been relatively stable.<\/p>\n

Defensively, they are allowing about the same number of points per game and averaging the same number of steals per game, even though Sykes was their top perimeter defender.<\/p>\n

Before Sykes trade (28 games*)Since Sykes trade (10 games)DifferencePoints scored per game78.878.5-0.3Points allowed per game80.781.60.93-point attempts per game16.617.00.4Steals per game6.66.60.0Rebounding rate51.3%52.1%0.8Turnover rate19.4%19.9%0.5* Includes three games that Sykes missed due to injury. Source: WNBA Stats<\/a><\/p>\n

How the offense has changed<\/p>\n

The Mystics\u2019 offense has been up and down since Sykes was traded. For example, the Mystics scored 95 points in a win over the Sparks on Aug. 17 that was huge for their playoff hopes. Then they failed to reach 70 points in consecutive losses against the Connecticut Sun, who had already been eliminated from playoff contention<\/a>. They responded by scoring 81 points in a loss to Las Vegas, who has been the WNBA\u2019s hottest team<\/a> lately.<\/p>\n

Overall, though, the Mystics have improved offensively since they traded Sykes. That isn\u2019t visible in their points per game, but it is in their offensive efficiency. The Mystics were scoring 97.8 points per 100 possessions before the trade and have improved to 101.0 since. Their field goal percentage has also increased from 43.5% to 47.7%.<\/p>\n

Those improvements aren\u2019t an indictment of Sykes\u2019 offense. Instead, they reflect how the Mystics have focused on offense more since the All-Star break after prioritizing defense earlier in the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the hard work that the players are putting in with our coaches in terms of the reads, the film work, the on-court reps \u2026 now it goes in the games,\u201d Johnson said on Aug. 17. \u201cAnd \u2026 they\u2019re just seeing things in a way that maybe was a little bit newer in the first 10, 15 games.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"WashingtonWashington Mystics forward Alysha Clark (32) looks to pass the ball during a game against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo credit: Chris Poss | The Next)<\/p>\n

What the Mystics are looking for offensively has also changed somewhat without Sykes. Sykes often had the ball in her hands, especially late in games, and she could reliably drive to the basket and create her own shot if the offense got stuck. Before the trade, she ranked third among WNBA guards in points in the paint and second overall in free-throw attempts per game. That helped the Mystics lead the league in free throws made, free throws attempted and fouls drawn per game.<\/p>\n

Without Sykes, rookie guard Sonia Citron<\/a> is the top option, and rookie forward Kiki Iriafen<\/a> is also getting more touches. They are getting valuable experience making plays with the game on the line, often against opponents\u2019 top defenders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re the main point of emphasis in the scout, so they\u2019re getting double-teamed, they\u2019re getting trapped,\u201d point guard Jade Melbourne<\/a> told The Next on Aug. 19. \u201c\u2026 We rely heavily on them, but they\u2019ve been unbelievable. They continue to adjust, watch film [and] get better.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Without Sykes, the Mystics are looking to move the ball quickly and create advantages that way. Their free throws made and attempted per game have decreased, though they still rank in the top two in both categories since the trade. And their assist rate has increased from 66.9% to 71.4%, jumping from eighth to third in the league.<\/p>\n

\"WashingtonWashington Mystics guard Sonia Citron (22) dribbles the ball during a game against the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo credit: Chris Poss | The Next)<\/p>\n

\u201cSlim bailed us out at times, a good number of times,\u201d Johnson said on Sunday. \u201cWe\u2019re creating offense together, and it\u2019s a little bit more team flow 1756395127 because it has to be. But it also is allowing these players to develop the team concepts and the reads in a way where they\u2019re not taking on the whole world at drawing two defenders and getting off [the ball]. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cSo it might not be always at the free-throw line and in the paint, but it is a high-quality shot, and that\u2019s what we\u2019ve tried to pivot towards. And it\u2019s been pretty solid.\u201d<\/p>\n

How the defense has changed<\/p>\n

Though the Mystics are allowing a similar number of points per game before and since the trade, their defensive efficiency has decreased without Sykes. Before the trade, they allowed 100.8 points per 100 possessions; since the trade, that\u2019s up to 105.8. Opponents are shooting better against them and turning the ball over less.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst half of the season, I thought our defense was above average and our offense was below average,\u201d Johnson said on Aug. 21. \u201c\u2026 Now, it\u2019s almost flip-flopping.\u201d<\/p>\n

One of the biggest challenges without Sykes has been slowing down some of the league\u2019s best players. And it\u2019s not solely at the guard position, where Citron and Alysha Clark<\/a> \u2014 who was acquired in the Sykes trade<\/a> \u2014 can handle the top matchups Sykes previously took.<\/p>\n

Just since Aug. 13, Indiana Fever forward\/center Aliyah Boston<\/a>, Sparks guard Kelsey Plum<\/a>, Sparks forward Dearica Hamby<\/a> and Sun center Tina Charles<\/a> have each scored 20 or more points against the Mystics on better than 60% shooting. Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton<\/a>, Aces center A\u2019ja Wilson<\/a> and Seattle Storm forward Nneka Ogwumike<\/a> have each scored 30 or more.<\/p>\n

Johnson has used different schemes, shown lots of film and rotated the matchups to try to contain opponents\u2019 top scorers. But his roster is still inexperienced, with three of the 10 youngest players<\/a> in the WNBA and five of the 30 youngest. Johnson has seen the young players, particularly Citron and Iriafen, get more reps and anticipate more things defensively. But it\u2019s been a work in progress, especially without Sykes and as other teams find their late-season form.<\/p>\n

\"ConnecticutConnecticut Sun center Tina Charles (31) shoots over Washington Mystics forward Kiki Iriafen (44) during a game at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn., on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo credit: Chris Poss | The Next)<\/p>\n

Which players have stepped up most<\/p>\n

Several players have contributed more on the stat sheet since Sykes\u2019 departure. Citron was the second-leading scorer before the trade at 14.3 points per game, but she has increased that to 17.8 per game over the past 10 games. On Aug. 19, she broke the franchise\u2019s rookie record<\/a> for points in a season, which had stood since 1999.<\/p>\n

Citron has taken about 1.6 more shots per game in Sykes\u2019 absence, but she has also been more efficient. Since the trade, she is shooting 51.2% overall and 59.0% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n

Similarly, point guard Sug Sutton<\/a> was the second-leading assister before the trade at 3.2 per game. But she has averaged 5.5 assists since then in just four more minutes per game.<\/p>\n

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Meanwhile, Iriafen has increased her scoring from 12.2 to 15.0 points per game. She has taken the same number of shots per game but has been more efficient and gotten to the free-throw line slightly more. She has also increased her rebounding<\/a> from 8.3 to 10.0 per game.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, Iriafen had 21 points and 15 rebounds against the Aces, becoming the fifth Mystic<\/a> ever to hit those totals. A day later, she set the Mystics\u2019 single-season rebounding record<\/a> \u2014 for all players, not just rookies \u2014 with 332 in 38 games.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just getting smarter,\u201d Iriafen told reporters after a win over Indiana on Aug. 15. \u201cSo I\u2019m understanding certain reads more. Or our coaches might have us run something, but if I see a breakdown or a mismatch, I\u2019m able to recognize that a lot more than earlier on in the season. I was kind of a robot on train tracks, [following] whatever they told me to do. So I think it\u2019s just, we\u2019ve been playing a lot more. We\u2019re kind of used to what this league is like.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without Edwards and Kon\u00e9, the Mystics have four full-time frontcourt players, which has provided more minutes and predictable rotations for players like reserve forward Emily Engstler<\/a> and veteran center Stefanie Dolson<\/a>.\u00a0At 6\u20191, Engstler has played the three, four and five positions this season, looking to get on the court anywhere she could. Since the Sykes trade, her minutes have increased from 11.0 per game to 17.1. She also played at least 23 minutes in three straight games when starting center Shakira Austin<\/a> was injured in mid-August.<\/p>\n

\"WashingtonWashington Mystics forward Emily Engstler (21) blocks a 3-pointer by Dallas Wings guard\/forward Kaila Charles (3) during a game at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 2025. (Photo credit: Domenic Allegra | The Next)<\/p>\n

Engstler\u2019s production has increased alongside her minutes: She is averaging 6.0 points per game since the trade, more than doubling her previous average of 2.8. She is also contributing 1.3 more steals and 0.5 more blocks per game. And she has earned a reputation for blocking jump shots, with 10 of her 25 blocks this season coming on midrange jump shots or 3-pointers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHer being able to adapt, it\u2019s been incredible,\u201d Dolson told The Next on Saturday. \u201cI think from last season to this season, she\u2019s grown in her confidence. And I think she just knows what she brings to a team, which is just her energy, her rebounding, her athleticism. I mean, she\u2019s probably leading the league in \u2026 jump-shot blocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dolson endured an extremely slow start to the season, shooting just 30.0% from the field and 20.5% from 3-point range through her first 20 games. But she has been vital as a leader for the team all season, and she has found her shooting stroke since the trade. In her last nine games, she is shooting 63.6% from the field and 73.3% from 3-point range.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times you see one go in, and it helps a lot,\u201d Dolson said. \u201c\u2026 It kind of makes you feel good. And [also] \u2026 I just don\u2019t care. I\u2019m just trying to shoot to shoot. And I think that that helps a lot of shooters make them when you start to not be so tense.\u201d<\/p>\n

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How will the Mystics close the season?<\/p>\n

The Mystics\u2019 slump after trading Sykes decreased their odds of making the playoffs<\/a> to just 0.6% as of Tuesday. That might seem disappointing after they were in seventh place at the All-Star break with an 11-11 record. But they haven\u2019t talked much about the playoffs all season. Instead, their guiding principle continues to be development, of the younger players and veterans alike.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre we better as a team now than the first day we came together?\u201d Johnson said on Aug. 21. \u201cAnd I would say, as a whole, yes. And then are players better individually? Are they being able to get a little bit of an expansion of their role and in different places on the court? \u2026 Check, check, check. So for us, it\u2019s never stopped being about development, and I really feel confident that we\u2019re delivering on that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of that goal, the Mystics\u2019 motivation won\u2019t change for the rest of the season, whether they\u2019re in the playoff race until the final day or they get eliminated in their next game. They\u2019ll keep playing extremely hard \u2014 and maybe even play spoiler for teams higher in the standings.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs much as anything, we just want to show people who we are,\u201d Johnson said on Sunday. \u201c\u2026 We have a whole lot to play for because we do think that we\u2019ve made some pretty good strides. We do think we\u2019ve gotten a lot out of the season. And why not finish strong?\u201d<\/p>\n

Monumental Sports and Entertainment, the group that owns the Washington Mystics, holds a minority stake in The Next. The Next\u2019s editorial operations are entirely independent of Monumental and all other business partners.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"That makes sense because Sykes was their leading scorer and assister, averaging 15.4 points and 4.4 assists per…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":116474,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[73],"tags":[60202,60203,53534,1972,75477,647,60422,60423,8255,75478,8254,99,75479,60426,60427,8253,434,60429],"class_list":["post-116473","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wnba","tag-2025-wnba-playoff-race","tag-2025-wnba-trade-deadline","tag-aaliyah-edwards","tag-assists","tag-ball-movement","tag-brittney-sykes","tag-emily-engstler","tag-jade-melbourne","tag-kiki-iriafen","tag-sika-kone","tag-sonia-citron","tag-sports","tag-stefanie-dolson","tag-sug-sutton","tag-sydney-johnson","tag-washington-mystics","tag-wnba","tag-wnba-trades"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116473","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=116473"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/116473\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/116474"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=116473"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=116473"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=116473"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}