Brittney Sykes scored nine of her 27 points in the fourth quarter as the Washington Mystics spoiled the Connecticut Suns' season opener with a 90-85 road win on Sunday.

The Mystics outscored Connecticut by a 30-20 margin in the fourth quarter to move to 2-0 on the young season. Washington missed the playoffs in 2024 with a 14-26 record.

Washington also received strong contributions from its two rookie starters, as Kiki Iriafen compiled 17 points and 14 rebounds and Sonia Citron chipped in 15 points.

The Sun, who reached the semi-finals of last year's playoffs, got 23 points and 10 rebounds from Tina Charles and 18 points from Olivia Nelson-Ododa. The Sun finished 3 of 14 from 3-point range, however, while the Mystics shot a sharp 51.6 per cent from the field for the game.

Washington trailed 65-60 after three quarters and didn't take its first lead of the day until Stefanie Dolson hit a 3-pointer with 5:38 left to give her team a 75-74 edge. Nelson-Ododa converted a layup on the ensuing possession to put the Sun briefly back ahead, but the Mystics countered with Citron's 3-point play shortly afterward to go up 78-76.

These rooks are something special

Kiki Iriafen: 17 PTS, 14 REB, 7-10 FG (career-highs)
Sonia Citron: 15 PTS, 3 AST, 2 STL, 5-10 FG

Their big time buckets in the 4Q helped push the Mystics to a 2-0 start this season!#WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/z3npqULnGT

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 18, 2025

The Sun had a chance to tie it late when down 88-85 inside the final minute, but Marina Mabrey missed a 3-pointer before Citron sealed the outcome with two free throws.

Lynx start 2-0 after win over Sparks

The Minnesota Lynx are also off to a 2-0 start following Sunday's 89-75 road win over the Los Angeles Sparks, a victory led by Napheesa Collier's 23 points.

Alanna Smith added 18 points while accounting for four of 10 made 3-pointers by the defending Western Conference champions, who also received 13 points and 10 assists from Courtney Williams.

Los Angeles, coming off a season-opening win over the expansion Golden State Valkyries on Friday, was led by Azura Stevens' 21 points. Dearica Hamby posted 20 points and 10 rebounds for the Sparks, while Kelsey Plum had 18 points but was just 5 of 14 from the field.

The Sparks held a 47-46 edge after getting the first basket of the second half, but the Lynx countered with a 9-0 run and never trailed thereafter. Minnesota capped the spurt with back-to-back baskets off Los Angeles turnovers to build a 55–47 lead less than three minutes into the second half.

Minnesota later put the game away by scoring 11 straight points in the fourth quarter. Karlie Samuelson and Smith started the flurry with consecutive 3-pointers, and Collier finished it with two straight baskets that extended the Lynx's advantage to 86-70 with 3:40 left.

What a start to the season for Phee

After dropping 34 PTS in the Lynx’s Friday night victory, Napheesa Collier put up 23 PTS (10-18 FG), 6 REB, & 2 STL to lift Minnesota over the Sparks! pic.twitter.com/Ftw8cSl6yy

— WNBA (@WNBA) May 19, 2025