The Washington Mystics couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2025 WNBA season.
Led by a balanced offensive attack and historic rookie performances, the Mystics defeated the Atlanta Dream in their season opener, giving Head Coach Sydney Johnson a win in his franchise debut. It also marked Washington’s third season-opening victory in the last four years.
Veteran guard Brittney Sykes led the charge with 22 points and five assists, notching her ninth career game with 20+ points and 5+ assists, and her fourth such performance as a Mystic. Sykes looked in control all night, setting the tone for a team that saw contributions across the board.
Rookie guard Sonia Citron turned heads in her WNBA debut, scoring 19 points on an ultra-efficient 6-of-7 shooting, along with two rebounds and two assists. Her scoring output tied Nikki McCray for the second-most points in a rookie debut in franchise history. Citron also became the first Mystics rookie since Diamond Miller to post at least 17 points on .850+ shooting, joining franchise standouts Alana Beard and Shakira Austin in that exclusive category.
Joining her in the spotlight was fellow rookie Kiki Iriafen, who chipped in 14 points of her own, the sixth-highest scoring debut by a Mystics rookie. Together, Citron and Iriafen became just the second rookie duo in franchise history to score in double figures in their first career games, a feat last accomplished by Chamique Holdsclaw and Shalonda Enis in 1999.
Furthermore, Sug Sutton made her presence felt in her first start with Washington, tying her career high with three steals. Jade Melbourne added 11 points and a team-best five rebounds off the bench, tying her career high for first-half points with ten and providing key energy throughout the game.
In total, five Mystics players scored in double figures, just the second time in franchise history that has occurred in a season opener. The team shot over 50% from both the field and beyond the arc, marking their most efficient shooting performance since September 2024.
The Mystics also dominated several other categories:
- They attempted 31 free throws, their most in a game since July 2023.
- They outscored Atlanta’s bench 20-13.
- They turned defense into offense, racking up 20 points off turnovers while allowing just four in return.
As the team begins a new chapter under Coach Johnson, this season opener showed a promising blend of veteran leadership, rookie firepower, and early team chemistry — all the right ingredients that make for a promising season ahead.