The Chicago Sky faced a tough loss against the Washington Mystics, dropping a 103-86 game on Tuesday and extending their losing streak to six games in their 19th season. Rookie standout Sonia Citron led the Mystics with an impressive performance, scoring 19 points in the first half and finishing with a career-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting. Another rookie, Kiki Iliafen, contributed significantly with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Despite Angel Reese’s return from a back injury and her strong showing of 22 points and 13 rebounds, the Sky could not keep up, losing by 19 points.
One of the major storylines was the connection between Citron and the Sky. Citron was the third overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft, originally held by the Sky but traded to the Mystics in exchange for All-Star guard Ariel Atkins before the draft. The Mystics also secured the rights to swap some future draft picks as part of the deal. Following Citron’s remarkable game against the Sky, many fans took to social media to critique Chicago’s decision, lamenting what they missed out on by trading the pick. Comments ranged from regret about not drafting Citron to concern over the team’s management decisions.
Despite the criticism, there was some understanding of why the Sky traded the pick for Atkins, given that Courtney Vandersloot was already their point guard and Atkins was expected to boost the team’s defense to help chase a title. Chicago also added Hailey Vanlis with their later first-round pick, strengthening their guard depth. With key players like Angel Reese and Camila Cardosau, the Sky aimed to build a competitive team, though their defense has been a struggle all season, worsened by Vandersloot’s season-ending ACL injury after seven games. The latest loss dims their playoff hopes as the Sky sit at 7-19, though the team remains focused on turning things around.
Fan Take: This game highlights the high stakes of draft decisions and trades in the WNBA, showing how one pick can change team fortunes. For fans, it’s a reminder of the unpredictability in building a championship contender and the excitement young talent like Sonia Citron brings to the league’s future.
