Tyler Byrum

Mali will play Nigeria in the AfroBasket final on Sunday afternoon, with Mali hoping to win its first title since 2007 and Nigeria its fifth straight.

Mali and Washington Mystics forward Sika Koné is averaging 9.0 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists through 4 games. @theixbasketball.bsky.social

Shakira Austin (86 blocks) moved to 11th on the Mystics' all-time blocks list tonight. She passed Ariel Atkins with 2 blocks. #MysticRecords

Brittney Sykes (354 rebounds) moved to 23rd on the Mystics' all-time rebounding list tonight. She passed Marissa Coleman with four boards. #MysticsRecords

Brittney Sykes misses a floater at the buzzer. Valkyries win.

Good play set up with 2.9 seconds left. Golden State now moves into the No. 8 seed, Mystics fall a half-game out of the playoffs.

Sykes has checked back into the game.

3:40 left, Mystics trail 66-65 and Brittney Sykes is on the bench for the Mystics

Mystics lead. Mysitcs have really found something with the trio of Sonia Citron, Emily Engstler and Shakira Austin on the court together.

END OF 3RD: Valkyries 62, Mystics 55

A Mystics' 10-2 run got the crowd back in the game, led by Sonia Citron. She has scored 10 of her 16 points in this frame, including both 3-pointers. Golden State still shooting well from deep (45.8%) to lead.

Kiki Iriafen is sitting at 10 points, 5 reb.

HALF: Valkyries 46, Mystics 34

Teams traded blows in the second, Golden State shooting 51.7% from the field and 50% (8/16) from deep. Valkyries really packing bodies in the paint defensively to force the Mystics to shoot over it.

Kiki Iriafen with 8p (4/5 FG), 4r. Shakira Austin with 5p, 4r, 2a.

Mystics finally able to stop an 18-5 Golden State run with a transition bucket. Getting late pretty early for Washington, down 36-22.

END OF 1ST: Valkyries 30, Mystics 20

For two defensive-oriented teams, it was a high-scoring opening quarter. Golden State has found the long ball early (5/8 3FG) and has taken control.

Sug Sutton leads the Mystics with 5p (2/2 FG). Shakria Austin with 3p (1/2 FG), 2 ast.

Valkyries visting Washington D.C. for the first time as a franchise.

And visiting as the 9th team in the standings, a half game behind the Mydtics for the No. 8 seed.

Aaliyah Edwards (right wrist) is out for the fourth straight game tomorrow night against Golden State.

Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron explain how their relationship is growing off of the court. As Sonia says, they "spend 24/7 together."

They both say it was never forced and the relationship was natural from the beginning.

Stef Dolson (3,051 career points) is now up to 91st on the WNBA's points list. She moved past Erika de Souza tonight.

Stef Dolson (276 assists) moves into a tie for 20th in franchise history with Stacey Doles. #MysticsRecords

Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron explain how their relationship is growing off of the court. As Sonia says, they "spend 24/7 together."

They both say it was never forced and the relationship was natural from the beginning.

Shakira Austin (603 rebounds) moves to 17th on the Mystics all-time rebounding list. She passed Vicky Bullet with her six boards tonight. #MysticsRecords

Brittney Sykes (1,227 points) moves up a few spots to 21st on the Mystics all-time scoring list. She passed Tierra Ruffin-Pratt and Kristi Toliver with her 18 points tonight.

Skyes (92 3-pointers) also tied Laurie Koehn for 19th in 3-pointers made. #MysticsRecords

FINAL: Mystics 103, Sky 86

One of the best offensive performances of the season for Washington, their second time hitting 100. Mystics shot 50.7% from the field and 41.7% from three.

52 paint points... 26 points off turnovers.

Sonia Citron with a new career-high 28p. Kiki Iriafen with 22p.

Seems topical to bring this up... Mystics now have eight healthy bodies left with Sug Sutton back in the training room.

Sug Sutton landed on Angel Reese's foot while trying to contest a Kia Nurse 3-point jumper. She immediately jumped to the sideline before lying down.

The Mystics' training staff helped her off the court to the locker room. She couldn't put weight down on her right leg.

First time in Mystics history that two rookies have posted 20+ points, per Mystics PR. #MysticsRecords

Sonia Citron is at 20 points... Kiki Iriafen is at 20 points....

The rookies are cooking.

The too small celebration is getting out of hand... now Kiki Iriafen is hitting it on Elizabeth Williams after a post up.

Yikes Shakira Austin just picked up her fourth foul after getting run over by Kamilla Cardoso.

Some real questionable fouls against Austin tonight.

HALF: Mystics 55, Sky 47

Live stats are down but the Mystics' ball movement looks great, Chicago can't stop fouling and Sonia Citron is on a heater.

An unofficial poll of press row has Citron up to 19 points.

Sonia Citron just needs four seconds to get down the floor. Chicago learned that lesson the hard way.

END OF 1ST: Mystics 30, Sky 27

Once again, the Mystics have no problems getting the ball in the low post against Chicago, already 18 paint points. Angel Reese (who is supposed to be on a min. restriction but played all 10 min) is getting to the line.

Sonia Citron is already up to 12p (2/2 3FG).

It is silly how often Brittney Sykes and Stef Dolson get away with this move on jump balls. Automatic every time.

Shakira Austin hits Angel Reese with the 'too small' celly already

Get your popcorn ready, here we go again with these two.