Valkyries vs Mystics predictions
Kayla Thornton has been a force for the Golden State Valkyries all season, but with her currently sidelined by a knee injury, the squad will need some new faces to step up against the Washington Mystics. Veronica Burton is someone to keep an eye on—her court vision and playmaking have steadily improved, and this matchup should give her a chance to take center stage running the offense. Don't be surprised to see Burton flirting with double-digit assists, while the rest of the Valkyries’ starting lineup looks for creative ways to fill that scoring gap left behind by Thornton. If Golden State is going to keep things close, it’ll hinge on the supporting cast finding their rhythm and producing at both ends.
On the Mystics’ side, it’s Brittney Sykes who demands the spotlight. She’s been doing it all for Washington, leading the team in both points and assists, and she’s got the hot hand after a stretch of strong performances. After a monster showing from Citron in her last outing, you wonder if Sykes might feel the urge to take things up another notch, especially playing at home in CareFirst Arena. Kiki Iriafen has also quietly become a rebounding machine—think about that, someone just eating up boards every night. Expect the Mystics to lean hard on that Sykes-Iriafen combo, using their inside-out game to try and run the Valkyries tired early.
Given the Mystics’ solid 9-5 record at home and the Valkyries’ struggles on the road, it feels like the deck is stacked toward Washington. With Sykes leading the charge and a hungry supporting cast coming off a buzzy win powered by Citron’s 28-point game, the Mystics seem poised to keep the momentum swinging their way. That home-court energy at CareFirst Arena? It can make all the difference when the game gets tight. It wouldn’t be shocking to see the Mystics edge this one out, continuing to make their case as a team to watch in the Eastern Conference.
