Brittney Sykes goes for 30, Mystics end skid by beating Sky

Brittney Sykes scored 13 of her season-high 30 points in the third quarter to fuel the host Washington Mystics to an 83-76 victory over the Chicago Sky on Sunday afternoon.

Sykes, who also had six assists, five steals and four rebounds, made 11 of 18 shots from the floor and all six of her attempts from the foul line. She eclipsed her season high of 29 points, set during Washington's 96-88 win over the Indiana Fever on July 7 and matched in a 96-87 loss to the New York Liberty on July 21.

Queen Egbo scored a season-high 16 points off the bench and Tianna Hawkins added 13 for the Mystics (14-16), who snapped a season high-tying three-game losing skid by completing a four-game season sweep of Chicago. Washington pulled even with the idle Minnesota Lynx for sixth place in the standings.

Mystics center Shakira Austin collected four points and four rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench in her return from a 16-game absence due to a hip strain.

Washington star Elena Delle Donne, however, sat out her 12th straight game due to an ankle injury.

Chicago's Kahleah Copper scored 17 points and Marina Mabrey added 15. Elizabeth Williams recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds, Courtney Williams had 13 points and Alanna Smith posted 10 points and 10 boards for the Sky (12-18), who have lost three in a row.

Sykes scored 11 points to lift Washington to a 40-39 lead at halftime before erupting for 13 in the third quarter. She sank a 3-pointer on her team's first possession and capped the period with a layup just before the buzzer to give the Mystics a 61-55 advantage.

Sykes sank a 3-pointer and added a layup to push Washington's lead to 75-63 with 5:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Copper drained 3-pointers on consecutive possessions and Elizabeth Williams' layup trimmed Chicago's deficit to five points with 3:12 to play. Sykes set up Egbo for a layup on the ensuing possession and Hawkins drained a 3-pointer to give the Mystics some breathing room.