It’s Washington Mystics vs Connecticut Sun time! Two teams that are possibly looking at the prospect of securing a lottery pick ahead of the next draft. Sure, the Mystics are just one game behind the current 8th spot and could technically still sneak into the playoffs. But after parting ways with Aaliyah Edwards and Brittney Sykes, it seems their focus might very well be on setting themselves up for next year’s draft.

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If some still have doubts about what the Mystics are aiming for this season, there’s no such uncertainty when it comes to the Connecticut Sun. Their priorities are crystal clear. After losing their entire core and head coach, the Sun are targeting a rebuild, and for them, next year’s lottery pick becomes very important. With 6 wins and 13 straight defeats away from home, there’s no doubt about the fact that their playoff hopes are all but gone.

Here’s everything you need to know about the upcoming matchup in our full preview.

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Washington Mystics Vs Connecticut Sun: Where to watch

Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: CareFirst Arena, Washington, D.C
Watch on: NBCS-BOS and MNMT
Streaming: Fubo, Paramount+, and ESPN+.

Washington Mystics Vs Connecticut Sun: Injury Report

Washington Mystics 

  • Stefanie Dolson – OUT
  • Jacy Sheldon – OUT
  • Georgia Amoore – OUT

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Connecticut Sun

  • No players injured

Probable Starting Lineups

Washington Mystics 

  • Shakira Austin
  • Kiki Iriafen
  • Sug Sutton
  • Sonia Citron
  • Jade Melbourne

Connecticut Sun 

  • Aneesah Morrow
  • Tina Charles
  • Bria Hartley
  • Marina Mabrey
  • Leila Lacan

Prediction: Can the Mystics continue their good run of form?

The Mystics are in a peculiar spot right now. Their rookies, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, are putting up jaw-dropping numbers–averaging a combined 28.1 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. With back-to-back wins under their belt, at this pace, a legitimate run for the 8th seed doesn’t seem out of reach. Maybe that has been the plan all along?

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On paper, they are the favorites heading into this game. The Sun are coming off a brutal game against the Indiana Fever, where they saw a 21-point lead slip away in an overtime loss. They have won just 1 in their last 7 games, with the solitary win coming against a shorthanded Chicago Sky.

The numbers also favor the Mystics. They are scoring 79.5 points per game as opposed to the Sun’s 75.3. The defense portrays the same story, with the Mystics restricting their opposition to 81 points per game while the Sun concede 86.8 points per game. On top of that, this is an away game for the Sun, who haven’t won in their last 13 tries on the road. Their Eastern Conference record of 4-9 pales in comparison to the Mystics’ 8-7.

Naturally, ESPN agrees, giving the Mystics a 71.8% chance to walk away with a win. The math is pretty clear–if you’re looking for a favorite, it’s hard to bet against Washington. So, who are you backing in this one? Drop your thoughts in the comment section below!

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Akash Das

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Akash Das is an NCAA and WNBA Writer at EssentiallySports, where his bylines dive deep into the structural side of basketball. With a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication and a Master’s in Sports Business & Management from the University of Liverpool, he grounds every feature in strong reporting fundamentals and academic rigor. His coverage tracks how coaching blueprints, roster construction, and roster moves, from the NCAA transfer portal to WNBA free agency, shape outcomes on the court. His sharp breakdowns at the WNBA desk earned him a spot in the outlet’s prestigious Journalistic Excellence Program, putting him among ES’ most trusted voices on basketball. Beyond box scores, Akash is driven by the bigger picture: how programs are built, maintained, and rebuilt in the NCAA pipeline, and how those systems intersect with the professional game. With experience across sports writing, research, and media strategy, he brings nuance to topics often overlooked in day-to-day highlights coverage. Whether examining the long-term vision behind a college program or the ripple effect of player mobility in the WNBA, Akash connects fans to the tactical and structural heart of the sport.

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