The Washington Mystics' breakout season is heading toward a taste of playoff basketball, and they enter tonight as double-digit favorites against the banged-up Chicago Sky.
My Sky vs. Mystics prediction points to a dominant Washington performance at Capital One Arena that may secure the No. 5 seed for Shakira Austin & Co.
Read on for my WNBA picks ahead of this Sept. 24 regular-season finale.
TOP PICK
Sky vs Mystics prediction: Mystics -12.5
The future is bright for the Washington Mystics, and tonight I expect their emerging young core to ruthlessly put the finishing touches on a season that's brought a 14-7 straight up home record and a 24-18 ATS mark.
Of course, it helps the Mystics are likely to give their starters some run here, with the No. 5 seed still in play, and that the depleted Chicago Sky will be missing at least four key contributors.
Washington crushed Chicago in both meetings this year, including a 110-80 thumping earlier this month, and a victory here will also boost the hosts' lottery odds (they own the Sky's 2027 first-rounder).
The Mystics haven't missed a beat since the World Cup break (3-0), and they're 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings between these teams.
COVERS INTEL: The Mystics' airtight defense allows the second-lowest FG% in the league (43%), and the hosts will force tough looks for a Chicago squad with the second-lowest 3-point percentage in the WNBA this year (31%).
Sky vs Mystics combo
I'm fading a Chicago team that's 1-5 ATS in its last six games and 5-16 SU on the road this season. I'll pair that with the Under, which has hit in Washington's past two outings and supports a script where both squads turn to their benches for heavy minutes.
The Mystics should be able to turn off the water on a short-handed Chicago offense, and the Sky have even been held below the 75-point mark in three of their last 10 games.
A scrappy contest could at least boost Kamilla Cardoso's rebounding. Cardoso is one of the few regular starters that Chicago can call on tonight, and she's averaging 8.6 RPG this season.
Sky vs Mystics combo
- Mystics -12.5
- Under 168.5
- Kamilla Cardoso Over 7.5 rebounds
Want more basketball combos? Check out our WNBA parlay picks page!
Sky vs Mystics player prop: Kiki Iriafen Over 9.5 rebounds
While there could be some scoreboard-watching that determines the minutes load for the Washington starters, I'm banking on Kiki Iriafen being all over the glass again tonight.
She's hauled in 10+ boards in eight of her last nine contests, including an 11-rebound effort in Chicago earlier this month.
It's no secret injuries have stretched the Sky offense to breaking point, and a stellar Mystics defense will be in no mood to ease off ahead of the playoffs.
With Chicago putting the ball in the hands of fringe rotation players, look for Iriafen to mop up the misses.
- Top picks: 12-11, -0.37 units
- Combos: 6-17, +3.40 units
Sky vs Mystics odds
- Spread: Sky +12.5 (47%) | Mystics -12.5 (54%)
- Moneyline: Sky 13% | Mystics 87%
- Over/Under: Over 168.5 (51%) | Under 168.5 (51%)
Sky vs Mystics trend
Chicago is 3-7 ATS in its last 10 games. Find more WNBA betting trends.
How to watch Sky vs Mystics
| Location | Capital One Arena, Washington, DC |
| Date | Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | WNBA League Pass |
Sky vs Mystics latest injuries
Sky: Azura Stevens F (Out), Natasha Cloud G (Out), DiJonai Carrington G (Out), Aicha Coulibaly G (Out).
Mystics: No injuries to report.
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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