With just over four minutes left in the first quarter of the Mystics' WNBA game against the Connecticut Sun , Sykes went down in the corner of the court and grabbed at her left ankle. As Washington teammates surrounded her while she lay on the floor, the 30-year-old covered her face and let out several agonizing screams.
Sykes remained down for several minutes as trainers assessed the injury. She was eventually helped up off the court and carried off to the locker room, all while not putting any pressure on her left leg.
The Mystics later announced that Sykes was questionable to return to Friday’s game with a left ankle sprain. Shortly before the second half tip-off, she was officially ruled out. Connecticut went on to win the game 84-77.
After signing with the Mystics as a free agent last year, Sykes enjoyed the best season of her WNBA career. The eight-year veteran recorded personal highs in points (15.9), rebounds (5.0), assists (3.8), steals (2.1) and three-point percentage (35.0) with Washington following previous stints with the Atlanta Dream and Los Angeles Sparks.
Over the offseason, Mystics head coach Eric Thibault encouraged Sykes to strengthen her mental fortitude. “They were like, ‘We are challenging you to tap into your mental and emotional growth,’” Sykes told the Washington Post . “I just had too many moments where I would unravel in emotion and I couldn’t pick back up. It was like a cassette tape. Once it’s out, it’s hard to reel it back in.”
In what’s expected to be a transitional season for the Mystics, Thibault and Co. carved out a larger role for Sykes. With the departures of longtime starting point guard Natasha Cloud and two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne, Sykes was supposed to take on more responsibility as a leader and playmaker.
Though Sykes now slots in as the Mystics starting point guard, she asserted that her play more resembles that of a "ball distributor."
"Me in the past, when I’ve tried to label myself as a point guard, I stopped being me," Sykes said. "I stopped doing what Slim does, and that’s just affect the game in any positive way possible. Whether it’s stealing the ball. Whether it’s shooting. Whether it’s scoring."
Thibault added: "More and more of the point guards are scoring threats, if not primary scoring threats. That puts so much pressure on a defense. That’s a hard balance for a point guard to figure out: When do I look for my own, and when do I facilitate?
"But that’s why we are interested in Slim in that spot because she’s such a threat to get to the rim and get in the paint. … She’s a very willing passer. And just the decision and the organizing, that’s going to be the big growth area going forward."
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Most Popular
Comments / 0