Sykes' return helps Mystics to 1st win of season
Source: ESPN.com
Washington (1-12) avoided tying the longest losing streak in franchise history with the 2012 team dropping 13 games in a row. The Mystics' 19-point win is the third largest to snap a double-digit losing streak in WNBA history.
Sykes, who had missed the past 10 games due to an ankle injury, went 4-of-6 from 3-point range in just 14 minutes and Atkins made all three of her attempts from distance. The Mystics made a season-high 17 3-pointers, with a make from eight different players.
The Mystics' 17 made 3s were their second most in a game in franchise history and one shy of the WNBA single-game record.
Washington had seven 3-pointers in the first quarter, on just 11 attempts, to take a 25-15 lead. But the Mystics were just 1-of-6 from distance in the second quarter as Atlanta got within 38-33 at the break after closing on an 8-1 run.
Sykes, Karlie Samuelson and Stefanie Dolson each made a 3-pointer in the opening three minutes of the third quarter to make it 49-38, and Washington led by at least nine the rest of the way.
Howard, at 24 years, 43 days, became the youngest player in WNBA history to reach 200 career 3-pointers.