Brittney Sykes has reached an agreement with the Washington Mystics and will sign with the team when free agents are officially allowed to ink deals on February 1. The news was first reported by Howard Megdal of The Next. The contract will be three years in length, per Khristina Williams of Girls Talk Sports TV.
Sykes, 28, was drafted seventh overall in the 2017 draft by the Atlanta Dream, where she played for three seasons. Sykes was named Rookie of the Month in July and August 2017. In 2020, Sykes was traded to the Los Angeles Sparks and played there for three seasons. She made the All-Rookie Team in 2017 and the All-Defensive Team in 2020, 2021, and 2022. She also finished top 10 in games played in 2017, 2019, and 2021.
Last season for the Sparks, Sykes averaged 12.7 points per game, 3.7 assists per game, 3.7 rebounds per game, and 2.0 steals per game on 43.3 percent shooting. For her career, Sykes has averaged 11.1 points per game, 2.5 assists per game, 3.9 rebounds per game, and 1.1 steals per game on 41.1 percent shooting.
Sykes will join a Mystics team that ranked first in defensive rating in 2022, per WNBA.com. The defensive nucleus of Sykes, Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, Elena Delle Donne, and Shakira Austin figures to be one of the most fearsome units in recent league history.
