Brittney Sykes knew the expectations for the Washington Mystics were anything but high entering this season. After all, the Mystics brought in a new general manager and a new coaching staff as they built the youngest roster in the league around Sykes. She didn’t care then. She doesn’t care now.

Shakira Austin scored 15 points, including two free throws with 2.8 seconds left, and the Washington Mystics beat the Chicago Sky 81-79 on the campus of George Mason University on Tuesday. Austin missed two free throws with 31.

Washington Mystics' Kiki Iriafen has made history by being selected to the WNBA All-Star game as a rookie. The former USC Trojans All-American and rookie teammate Sonia Citron are the first pair of rookie teammates to be selected to the game since 1999.

It didn’t take long for this Washington Mystics-Chicago Sky matchup to reach peak WNBA.

This affiliate content is not influenced by our advertising relationships, but AP and Data Skrive might earn commissions from our partners’ links in this content.

The Chicago Sky were glad to return to Wintrust Arena on Wednesday night for their home game against the Dallas Wings. It marked the team’s first game in Chicago since hosting the Los Angeles Sparks on June 24, offering fans a much-needed glimpse of their hometown team.

Citron and Iriafen, picked third and fourth in April’s draft, are the first rookie teammates to make a WNBA all-star team since 1999.