Sparks lose 6th straight in ‘Paige Bueckers Bowl’ against Mystics

WASHINGTON — In a showdown between teams desperate for any kind of momentum, the Sparks again came up short when it mattered most but might have done themselves a favor in the process.

Brittney Sykes scored a season-high 28 points and Shakira Austin added 14 points and 11 rebounds to help the Washington Mystics beat the Sparks, 80-74, on Friday night. The win snapped the Mystics’ five-game losing streak and extended the Sparks’ skid to six games, but the outcome potentially helped the visitors...