Connecticut Sun blow late lead, drop 2025 season opener 90-85 vs. Washington Mystics

UNCASVILLE — The Connecticut Sun began the Rachid Meziane era on a 90-85 loss to the Washington Mystics in Sunday’s 2025 season opener, but it was a promising performance for the rebuilt roster still trying to figure things out under a first-time head coach.

The Sun led for the first three quarters of the game but let a debut win slip away in the final minutes. Washington trailed by five at the start of the fourth quarter but opened up a five-point lead, its largest lead of the game, with less than four minutes on the clock. Starting guard Jacy Sheldon drew a critical foul sixth against Washington star Brittany Sykes in the final minute to get the Sun back within a point, but after Mystics rookie Sonia Citron hit a tough layup, Connecticut star Marina Mabrey missed on the 3-point attempt that could have tied the game.

The Sun were powered by a trio of UConn alums, led by 23 points plus 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks from eight-time All-Star Tina Charles. Olivia Nelson-Ododa made her first career start with the Sun in her third season and out-scored her 2024 season high with 18 points plus eight rebounds shooting 5-for-8 from the field. Veteran guard Bria Hartley, who signed a training camp contract with the Sun exactly a week ago, was the team’s spark off the bench with 11 points plus four rebounds, three assists and two steals. She hit the team’s only two 3-pointers in the first half and only missed a single shot in the game.

The Sun spent most of the lead-up to Sunday’s opener emphasizing patience, trying to moderate expectations for its brand-new starting five with just two returning players on the 2025 roster. But the first quarter against Washington didn’t look like a team struggling to find its chemistry. Connecticut opened up a 14-2 lead over the first six minutes, and the constant movement Meziane’s system emphasizes was immediately apparent. The team’s first four made field goals were assisted, and it had six different scorers before the end of the quarter.

Defense was the team’s biggest weakness in both of its preseason games, but the execution was significantly improved especially in the opening quarter. The Sun held Washington to just 5-for-15 shooting from the field with an 0-for-5 start from 3-point range, and they scored 11 points off of eight Mystics turnovers before halftime. Connecticut also got Washington in early foul trouble, sending Citron, center Shakira Austin and veteran guard Jade Melbourne into the second half with three apiece.

Emotions ran high on both sides and came to a head quickly in the first quarter when Austin shoved Sun center Kariata Diaby from behind after fighting for a loose ball. Connecticut star Marina Mabrey quickly stepped in to defend Diaby and had a heated exchange with Austin, earning both technical fouls. Austin was later ejected from the game after she was given a second technical foul from the Washington bench.

The Mystics mounted an impressive second-quarter comeback after trailing 23-13 at the end of the first. Sykes and rookie center Kiki Iriafen combined for 10 points in the first four minutes of the quarter to lead the Mystics on a 14-6 run, and Washington shot 10-for-15 as a team in the second to cut Connecticut’s lead to five points at halftime.

The second half was a back-and-forth battle, and Washington took its first lead of the game in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter. Sykes kept the hot hand finishing with 27 points shooting 8-for-13, and though Mabrey hit her first 3-pointer in the fourth after starting 0-for-4, she finished just 5-for-21 from the field. Both teams had five scorers in double-digits with Sheldon adding 11 for the Sun.

With Austin sidelined for much of the game, Iriafen took control of the paint for Washington logging 17 points plus 14 rebounds and a block. But the former USC center couldn’t do much to slow down Charles, who had her double-double before the end of the third quarter. The 13-year veteran was the only Sun player to finish the game without a single foul or turnover against her.

Foul trouble became a concern for both teams down the stretch: Mabrey, forward Haley Peters and guard Jacy Sheldon all had five against them by middle of the fourth quarter, while Washington had Iriafen, Sykes and Melbourne with five. Connecticut won at the free-throw line going 24-for-29 to Washington’s 21-for-29, but the Mystics’ efficiency from the field in the second half slowly chipped away at their lead. The Sun finished shooting 43.9%, while Washington improved to 51.6% after its dismal start.

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