The Chicago Sky close their 2026 season in Washington on Thursday night, and the market does not expect a close game. The Mystics are listed at -13 in a regular-season finale that still carries seeding weight. Chicago arrives eliminated and short-handed. Washington arrives on a three-game winning streak with a franchise win record banked. Large numbers in the WNBA deserve a second look, so here is our read.
Last Updated: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Chicago Sky vs. Washington Mystics — Time & How to Watch
| Where | Capital One Arena, Washington DC |
| When | Thursday, September 24 – 7:30 PM ET |
| TV | WCIU (The U) in Chicago, MNMT in Washington |
Chicago Sky vs. Washington Mystics Betting Preview
Washington enters the finale at 27-16 and sixth in the WNBA standings. Those 27 wins are a franchise record, passing the 26 posted by the 2019 championship team. First-year head coach Sydney Johnson has the group playing its best basketball of the year. Washington has won three straight: a 110-80 win in Chicago on September 17, then 93-77 at Indiana and 79-69 over Connecticut.
Chicago comes in at 16-27 and 11th in the standings. The Sky were eliminated from playoff contention earlier in the month, so Thursday is a formality on their end. Tyler Marsh has also been working without two rotation pieces. Skylar Diggins and Rickea Jackson are both out for the remainder of the season with knee injuries. Kamilla Cardoso has been the steadying presence through all of it, anchoring the frontcourt on a roster that has been reshuffled repeatedly. You can see how the Sky have been priced lately in our recent Sky coverage.
The season series has been one-sided. Washington won 90-72 at home on June 2, then by 30 in Chicago last week. Kiki Iriafen leads the scoring at 15.3 points per game, with Shakira Austin and Sonia Citron rounding out a balanced core. Washington also has something to play for, since the gap between the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds changes their first-round opponent.
Chicago Sky vs. Washington Mystics Odds
| Spread | Moneyline | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sky | +13 (-110) | +600 | U 167.5 (-110) |
| Mystics | -13 (-110) | -950 | O 167.5 (-110) |
Odds accurate as of September 24, 2026 via TheSpread.com. Odds change, get the latest WNBA Odds – Futures – Props
Chicago Sky vs. Washington Mystics — Who Is the Public Betting?
| Sky | 38% | 62% | Mystics |
See the latest WNBA Public Betting Splits and make smarter wagers!
Sky vs. Mystics Prediction — Is 13 Points Too Steep for a Finale?
Start with what the market has done, because it has done very little. This game opened with Washington at -13 and it still sits at -13. The total opened at 167.5 and has not budged either. Public spread money sits at 62 percent on Washington. That is a lean, not a stampede. A stable line on a big favorite tells you the books are comfortable.
The case for Washington is straightforward. They beat this Chicago team by 30 a week ago, on the road. They are the healthier roster and the only side with seeding to play for. Home court against an eliminated, short-handed opponent is where good teams run up a score.
The case against is the number. Washington’s last three winning margins were 30, 16 and 10. Covering 13 requires the top of that range, not the middle. The calendar matters too. The postseason opens within days, and a clinched team with a comfortable lead has every reason to shorten starter minutes. Thirteen points is a heavy ask in a league where bench units trim double-digit deficits late. We would rather take the points.
The Pick: Chicago Sky +13 (-110)
Sky vs. Mystics Prediction — Will Scoreboard Keep Moving Late?
The total sits at 167.5, and the two meetings between these teams this season bracket it neatly. The June game in Washington produced 162 combined points. Last week’s meeting in Chicago produced 190. Washington’s last three games landed at 190, 170 and 148. Two of those three cleared this number. Chicago’s defense has been the weak link all year, and a depleted rotation does not fix that in a finale. More detail on how Washington has been handling these spots is in our latest WNBA picks coverage.
The other side has a fair argument. Washington’s last outing was a 79-69 grind against Connecticut, 20 points under this total. A blowout that turns into managed minutes can slow the fourth quarter. Still, the bench dynamic that helps the underdog cover tends to help the scoreboard.
The Pick: Over 167.5 (-110)
Final Thoughts and Bonus Angle
The moneyline is worth a look, then worth passing on. Chicago at +600 implies roughly 14 percent. Washington at -950 implies about 90 percent. A 13-point home favorite is usually priced near that mark, so neither side offers an edge over the spread. Public moneyline tickets sit at 93 percent on Washington. There is no discount to chase here.
Both positions lean on the same idea. Washington is the better team and should win, but a finale played with the postseason in mind tends to get loose after halftime. That helps the underdog against a double-digit number and it helps the total. If Washington plays its starters deep into the fourth quarter instead, both plays are in trouble.
Our picks for this game: Chicago Sky +13 (-110) and Over 167.5 (-110).
WNBA Sky vs. Mystics FAQ: Thursday September 24, 2026
What time does the Sky vs. Mystics game start?
Chicago at Washington tips off at 7:30 PM ET on Thursday, September 24, 2026. It is the regular-season finale for both teams. The Mystics are closing out a home schedule at Capital One Arena, while the Sky finish a road trip that wraps up their 2026 campaign.
What channel is the Sky vs. Mystics game on?
This is a local broadcast rather than a national window. Chicago viewers get the game on WCIU, also known as The U. Washington viewers get it on MNMT, the Monumental Sports Network channel. There is no national cable or over-the-air network carrying this matchup.
Where are the Sky and Mystics playing today?
The game is at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., the Mystics’ home building for the 2026 season. The arena sits at 601 F Street NW in the Chinatown neighborhood downtown. Washington holds home-court advantage for this regular-season finale, the last of three scheduled meetings between the two teams this season.
Who won the last meeting between the Sky and Mystics?
Washington won the most recent meeting 110-80 in Chicago on September 17, 2026. That was the second of three scheduled matchups this season. The Mystics also took the June 2 meeting in Washington by a 90-72 score, giving them a 2-0 edge in the series entering Thursday.
Where do the Sky and Mystics stand in the WNBA standings?
Washington is 27-16 and sixth in the league standings, holding a playoff spot with seeding still to be settled. Chicago is 16-27 and 11th, already eliminated from postseason contention. The Mystics’ 27 wins are already the most in franchise history, topping the 26 recorded by the 2019 championship team.