PREVIEW: The Golden State Valkyries travel to Washington to face the Mystics in a critical playoff positioning battle, with both teams fighting for postseason survival. The Valkyries currently sit 7th in the league with a 16-15 record, looking to close in on the injury-impacted 6th place Indiana Fever. The Mystics are 2.5 games out of the final playoff spot and have struggled, losing seven of their last 10 games. Tonight's matchup presents an opportunity for Washington to gain ground on the 8th-place Seattle Storm, who have lost five consecutive games. The Valkyries bring one of the league's best defenses to the court, having held opponents under 60 points in their last two games. Their disciplined defensive approach makes them a challenging opponent, particularly given that they allow the third-most 3-pointers per game in the league. Washington will look to leverage this defensive vulnerability, with rookie Sonia Citron potentially playing a key role after recently demonstrating efficient scoring, averaging 16.4 points per game since the All-Star break with impressive shooting percentages. The game promises to be a tactical showdown, with both teams understanding the high stakes of this late-season contest.