Brittney Sykes Bio
Brittney Sykes (born February 7, 1994) is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Tempo of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) and for the Laces of Unrivaled. Known by the nickname “Slim,” Sykes plays the guard position and is widely recognized for her perimeter defense and scoring punch off the dribble. She became the highest drafted Syracuse University women’s basketball player in school history when she was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2017 WNBA draft. Across the WNBA, overseas leagues, and 3×3 competition, Sykes has built a reputation as a hard-nosed two-way player with a deep resume of team success.
Standing 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) and weighing 152 lb (69 kg), Sykes combines size and length with quick feet, traits that have fueled her rise as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders. Her career has spanned Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington, Seattle, and Toronto in the WNBA, with stops in Israel, Turkey, Spain, Australia, Hungary, and Poland during the offseason. In 2025 she added a WNBA All-Star nod and an Unrivaled championship to her trophy case.
Early Life and Background
Brittney Sykes was born on February 7, 1994, in Newark, New Jersey. She is the daughter of Michael and Regina Sykes and grew up alongside two older brothers in a tight-knit household that emphasized hard work and perseverance. The Newark area, long known for its competitive basketball scene, helped shape her early love for the sport and gave her a foundation of tough, physical play that still defines her style today.
Sykes attended University High School in Newark, where she starred as a guard and emerged as one of the top recruits in the country. She was named a 2012 McDonald’s All-American, a USA Today All-USA Second Team selection, and an All-State and All-Essex County First Team honoree, while also leading University High School to the Essex County Championship in 2011–12. As a senior she averaged 18.9 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game, and she earned a 95 overall scouting grade from ESPN, which ranked her 31st among all college recruits and 9th at her position. She also played club basketball for the Philly Belles and represented the United States at the 2012 U18 national team trials.
Path to Basketball
Coming out of high school as a 4-star recruit in the class of 2012, Sykes drew interest from several national powers, including Georgetown, Penn State, and Notre Dame. She ultimately chose Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, where she would spend five seasons and develop into one of the most decorated players in program history. Her path was not without adversity; she tore her ACL twice in a span of about ten months, first on March 22, 2014, in the NCAA Tournament in Lexington, Kentucky, and again on January 4, 2015, in just her third game back against Notre Dame.
Despite those injuries, Sykes returned each time and finished her college career with 138 games played (137 starts), 1,846 career points, 266 steals, and 85 blocks, averaging 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 29.5 minutes per game. She finished third in Syracuse history for career points and left as the winningest Syracuse Orange women’s basketball player with 101 victories, earning first-team All-ACC, ACC All-Defensive Team, and All-American honors in 2017. Earlier recognition included a place on the Big East All-Freshman Team in 2013, reflecting the conference change that accompanied Syracuse’s move to the ACC.
Brittney Sykes Career
Early Career (2017)
Sykes began her professional career in 2017 after being selected seventh overall by the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA draft. She signed a three-year rookie deal with a base salary of $47,738 in year one and quickly established herself as one of the league’s brightest first-year players. She was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for both July and August, earned a spot on the 2017 WNBA All-Rookie Team, and finished as runner-up for Rookie of the Year behind Allisha Gray, earning 10 of the 40 votes.
Her rookie production was historic at the franchise level. Sykes averaged 13.9 points per game, including a career-high 33 points against the Phoenix Mercury, and her 471 total points set a new single-season rookie scoring record for the Atlanta Dream. That same year she also debuted overseas, playing for Hapoel Petah Tikva in the Israeli Female Basketball Premier League during the WNBA offseason.
WNBA Breakthrough (2020–2023)
In February 2020, Sykes was traded from Atlanta to the Los Angeles Sparks, along with center Marie Gülich, in exchange for center Kalani Brown. The move launched the most decorated stretch of her career, as she became a fixture on the WNBA’s All-Defensive teams. In 2021 she earned WNBA All-Defensive First Team honors and finished second in voting for Defensive Player of the Year, and she was also named the WNBA steals leader that season, repeating the feat in 2022.
Sykes played three seasons for the Sparks, earning WNBA All-Defensive Second Team honors in 2020 and 2022 before a February 2023 trade sent her to the Washington Mystics. With Washington she added a second All-Defensive First Team selection in 2023 and continued to expand her offensive game, eventually earning her first WNBA All-Star nod in 2025.
Washington Mystics Era (2023–2025)
Sykes spent two and a half seasons with the Washington Mystics, transforming into a complete two-way star. Across her time in Washington she averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, providing a steady scoring and playmaking punch on the perimeter. Defensively, she remained a disruptive presence, using her length and anticipation to generate steals and lock down opposing guards.
Her play in Washington was capped by her long-awaited WNBA All-Star selection in 2025, validating her status among the league’s elite perimeter players. On August 5, 2025, Sykes was traded to the Seattle Storm in exchange for forward Alysha Clark, guard Zia Cooke, and Seattle’s first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, closing a productive chapter in the nation’s capital.
Seattle Storm and Toronto Tempo Era (2025–2026)
Sykes joined the Seattle Storm in mid-2025, bringing her defensive identity and scoring versatility to a new contender in the Western Conference. Her tenure in Seattle was brief, as she was quickly identified as a foundational piece for an expansion franchise building its inaugural roster. On April 10, 2026, Sykes signed a two-year max contract with the Toronto Tempo, becoming a marquee signing for the league’s newest club.
The move to Toronto marked a full-circle return to basketball prominence after more than eight professional seasons. With Sykes locked in as a core guard, the Tempo gained an All-Star defender and proven scorer to anchor their backcourt from day one.
Driving Style and Strengths
Sykes is best known for her disruptive perimeter defense, where her length, lateral quickness, and anticipation routinely put her atop the WNBA steals leaderboard. Offensively she has evolved from a downhill slasher into a reliable mid-range and three-level scorer, capable of creating her own shot and facilitating for teammates. Her basketball IQ, toughness, and competitive edge have allowed her to thrive in multiple roles and systems throughout her career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Sykes’ signature moments are her 33-point outburst against the Phoenix Mercury as a rookie, her game-winning shot in the first-ever Unrivaled League Championship for Rose BC in 2025, and her first WNBA All-Star selection that same year. She also became the winningest Syracuse Orange women’s basketball player during her college career and set the Atlanta Dream single-season rookie scoring record with 471 points in 2017.
Brittney Sykes Career Wins
Sykes’ championship résumé spans international, league, and 3×3 competitions, highlighted by her role as a leader and game-winner for Rose BC in the inaugural Unrivaled season. She also reached the WNBA playoffs with the Los Angeles Sparks and the Washington Mystics, contributing as a key rotation piece on competitive rosters. Her winning pedigree traces back to her 101 career victories at Syracuse, the most in program history for a women’s player.
WNBA Highlights
In the WNBA, Sykes has been named a 2025 All-Star and has earned two All-Defensive First Team selections (2021, 2023) and two All-Defensive Second Team selections (2020, 2022). She led the league in steals in both 2021 and 2022, and she opened her career with a spot on the 2017 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Her rookie scoring record of 471 points for the Atlanta Dream remains a franchise benchmark.
Other Wins and Performances
Overseas, Sykes has played in Israel, Turkey, Spain, Australia, Hungary, and Poland, suiting up for Hapoel Petah Tikva, OGM Ormanspor, Çukurova Basketbol, Uni Girona CB, the Canberra Capitals, Sopron Basket, and CCC Polkowice. In 2022 she was named the Women’s National Basketball League Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-WNBL First Team honors while in Australia. She also won gold with Team USA at the 2024 FIBA 3×3 AmeriCup in San Juan and was a member of the 2018–20 USA Basketball national team pool.
Brittney Sykes Family
Family Background and Lineage
Sykes was raised in Newark, New Jersey, by her parents Michael and Regina, alongside two older brothers. Her family provided a steady foundation that helped her navigate the early challenges of her basketball journey, including two ACL tears during her college years at Syracuse. That support network remained central as she transitioned from a top high school recruit to a professional athlete competing on multiple continents.
Personal Life
Sykes earned a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Rhetorical Studies from Syracuse University and later completed a Master’s degree in instructional design, development, and evaluation in the School of Education. Off the court she is known for her community involvement and her openness about the mental and physical hurdles she has overcome, often speaking about her injuries as stepping stones rather than setbacks. She continues to be active with fans through her social media presence, engaging under her well-known “Slim” nickname.
2025 Season Performance
Sykes’ 2025 campaign was defined by long-awaited individual recognition and a major late-season change of scenery. After two and a half productive years in Washington, where she averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, she earned her first WNBA All-Star selection and helped anchor the Mystics’ perimeter defense. The midseason trade to Seattle on August 5, 2025, sent her to a contender in the Western Conference in exchange for Alysha Clark, Zia Cooke, and a 2026 first-round pick, signaling a clear win-now direction for both teams.
Beyond the WNBA, 2025 brought one of the signature moments of her career, as her Rose BC team won the first-ever Unrivaled League Championship. Sykes led Rose BC in scoring in the title game and sank the winning shot, adding a championship to her already crowded trophy case. Later that fall, on November 5, 2025, she was drafted by Laces BC for the 2026 Unrivaled season, ensuring her continued presence in the 3×3 league.
Heading into 2026, the outlook is bright. On April 10, 2026, Sykes signed a two-year max contract with the Toronto Tempo, becoming a foundational piece of the expansion franchise’s inaugural roster. Coming off an All-Star season, a championship, and renewed momentum, she enters the Tempo’s first year as both a veteran leader and a marquee name, ready to help establish the culture of a brand-new WNBA club.
