Monday was not an ideal day to be a Washington, D.C. sports fan.
The city received bad news after bad news Monday night, as three of its professional teams were dealt a bad hand and suffered significant losses.
It began shortly after 7 p.m. ET in the NBA draft lottery. It was another painful season for Wizards fans, as the team went 18-64 in 2024-25, only slightly better than the previous season’s 15 wins.
With the NBA’s second-worst record, they competed with the Utah Jazz and Charlotte Hornets for the top draft pick. Get the first overall pick, and the Wizards could select Cooper Flagg, changing the course of their franchise.
That did not happen. The Wizards were guaranteed a top six pick, and they received the sixth pick in the 2025 draft. The Dallas Mavericks won the Flagg sweepstakes, making the worst-case scenario a reality.
A few hours later, the Nationals rallied in the ninth inning against the Atlanta Braves to tie the game at 3-3. However, in the bottom of the ninth inning, Alex Verdugo hit an RBI single, bringing in Eli White and walking it off for the Braves. The Nationals are currently 17-25 and on a six-game losing streak.
The Nationals lost as the Carolina Hurricanes were finishing off a 5-2 victory over the Capitals in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Carolina now has a commanding 3-1 lead over the conference’s top seed, putting the Capitals’ impressive season on the verge of ending.
A day to forget in the country’s capital.
