Mystics Grind Out 84-79 Win Over Storm Behind Shakira Austin’s Big Night.

The Washington Mystics held off the Seattle Storm 84-79 on Sunday afternoon, closing the game on a decisive 20-11 fourth quarter to seal the win after trailing for much of the first half.

Austin Leads the Charge
Shakira Austin was the story of the night for Washington, pouring in a game-high 27 points on a scorching 55.6% shooting from the field, including 10-of-18 from the floor and a 2-of-4 from three-point range in one stretch that helped stretch the Mystics’ lead. She added 5 rebounds, 3 assists, a steal, and a block. A complete two-way performance that anchored Washington’s frontcourt all night.

Citron and Iriafen Add Firepower
Sonia Citron was right behind Austin with 19 points on 7-of-13 shooting, knocking down 4-of-5 free throws and playing efficient.

Kiki Iriafen turned in a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds, six of them offensive, giving Washington crucial extra possessions that translated into second-chance points. Her all-around effort, 3 assists and a steal, made her one of the most impactful players on the floor for either team.

Lauren Betts also made her presence felt off the bench, scoring 11 points on 4-of-8 shooting with a perfect 3-for-3 from the free-throw line, plus 3 assists, 2 steals, and a block in limited minutes.

Team Effort Wins the Day
Washington’s balanced attack showed up across the box score: the Mystics tallied 23 assists as a team, forced 12 steals, and got 22 points from the bench. Despite Seattle out-rebounding them 51-40 and getting 15 fast-break points to Washington’s 2, the Mystics made their possessions count, shooting 43.1% from the field and hitting 17-of-23 free throws.