The Washington Mystics defeated the Atlanta Dream 81-76 on Thursday night at CareFirst Arena behind a second half comeback led by Shakira Austin and Alicia Florez — extending its winning streak to two.
Austin helped the Mystics jump out to a 4–0 start before Atlanta responded with eight straight points to take a four-point lead. Second-year guard Georgia Amoore helped Washington recover, scoring four points in three minutes during the first quarter to keep the game within a single possession. Amoore had
been listed as questionable with right knee soreness before being inserted into the starting lineup.
Austin led Washington in the opening quarter with seven points, three rebounds, and a block, helping the Mystics edge Atlanta 23–22 after 10 minutes.
Atlanta shifted momentum in the second quarter, outscoring Washington by 10 to take a 41–32 lead into halftime. In Sonia Citron’s absence (right knee soreness), Austin continued to pace the Mystics with 11 first-half points, while Florez provided key minutes off the bench at backup point guard, finishing the half with five points, two rebounds, and three assists.
Turnovers plagued Washington throughout the first half, as the Mystics committed 19 compared to Atlanta’s seven. Kiki Iriafen, Austin and Lauren Betts each had three turnovers, while Michaela Onyenwere, Cotie McMahon, Lucy Olsen and Florez each added two.
Defensively, Washington struggled to slow Atlanta’s Rhyne Howard (12) and Allisha (11) Gray, who combined for 23 of the Dream’s 41 first-half points. Angel Reese added eight points in 16 minutes for Atlanta but picked up her third foul late in the half, forcing her to the bench until halftime.
But in the third quarter, Washington closed Atlanta’s lead from nine to four with the help of a few big time threes from Austin and McMahon to enter the fourth quarter down 60-56. Austin (17) and Florez (10)were the only Mystics in double-figure scoring through the first three quarters.
Washington found its rhythm in the fourth quarter, with Iriafen drilling a corner three to pull the Mystics within one.
On the next possession, McMahon tied the game at 65 with a pair of free throws. Austin then gave Washington its first lead since the end of the first quarter, finishing a drop-step layup to put the Mystics ahead, 67-65.
Atlanta answered immediately, as Howard knocked down her fifth three-pointer of the night to reclaim a 68–67 lead.
Iriafen responded with two free throws to put Washington back in front by 69-68, and Austin followed with her ninth field goal of the game to extend the Mystics’ lead to three with 4:19 remaining. But Atlanta continued to respond.
Naz Hillmon knocked down a triple to tie the game at 71, before Florez continued one of her best campaigns of the season. The Mystics’ rookie buried a 25-foot step-back three-pointer to give Washington a three-point cushion with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
That cushion held true until the final buzzer, as the Mystics scraped out a 81-76 victory in front of their home crowd.
Austin finished the game with a team-high 21 points, Florez added a career-high 13 points off the bench and Iriafen recorded her fourth consecutive double-double (14pts, 10reb) to help Washington secure their second-straight home victory. Florez also led Washington in assists (7), in arguably the best performance of her young career.
Washington only recorded seven second-half turnovers compared to 19 in the first.
Howard led Atlanta, and all scorers with 24 points while Reese recorded an 13-points, 13-rebound double-double — her second double-double vs Washington this season.
Washington will host the Golden State Valkyries on Monday, July 6, in the third game of its four-game homestand. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET at CareFirst Arena.
