Shakira Austin scored a season-high 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds as the Washington Mystics beat the Dallas Wings 81-75 on Friday night for their first four-game winning streak since September 2020.
Austin carried the scoring load all night, while Kiki Iriafen added 22 points and nine rebounds to give Washington (16-12) a balanced one-two punch. Cotie McMahon delivered the Mystics' final field goal with 2:50 remaining in the fourth quarter, stretching the lead to 71-68, and Washington then closed out the game by converting all 10 of its free-throw attempts down the stretch.
Sonia Citron contributed 16 points despite shooting 3 of 18 from the floor, doing her damage almost entirely from the line with a perfect 10-of-10 night. Dallas, by contrast, attempted just 13 free throws for the entire game.
The Wings made things interesting late. Arike Ogunbowale, who scored 14 of her 20 points in the first half, buried a 3-pointer with 5:12 to play to give Dallas its first lead since the opening two minutes at 64-63 — her first made field goal of the second half. Washington responded immediately and never trailed again, sealing the result from the free-throw line.
Paige Bueckers led Dallas (18-11) with 23 points, but the Wings could not stop their recent slide, losing for the third time in four games.
For the Mystics, the run marks a genuine turning point. Washington had not won four consecutive games since September 2020, and Friday's win showcased a team that has found its identity: Austin controlling the paint, Iriafen as a reliable second option and a clutch performance from the line when it mattered most. The victory lifts the Mystics to 16-12 and hands them momentum as the regular season heads into its decisive stretch.
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