The Washington Mystics came out strong in the first half but couldn’t hold off a second-half surge from the Phoenix Mercury, falling 88–72 on Sunday night.
Shakira Austin led the charge for Washington with an impressive 20-point performance, followed by rookies Jade Melbourne and Sonia Citron, who each added 13. Melbourne’s aggressive drive at the buzzer gave the Mystics a 23–21 edge after a competitive first quarter that saw 10 lead changes. Washington continued to show poise and energy in the second quarter, carrying a 46–42 lead into halftime.
The third quarter proved to be the turning point, as Phoenix outscored Washington 26–12 to seize momentum. Despite trailing by 17 early in the fourth, the Mystics showed resilience with a 9–0 run before Phoenix responded to close out the game.
Coming off a strong win over Seattle just the night before, the Mystics showed flashes of brilliance and heart throughout the match up. With young talent stepping up and veteran leadership anchoring the squad, Washington continues to build on its identity heading into the final stretch of the season.
