Sonia Citron’s precision and Kiki Iriafen’s work on the glass carry Mystics past Sky, 101-93

Washington’s head start was the whole story until the end

The Mystics did not need long to define the game. Michaela Onyenwere opened the scoring with a three-pointer at 9:33 of the first quarter, and once Washington moved in front, Chicago never got in front at all. By the end of the opening period it was 31-16, a margin created less by one hot streak than by repeated, clean scoring from several places. Kiki Iriafen finished inside, Georgia Amoore spaced the floor with an early three, and Sonia Citron scored twice in the final 1:26 of the quarter as the lead kept growing.

Chicago found some rhythm in the second quarter, especially through Courtney Vandersloot and Kamilla Cardoso, but Washington kept answering. Vandersloot hit a pull-up, then a deep three, and Cardoso scored twice around the rim, yet the Mystics still took the quarter 21-18 and the half 52-34. That was the first important truth of the night: the Sky’s offense was functional often enough, but their defensive margin for error had already disappeared.

Citron was efficient, Iriafen was relentless

The cleanest line on the floor belonged to Citron. She scored 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting, made 2 of 3 from deep, handed out five assists, grabbed five rebounds and never committed a turnover. That kind of box score does more than decorate a win; it stabilizes it. When Chicago threatened to string together baskets, Citron kept giving Washington a composed possession, whether it came on a pull-up, a layup or a catch-and-shoot three.

Iriafen supplied the game’s heavier labor. Her 16 points came with 14 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass, and that rebounding work helped Washington survive a night when Shakira Austin could not buy a field goal. Austin went 0-for-9 from the floor, but even that came with useful production: 11 rebounds, five assists and 7-of-8 shooting at the foul line. Add Onyenwere’s 16 points and Amoore’s 14, and the Mystics had the kind of layered scoring that made their 10-of-22 three-point shooting and 23 made free throws feel sustainable rather than accidental.

Chicago’s offense woke up, but the deficit was too old

The Sky’s final total says something important about this game: 93 points is usually enough to expect a real chance. Chicago shot 36-of-74 overall, piled up 24 assists, scored 52 points in the paint and committed only 10 total turnovers. Vandersloot was especially sharp, finishing with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, going 3-for-3 from three-point range and adding seven assists without a turnover. Cardoso matched her with 16 points and added nine rebounds, while Rachel Banham chipped in 12 off the bench.

But the Sky spent too much of the night scoring from behind a structural problem they never solved. Washington owned the glass 43-27, collected 14 offensive rebounds and drew 32 free-throw attempts. Chicago also allowed 31 points in the first quarter, which meant every productive stretch later came with the burden of catch-up attached to it. Sydney Taylor’s 16 points and fourth-quarter aggression helped shrink the margin, but her overall line — 5-of-18 from the field and 0-for-7 from three — also reflected how difficult the comeback task had become.

Our take: a strong Washington win, with one warning label

The late sequence kept this from feeling routine. After Alicia Florez hit a three with 2:10 left, Washington led 95-82 and looked ready to cruise home. Chicago then made the score honest in a hurry: Taylor knocked down three free throws at 1:57, Vandersloot turned a three-pointer into a four-point play at 1:28, and her layup at the 1:00 mark cut the lead to 95-91. That was the moment the Mystics had to produce one more firm answer, and they did. Iriafen scored inside with 38.5 seconds left, and Amoore calmly finished the job at the line.

Our take: Washington should leave this game pleased with the balance, shot-making and rebounding edge that carried it for three quarters, but not indifferent to the finish. The Mystics turned the ball over 14 times, those mistakes led to 16 Chicago points, and a 13-point lead with 2:10 left was nearly sliced to one possession. Chicago, meanwhile, can take encouragement from the offensive composure — 24 assists, just 10 turnovers and 93 points — while seeing exactly where the repair work starts. The Sky need a better opening defensive quarter, fewer fouls and sturdier rebounding, because 43-27 on the glass and 32 Washington free-throw attempts are too much to spot a team that already has the lead.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 9:33

   Michaela Onyenwere makes 24-foot three point jumper (Shakira Austin assists)

2. 1st Quarter · 8:10

   Michaela Onyenwere makes driving layup

3. 1st Quarter · 7:30

   Sydney Taylor makes running layup (Courtney Vandersloot assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 7:05

   Kiki Iriafen makes two point shot

5. 1st Quarter · 6:52

   Kamilla Cardoso makes driving layup (Sydney Taylor assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 6:23

   Sydney Taylor makes driving layup

7. 1st Quarter · 6:12

   Kiki Iriafen makes driving layup (Michaela Onyenwere assists)

8. 1st Quarter · 5:50

   Sonia Citron makes running layup

9. 1st Quarter · 5:43

   Kamilla Cardoso makes 4-foot layup (Sydney Taylor assists)

10. 1st Quarter · 5:30

    Georgia Amoore makes 23-foot three point jumper (Shakira Austin assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 4:58

    Kiki Iriafen makes 2-foot layup (Shakira Austin assists)

12. 1st Quarter · 4:38

    Cotie McMahon makes free throw 1 of 2

13. 1st Quarter · 4:20

    Jacy Sheldon makes driving layup (Morgan Maly assists)

14. 1st Quarter · 4:03

    Michaela Onyenwere makes free throw 1 of 3

15. 1st Quarter · 4:03

    Michaela Onyenwere makes free throw 2 of 3

16. 1st Quarter · 4:03

    Michaela Onyenwere makes free throw 3 of 3

17. 1st Quarter · 3:52

    Sydney Taylor makes free throw 1 of 2

18. 1st Quarter · 3:52

    Sydney Taylor makes free throw 2 of 2

19. 1st Quarter · 3:07

    Sydney Taylor makes running layup

20. 1st Quarter · 2:54

    Kiki Iriafen makes layup (Lauren Betts assists)

21. 1st Quarter · 2:30

    Cotie McMahon makes free throw 1 of 2

22. 1st Quarter · 1:51

    Lauren Betts makes 3-foot jumper

23. 1st Quarter · 1:26

    Sonia Citron makes 16-foot pullup jump shot (Alicia Florez assists)

24. 1st Quarter · 56.7

    Sonia Citron makes driving layup (Kiki Iriafen assists)

25. 1st Quarter · 40.8

    Sydney Taylor makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot (Morgan Maly assists)

26. 1st Quarter · 13.9

    Betnijah Laney-Hamilton makes driving layup

27. 2nd Quarter · 8:27

    Morgan Maly makes 7-foot pullup jump shot (Kate Martin assists)

28. 2nd Quarter · 8:13

    Shakira Austin makes free throw 1 of 2

29. 2nd Quarter · 8:13

    Shakira Austin makes free throw 2 of 2

30. 2nd Quarter · 7:58

    Kamilla Cardoso makes 4-foot layup (Courtney Vandersloot assists)

31. 2nd Quarter · 7:45

    Kiki Iriafen makes driving layup (Georgia Amoore assists)

32. 2nd Quarter · 7:23

    Sonia Citron makes 3-foot running pullup jump shot

33. 2nd Quarter · 7:06

    Courtney Vandersloot makes driving layup

34. 2nd Quarter · 6:53

    Georgia Amoore makes 25-foot three point jumper (Shakira Austin assists)

35. 2nd Quarter · 6:21

    Lauren Betts makes 3-foot two point shot

36. 2nd Quarter · 6:09

    Courtney Vandersloot makes 11-foot pullup jump shot

37. 2nd Quarter · 5:53

    Courtney Vandersloot makes 25-foot running pullup jump shot

38. 2nd Quarter · 5:26

    Georgia Amoore makes 24-foot three point jumper (Michaela Onyenwere assists)

39. 2nd Quarter · 5:02

    Elizabeth Williams makes free throw 2 of 2

40. 2nd Quarter · 4:36

    Kamilla Cardoso makes layup (Gabriela Jaquez assists)

41. 2nd Quarter · 3:42

    Gabriela Jaquez makes free throw 2 of 2

42. 2nd Quarter · 3:02

    Sonia Citron makes driving layup

43. 2nd Quarter · 2:30

    Georgia Amoore makes free throw 2 of 2

44. 2nd Quarter · 1:42

    Courtney Vandersloot makes 26-foot three pointer

45. 2nd Quarter · 1:27

    Kiki Iriafen makes two point shot

46. 2nd Quarter · 1:08

    Cotie McMahon makes free throw 1 of 2

47. 2nd Quarter · 1:08

    Cotie McMahon makes free throw 2 of 2

48. 3rd Quarter · 9:17

    Sonia Citron makes 1-foot layup (Shakira Austin assists)

49. 3rd Quarter · 9:01

    Gabriela Jaquez makes 12-foot pullup jump shot (Kamilla Cardoso assists)

50. 3rd Quarter · 8:20

    Elizabeth Williams makes 3-foot layup (Courtney Vandersloot assists)

51. 3rd Quarter · 7:53

    Kamilla Cardoso makes free throw 1 of 2

52. 3rd Quarter · 7:34

    Michaela Onyenwere makes 27-foot three point jumper (Sonia Citron assists)

53. 3rd Quarter · 7:17

    Sonia Citron makes 28-foot running pullup jump shot

54. 3rd Quarter · 7:17

    Sonia Citron makes free throw 1 of 1

55. 3rd Quarter · 6:56

    Gabriela Jaquez makes 23-foot three point jumper (Courtney Vandersloot assists)

56. 3rd Quarter · 6:35

    Michaela Onyenwere makes 6-foot driving floating jump shot (Sonia Citron assists)

57. 3rd Quarter · 5:02

    Elizabeth Williams makes driving layup (Gabriela Jaquez assists)

58. 3rd Quarter · 4:37

    Sonia Citron makes 23-foot three point jumper (Lauren Betts assists)

59. 3rd Quarter · 4:01

    Michaela Onyenwere makes 23-foot three point jumper (Sonia Citron assists)

60. 3rd Quarter · 3:34

    Gabriela Jaquez makes 1-foot two point shot

61. 3rd Quarter · 3:03

    Kate Martin makes 17-foot jumper (Jacy Sheldon assists)

62. 3rd Quarter · 2:48

    Cotie McMahon makes 24-foot three point jumper (Betnijah Laney-Hamilton assists)

63. 3rd Quarter · 2:32

    Morgan Maly makes driving layup (Elizabeth Williams assists)

64. 3rd Quarter · 2:05

    Rachel Banham makes 17-foot jumper (Jacy Sheldon assists)

65. 3rd Quarter · 1:54

    Cotie McMahon makes two point shot

66. 3rd Quarter · 1:38

    Rachel Banham makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kamilla Cardoso assists)

67. 3rd Quarter · 1:22

    Cotie McMahon makes free throw 1 of 2

68. 3rd Quarter · 52.2

    Cotie McMahon makes running layup

69. 3rd Quarter · 35.2

    Kamilla Cardoso makes driving layup (Rachel Banham assists)

70. 3rd Quarter · 16.5

    Alicia Florez makes driving layup (Lauren Betts assists)

71. 3rd Quarter · 1.5

    Kate Martin makes 24-foot three pointer (Kamilla Cardoso assists)

72. 4th Quarter · 9:40

    Sonia Citron makes free throw 1 of 2

73. 4th Quarter · 9:40

    Sonia Citron makes free throw 2 of 2

74. 4th Quarter · 9:24

    Rachel Banham makes driving layup

75. 4th Quarter · 9:13

    Shakira Austin makes free throw 1 of 2

76. 4th Quarter · 9:13

    Shakira Austin makes free throw 2 of 2

77. 4th Quarter · 8:44

    Jacy Sheldon makes running layup (Sydney Taylor assists)

78. 4th Quarter · 8:10

    Morgan Maly makes 28-foot three point jumper (Elizabeth Williams assists)

79. 4th Quarter · 7:42

    Shakira Austin makes free throw 1 of 2

80. 4th Quarter · 7:23

    Rachel Banham makes 2-foot layup (Courtney Vandersloot assists)

81. 4th Quarter · 7:04

    Kiki Iriafen makes two point shot

82. 4th Quarter · 6:51

    Rachel Banham makes 27-foot three pointer (Courtney Vandersloot assists)

83. 4th Quarter · 6:15

    Sydney Taylor makes running layup

84. 4th Quarter · 6:02

    Lauren Betts makes 18-foot jumper (Sonia Citron assists)

85. 4th Quarter · 5:42

    Kamilla Cardoso makes free throw 1 of 2

86. 4th Quarter · 5:42

    Kamilla Cardoso makes free throw 2 of 2

87. 4th Quarter · 4:29

    Shakira Austin makes free throw 1 of 2

88. 4th Quarter · 4:29

    Shakira Austin makes free throw 2 of 2

89. 4th Quarter · 4:07

    Sydney Taylor makes free throw 1 of 2

90. 4th Quarter · 3:46

    Kamilla Cardoso makes free throw 1 of 2

91. 4th Quarter · 3:26

    Kamilla Cardoso makes two point shot

92. 4th Quarter · 2:37

    Elizabeth Williams makes 4-foot two point shot (Courtney Vandersloot assists)

93. 4th Quarter · 2:22

    Lauren Betts makes two point shot

94. 4th Quarter · 2:10

    Alicia Florez makes 25-foot three pointer

95. 4th Quarter · 1:57

    Sydney Taylor makes free throw 1 of 3

96. 4th Quarter · 1:57

    Sydney Taylor makes free throw 2 of 3

97. 4th Quarter · 1:57

    Sydney Taylor makes free throw 3 of 3

98. 4th Quarter · 1:28

    Courtney Vandersloot makes 25-foot three pointer (Rachel Banham assists)

99. 4th Quarter · 1:28

    Courtney Vandersloot makes free throw 1 of 1

100. 4th Quarter · 1:00

     Courtney Vandersloot makes driving layup (Sydney Taylor assists)

101. 4th Quarter · 38.5

     Kiki Iriafen makes 3-foot two point shot (Sonia Citron assists)

102. 4th Quarter · 29.8

     Georgia Amoore makes free throw 1 of 2

103. 4th Quarter · 29.8

     Georgia Amoore makes free throw 2 of 2

104. 4th Quarter · 20.5

     Elizabeth Williams makes layup (Kamilla Cardoso assists)

105. 4th Quarter · 18.5

     Georgia Amoore makes free throw 1 of 2

106. 4th Quarter · 18.5

     Georgia Amoore makes free throw 2 of 2