Kiki Iriafen recorded 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Shakira Austin contributed 11 points and 10 rebounds as the Washington Mystics secured a 93-82 victory over the undermanned Toronto Tempo on Wednesday night, marking their eighth consecutive win at home.
The defeat confirmed the Tempo’s (10-25) elimination from playoff contention in their debut season.
Austin notched her 16th double-double of the season, with Iriafen achieving her 15th, as Washington dominated the boards with a 43-27 rebounding advantage over Toronto. Iriafen showcased an impressive 8-of-12 shooting from the field.
Michaela Onyenwere tallied 14 points, sinking four 3-pointers for Washington (21-14). Sonia Citron contributed 13 points and six assists. The Mystics scored 38 points in the paint, narrowly missing their 12th consecutive game with 40 points or more.
In the absence of Toronto’s top three scorers — Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, and Nyara Sabally — sitting out the second game of a back-to-back, Kiki Rice led the Tempo with 19 points. Aneesah Morrow added 13 points and eight rebounds as the expansion team suffered their 12th consecutive loss.
Washington opened the second quarter with a 12-0 run, building a 37-24 lead as Toronto struggled to convert their initial five shots. The Mystics extended their advantage by outscoring Toronto 22-9 in the second quarter, heading into halftime with a 47-33 lead.
Onyenwere’s back-to-back three-pointers in the third quarter pushed Washington’s lead to 60-42 midway through the period.
Next Games:
– Tempo: Will host Portland on Friday.
– Mystics: Scheduled to play against Minnesota at home on Friday.
