Key facts
- Sonia Citron scored the game-winning jumper at the buzzer for the Washington Mystics.
- Lauren Betts scored a season-high 18 points for the Mystics.
- Michaela Onyenwere also contributed 17 points for the Mystics.
- Marina Mabrey led the Toronto Tempo with 27 points, scoring 18 in the fourth quarter.
- Brittney Sykes added 20 points for the Tempo.
Sonia Citron hit a buzzer-beating jumper to give the Washington Mystics a dramatic 86-85 victory over the Toronto Tempo on Friday night. Rookie Lauren Betts led the Mystics with a season-high 18 points, shooting 8-of-9 from the field, while Michaela Onyenwere and Citron each added 17 points. Shakira Austin contributed a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Tempo, led by Marina Mabrey's 27 points (18 in the fourth quarter) and Brittney Sykes' 20 points, mounted a furious comeback late in the game. Mabrey's scoring surge, including a four-point play and a pull-up 3-pointer, gave the Tempo an 84-83 lead with just over 30 seconds remaining. Sykes briefly put the Tempo back ahead with a layup, but Citron secured the win with her final shot.
The Mystics struggled with turnovers, committing a season-high 22, and shot poorly from beyond the arc, making only 2 of 18 attempts. The Tempo also recorded a season-high 18 steals. Both teams were hampered by key absences; the Mystics played without Kiki Iriafen (ankle), and the Tempo were missing Nyara Sabally (hamstring).