Kiki Iriafen delivered an impressive performance with 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, extending their winning streak at home to eight games.
The defeat officially ruled out the Tempo (10-25) from the playoffs in their debut season. Austin recorded her 16th double-double of the season, and Iriafen marked her 15th, with Washington dominating the boards by outrebounding Toronto 43-27, with Iriafen shooting 8 of 12 from the field.
For Washington (21-14), Michaela Onyenwere scored 14 points, sinking four 3-pointers, while Sonia Citron contributed 13 points and six assists. The Mystics scored 38 points in the paint, narrowly missing their 12th consecutive game with 40 or more points in the paint.
Despite missing their top three scorers—Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, and Nyara Sabally—during the second game of a back-to-back, Kiki Rice led Toronto with 19 points, supported by Aneesah Morrow with 13 points and eight rebounds as the expansion Tempo suffered their 12th consecutive loss.
Washington kicked off the second quarter with a 12-0 run, establishing a 37-24 lead as Toronto struggled to find their shot, missing their first five attempts. The Mystics continued their dominance in the second quarter, outscoring Toronto 22-9 to head into halftime with a 47-33 advantage.
Onyenwere’s consecutive three-pointers in the third quarter extended Washington’s lead to 60-42 midway through the period.
Upcoming games:
– Tempo: Hosting Portland on Friday.
– Mystics: Hosting Minnesota on Friday.