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 against the undermanned Toronto Tempo on Wednesday night, extending their winning streak to eight consecutive games at home.
The defeat officially ended the Tempo’s playoff hopes in their debut season with a 10-25 record. Washington dominated the rebounding battle, outplaying Toronto 43-27, with Austin achieving her 16th double-double and Iriafen notching her 15th of the season. Iriafen displayed an impressive shooting performance, making 8 of 12 field goal attempts.
For Washington (21-14), Michaela Onyenwere contributed 14 points, connecting on four 3-pointers, and Sonia Citron added 13 points along with six assists. The Mystics scored 38 points in the paint, narrowly missing their 12th consecutive game with over 40 points in the paint.
With Toronto’s top three scorers—Marina Mabrey, Brittney Sykes, and Nyara Sabally—sitting out due to a back-to-back game scenario, Kiki Rice led the Tempo with 19 points, while Aneesah Morrow chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds as the expansion team suffered their 12th consecutive loss.
Washington took control in the second quarter with a 12-0 run, building a 37-24 lead as Toronto struggled to find their shot. The Mystics continued their dominance in the second quarter, outscoring Toronto 22-9 to head into halftime with a 47-33 advantage.
Onyenwere’s back-to-back three-pointers extended the Mystics’ lead to 60-42 in the third quarter. The Tempo will face Portland next, while the Mystics will host Minnesota in their upcoming fixtures.