Washington Mystics defeated Seattle Storm 84-79 in the Women’s National Basketball Association on Sunday, with Shakira Austin’s 27-point display proving the decisive contribution as Washington closed the fixture with a dominant final quarter and took the three points at CareFirst Arena.
There were no official scoring-event timestamps available for this fixture, but the shape of the contest was clear across the four periods. Seattle started the sharper side and took the opening quarter 24-18, moving the ball well enough to put Washington on the back foot early. The Mystics, however, settled into the contest in the second period, trimming the deficit before the interval and keeping themselves within reach at 45-40 down.
The third period followed a similar pattern, with Seattle still finding enough offense to protect its advantage. Natisha Hiedeman was the Storm’s standout threat throughout, finishing with 31 points and three assists, while Dominique Malonga gave Seattle a strong interior platform with 15 rebounds. Even so, Washington stayed connected to the fixture through Austin’s efficiency around the basket and a more balanced attacking effort overall.
The pivotal moment came in the fourth period, when the Mystics held Seattle to just 11 points. That defensive stretch changed the entire flow of the contest. Washington scored 20 in the final frame, flipped a five-point deficit after three periods into a five-point victory, and controlled the key possessions late. The home side’s superior ball movement also mattered, with 23 assists to Seattle’s 12, allowing the Mystics to create cleaner looks when the fixture tightened.
Austin was the headline performer with 27 points and the most influential attacking display on the pitch—figuratively speaking for a basketball contest—while Kiki Iriafen added important work on the glass with 13 rebounds. Georgia Amoore’s four assists led Washington in distribution, and the Mystics’ ability to share the ball gave them the platform to wear Seattle down over the final stretch.
For Seattle, Hiedeman did everything she could to keep the Storm in front, and Malonga’s 15 rebounds underlined the visitors’ physical presence. The Storm even finished with a 43-32 edge on the boards, but their late attacking drop-off ultimately decided the result. An 11-point fourth quarter on the road left too much for them to recover from.
Key performers
Washington Mystics: Shakira Austin 27 points, Kiki Iriafen 13 rebounds, Georgia Amoore 4 assists.
Seattle Storm: Natisha Hiedeman 31 points, Dominique Malonga 15 rebounds.
NerdSports Stat: Washington overturned a 68-64 deficit after three periods by winning the fourth 20-11, while also finishing with 11 more assists than Seattle — a strong indicator of how their late execution separated the sides.
The result moves Washington to 11-10 overall and gives the Mystics a valuable home win as they look to build momentum in the middle of the table. Seattle drops to 6-19 and will feel this was a missed opportunity after leading for much of the fixture. The Mystics now carry confidence into their next fixture, while the Storm must find a better closing stretch on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions
No official scorer timestamps were available for this Women’s National Basketball Association fixture. Shakira Austin led Washington with 27 points, while Natisha Hiedeman led Seattle with 31 points.
Washington Mystics 84 – 79 Seattle Storm.
Washington improved to 11-10 and strengthened its position in the middle of the standings, while Seattle fell to 6-19 and remains under pressure in the lower reaches of the table.
Shakira Austin was the standout performer with 27 points in Washington’s victory.
