Mystics Beat Storm 84-79 Behind Austin’s Late Push

The Washington Mystics beat the Seattle Storm 84-79 on Sunday after Shakira Austin scored 10 of her 27 points in the fourth quarter and Seattle’s offense broke down under late pressure.

Natisha Hiedeman scored a career-high 31 points for the Storm, but Washington erased Seattle’s advantage by forcing eight turnovers in the final period and outscoring the visitors 20-11.

Washington changed the game in the fourth quarter

Seattle entered the last period ahead 68-64 after building its lead behind Hiedeman’s shot-making and a strong rebounding night from Dominique Malonga.

The final 10 minutes belonged to Washington.

Seattle shot 4-for-14 in the fourth and committed eight of its 19 turnovers during the period. Washington did not need an extraordinary outside-shooting stretch because repeated empty Storm possessions created extra opportunities.

Austin attacked the paint, scored through contact and became Washington’s reliable option when the game tightened. Her 27 points were the game’s second-highest total, and 10 arrived when possession quality mattered most.

The Mystics moved to 11-10 with the win. Seattle fell to 6-19.

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Hiedeman carried Seattle’s offense

Hiedeman finished 14-for-24 from the field and produced the highest-scoring game of her WNBA career.

She created off the dribble, scored from the mid-range and repeatedly rescued possessions that were losing shape. Seattle needed nearly all of it.

The rest of the Storm roster combined to shoot 16-for-46, or 35%.

That imbalance left Seattle vulnerable once Washington began trapping, crowding driving lanes and making the supporting cast finish possessions. Hiedeman could generate offense, but the Storm did not have enough clean secondary actions when the ball was forced elsewhere.

Malonga added 10 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

Her work on the glass helped Seattle remain in front through three quarters, but Washington’s pressure kept the Storm from converting those possessions into enough late scoring.

Austin had support across Washington’s frontcourt

Kiki Iriafen recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds for her ninth double-double of the season.

Rookie Lauren Betts added 11 points, giving Washington another interior target and preventing Seattle from loading every defensive possession toward Austin.

Sonia Citron scored 19 points and supplied perimeter balance.

Washington’s scoring distribution mattered because it forced Seattle to defend different actions. Austin could screen, post or roll, Citron could attack from outside, and Iriafen’s rebounding punished missed box-outs.

The Mystics did not depend on a single hot shooter.

They won through a combination of interior production, second efforts and defensive disruption after Seattle had controlled much of the game.

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Quarter-by-quarter score

Seattle led 45-40 at halftime and 68-64 after three quarters.

Washington’s final-period defense reversed the direction of the game. The Mystics allowed only four made field goals in the fourth and turned Seattle’s mistakes into earlier offense before the Storm could organize its half-court defense.

Key player statistics

Washington Mystics

• Shakira Austin: 27 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter

• Sonia Citron: 19 points

• Kiki Iriafen: 12 points, 13 rebounds

• Lauren Betts: 11 points

Seattle Storm

• Natisha Hiedeman: 31 points, 14-for-24 shooting

• Dominique Malonga: 10 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks, two steals

• Rest of Seattle roster: 16-for-46 shooting

The contrast was clear.

Seattle had the game’s highest scorer, while Washington had four players in double figures and more reliable late options.

The turnover timing hurt more than the total

Nineteen turnovers over a full game is damaging, but Seattle’s distribution made the problem worse.

Eight came in the fourth quarter, when each lost possession removed time and denied the Storm a chance to use Hiedeman’s hot hand.

A turnover early in a game can be recovered over several quarters. A cluster during the final 10 minutes changes shot volume, matchups and confidence at once.

Washington’s pressure also reduced Seattle’s transition defense.

When the Storm lost the ball before completing an offensive action, Austin and the Mystics could attack against a defense that had not yet set its preferred coverage.

Seattle’s record reflects more than one close loss

The Storm have competitive stretches and young pieces capable of producing high-level individual nights.

Malonga’s rebounding and Hiedeman’s scoring showed that again.

The problem is converting those stretches into complete games. Seattle controlled three quarters in Washington but gave away too many possessions when the margin narrowed.

The Mystics are in a different stage.

Washington’s young core is learning to close games through multiple contributors, and Sunday’s final quarter offered another example of that development.

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TL;DR

• Washington beat Seattle 84-79.

• Shakira Austin scored 27 points, including 10 in the fourth.

• Natisha Hiedeman scored a career-high 31 for Seattle.

• The Storm committed eight fourth-quarter turnovers.

• Washington outscored Seattle 20-11 in the final period.

• Kiki Iriafen recorded 12 points and 13 rebounds.

Sources

• WNBA — Seattle Storm vs Washington Mystics game page

• WNBA — Official league standings

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