Mystics set franchise win record — 79-69 over Connecticut

Final — Washington 79, Connecticut 69

The Washington Mystics beat the Connecticut Sun 79-69 on Tuesday, Sep. 22 at CareFirst Arena for a franchise-record 27th regular-season win (AP).

Washington is 27-16. The previous mark was 26 wins in 2019, the year of the club’s only WNBA title. That is not a soft anniversary — it is the standard this roster just passed with two days left in the regular season.

Shakira Austin owned the night: 25 points, 13 rebounds (game-high), a career-high 11 free throws, and her 20th double-double this season. Her franchise single-season rebounding record extended to 397. AP notes Austin and Kiki Iriafen (22 double-doubles) are the first WNBA teammates with at least 20 double-doubles in the same season.

The Sun outrebounded Washington 43-34 — just the fourth time Mystics were outrebounded this year, per the Post — and still lost by 10. Bench and wing scoring held the line when the glass went the other way.

Locked lines (AP)

• Shakira Austin — 25 points, 13 rebounds (game-high), career-high 11 free throws, 20th double-double this season; franchise single-season rebounding record extended to 397
• Cotie McMahon — 13 points off the bench
• Sonia Citron — 12 points
• Diamond Miller led Connecticut with 19
• Sun outrebounded Washington 43-34 (fourth time Mystics were outrebounded this year, per Post)

Standings note (sourced)

AP: Mystics stretched their lead over Dallas and New York (tied for seventh) to one game with two days left in the regular season.

Next

Thursday — Chicago at CareFirst (home). Confirm tip/TV on the club board.

Sport DMV read

Twenty-seven wins puts this Mystics group above the title-year bar — and the DMV should treat the last two days like a playoff dress rehearsal. Watch Austin’s free-throw volume and the CareFirst crowd against Chicago; seed math is real, and one game of cushion over Dallas/New York is not a cushion to waste.

The Mystics page is the hub.

*Wednesday morning desk, Sep. 23, 2026. Analysis refresh. Lines from AP / Sportsnet and The Washington Post; box from WNBA.com.*