WASHINGTON (7News) — The Washington Mystics invested in youth. And it paid off.
For the first time since 2023, the Mystics have made the postseason. Washington enters the eight-team WNBA playoffs as the No. 5 seed and will play the Atlanta Dream in the first round.
The best-of-three series tips off from Atlanta on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. The Mystics will host game two at Care First Arena at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. If necessary, game three will take place in Atlanta on Oct. 2.
Washington won its season series against the Dream, 2-1.
The Mystics suffered a 109-77 defeat in their first meeting with Atlanta back on June 6. It was the most points Washington allowed in a non-overtime game this season.
But the Mystics won both home matchups against the Dream. Washington’s improved defense inspired an 81-76 victory on July 2, and a 79-74 win on Aug. 7.
Those regular-season meetings with Atlanta loosely reflected the flow of Washington’s regular season.
After a fairly unremarkable first half, the Mystics finished their campaign on a 16-4 tear.
Center Shakira Austin was a force at the rim and on the glass during the late-season run. Second-year guard Sonia Citron also emerged as an elite facilitator, averaging over 5.5 assists per game during Washington’s final 20 contests.
Austin left Washington’s season finale against the Chicago Sky on Thursday with an undisclosed injury. She’s considered questionable for Sunday’s series opener against the Dream.
With or without their veteran center, the Mystics will continue leaning on their young core as they try to make it past the opening round for the first time since 2019 — when they won the WNBA Championship.