Shakira Austin Shines Despite Storm’s Game-Winner

Concluding a back-to-back weekend, the Washington Mystics were narrowly defeated 84-82 by the Seattle Storm Sunday afternoon at CareFirst Arena.

Alysha Clark made her second start of the season. Brittney Sykes faced her former team for the first time since the August 5 trade that sent Sykes to Seattle for Clark and a 2026 first-round pick.

Seattle outscored Washington in the first half (48-39) and led by as many as 14 at one point. However, just like they have done many times this season, the Mystics, behind a career performance from Shakira Austin, battled back to outscore the Storm 43-36, despite coming up short in a nail biter.

Here is a recap of Sunday’s matchup.

Seattle set the tone early, opening the game on an 11-2 run behind a perfect 5-for-5 start from the field, with all five starters scoring in the first 2:11.

After a quick Mystics timeout, Kiki Iriafen provided a spark with back-to-back baskets, but Gabby Williams answered with a three to keep the Storm in control.

Seattle pushed its advantage into double figures on three occasions—16-6, 21-10, and 23-13—but Washington responded each time. Sonia Citron knocked down a jumper, Stefanie Dolson connected from beyond the arc, and Shakira Austin scored inside to trim each of the deficits back to single digits.

Austin carried the Mystics late in the period, scoring their final six points in the closing two minutes. However, Nneka Ogwumike matched her on the other end, and Seattle closed the quarter ahead 28-19. Iriafen led Washington with eight points and four rebounds, while Ogwumike led all scorers early with 10 points.

The Storm carried its momentum into the second quarter with a 9-4 run. With 5:49 remaining, Iriafen pulled down her fifth rebound of the afternoon, passing Crystal Langhorne (330 in 2010) for the most rebounds in a single season by a Mystic.

Down 39-25 with just over four minutes to play, Washington responded with a 14-9 surge, sparked by Austin and Sug Sutton, who combined for 10 points during the stretch.

The Storm, however, closed the half strong, as Ogwumike knocked down a three just before the buzzer to give Seattle a 48-39 lead at the break.

Austin and Iriafen had combined for 23 points, while Ogwumike and rookie Dominique Malonga matched them with 25 for Seattle.

Seattle quickly pushed its lead back to double digits to start the second half, as Ogwumike opened with a three.

Trailing 58-45 with 6:21 left, Washington responded. Alysha Clark buried a deep three, and Austin followed with a driving layup to trim the deficit to 58-50.

After an official timeout, Austin converted a three-point play to cap an 8-0 Mystics run and bring the game within five. Seattle converted a technical free throw from Wheeler, but Dolson answered with her second three to cut it to 59-56.

The Storm countered with free throws from Ogwumike and a Malonga layup, but Citron kept Washington close with back-to-back layups in the final minute.

Ogwumike had the last word, however, sinking her sixth three of the game, finishing a perfect 6-for-6 from deep through three quarters, and sent Seattle into the fourth with a 67-60 lead.

Washington opened the fourth with a 7-0 run, sparked by Dolson’s third three-pointer, to tie the game at 67. Seattle briefly regained a three-point edge, but Austin answered with six straight points to give the Mystics their first lead of the night, 73-70.

Skylar Diggins tied it with a layup and free throw, and Gabby Williams followed with a jumper to push the Storm back ahead, 75-73, with 2:29 left.

Malonga extended the lead to four, but Austin continued her dominance, sinking two free throws—moving to a perfect 10-for-10 at the line, before converting a game-tying layup.

The final minute turned into a back-and-forth battle. Malonga scored inside to put Seattle ahead, but Iriafen answered with a driving layup.

Brittney Sykes then hit a clutch three, only for Sutton to respond with a deep dagger to tie it again at 82. In the closing seconds, Ogwumike delivered the knockout blow, sinking a buzzer-beating jumper to lift Seattle to an 84-82 victory.

Austin finished with a career-high 30 points.

“I just took it possession by possession,” Austin said postgame. “The team did great keeping them within one shot, and pushing it, and that’s what really kept us in the game.”

Citron and Iriafen combined for 26, and Dolson chipped in 11 off the bench.

For Seattle, Ogwumike and Malonga powered the Storm with a combined 47 points.

Washington will head up to the Big Apple for a Thursday night matchup against the New York Liberty with tip-off at 7 PM ET.