On an afternoon that demanded resilience, poise, and an extra five minutes, the Washington Mystics got the job done. Behind a career performance from guard Sonia Citron, Washington outlasted the Dallas Wings in an overtime thriller, 91-88, Sunday afternoon at CareFirst Arena.

Citron poured in 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, both career highs, and buried the game-winning three-pointer with just 12.2 seconds remaining in OT, helping lift the Mystics to their first overtime victory since 2022.

The dagger was the icing on the cake of a game that saw both teams exchange runs, trade late-game haymakers, and fight for every possession.

From the jump, Washington came out aggressive, opening the afternoon on an 11-1 run behind early threes from Citron and Sug Sutton. The Mystics shot nearly 53 percent in the opening quarter while locking down defensively, holding Dallas to just two made field goals. By the end of the first, Washington had built a 27-14 lead, their second-highest scoring first quarter of the season.

But the Wings, led by veteran Arise Ogunbowale, responded quickly in the second. Dallas rattled off a 15-1 run midway through the frame, turning a double-digit deficit into a narrow lead. A layup by NaLyssa Smith gave Dallas its first edge of the game at 32-31, and the Wings carried a 45-40 advantage into the locker room.

The third quarter saw both teams dig in. Citron kept the offense rolling with seven points in the frame, and by quarter’s end, four Mystics starters, Citron, Kiki Iriafen, Shakira Austin, and Sutton, had hit double figures. Still, the Wings held the lead, 69-62, heading into the fourth.

However, Washington wasn’t done.

The Mystics opened the fourth with a 12-6 burst, cutting the lead to one and eventually reclaiming it on a layup by Iriafen. From there, it became a chess match of late-game execution. With 11 seconds left in regulation, Dallas rookie and No. 1 overall pick Paige Bueckers hit a clutch three to tie the game at 84. Washington had two chances to win it before the buzzer, both came up just short, sending the contest into overtime.

In the extra frame, Bueckers struck first again, giving Dallas a four-point edge. But Austin answered with four straight of her own. Then came the shot, Citron, stepping confidently into a three from the wing, let it fly. Nothing but net to seal the Mystics' third win over their last five games.

Citron’s 27 points tied for the second-most by a Mystics rookie in franchise history, joining elite company in Alanna Beard and Nikki McCray. She became the first rookie in team history to post at least 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game, and the first rookie across the WNBA to do so this season. It was also her 14th straight game in double figures to start her career, just two games shy of McCray’s franchise record.

“She’s a two-way player and a true defender,” head coach Sydney Johnson said on Citron following the game. “It starts with her desire, her pursuit. We’ve added some things for her to consider coaching-wise, and she’s applying them in the moment, right away. It’s special. We’ve got two special players here, and it’s about more than just talent. It’s the professionalism, and that’s a credit to her. We’re glad she’s here."

The Mystics had plenty of help across the board. Iriafen turned in one of her most well-rounded performances, finishing with 19 points, seven rebounds, a career-high six assists, and a career-high five steals. She became just the third player in the WNBA this season to post a 15-5-5-5 stat line, joining Napheesa Collier and Natasha Cloud, and the first rookie to do it. Her five steals are the most by a rookie in the league this year.

Austin added 21 points and seven rebounds, her second consecutive 20-point game, the first such stretch of her career, and extended her streak of games with at least one block to four.

Sutton was perfect from the field, dropping a season-high 15 points on 4-of-4 shooting, including 3-of-3 from deep. She also surpassed 500 career points and became just the 11th player in franchise history to score 15+ points while shooting 100%.

As a team, the Mystics put together one of their most balanced outings of the season, with four players scoring 15+ points for the second time this year. Washington also posted season-highs in both free throws made (28) and attempted (41), and shot 46.7% from three-point range, tied for their third-best mark of the year.

Defensively, the group forced 11 steals, held Dallas to just 15 points in the fourth quarter, and closed the game on the stronger end of the physical battle, leading in assists (23-16), steals (11-8), fast break points (14-7), and points in the paint (36-22).

Washington will host the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday at CareFirst Arena. Tip-off is at 8 PM ET.