Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

Closing out their 2025 WNBA regular season, the Washington Mystics fell on the road to the New York Liberty 75-66.

Liberty All-Star Sabrina Ionescu made her return after missing the last four games with a toe injury.

Washington concluded its season with a 16-28 record, while New York will wrap up its season Thursday night at the Chicago Sky.

Here is a recap of the Tuesday night’s matchup from Brooklyn.

Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images

First Quarter

New York came out firing from beyond the arc, launching 10 three-point attempts and converting four in the opening quarter.

After falling behind 12–6 midway through the period, Washington chipped away at the deficit with buckets from rookie Lucy Olsen and Shakira Austin. However, the Liberty closed the quarter on a 7–2 run taking a 19–12 lead heading into the second.

Kiki Iriafen and Olsen combined for eight early points. Breanna Stewart led the way for the Liberty with six points.

Second Quarter

Behind a pair of early second-quarter buckets from Natasha Cloud, the Liberty extended their lead into double digits.

With 6:41 left in the half and trailing 26–14, the Mystics responded with a 6–2 run, sparked by baskets from Iriafen, Sonia Citron, and Sug Sutton, cutting the deficit to 27–20. New York answered swiftly with a 5–0 push to stretch the lead back to 32–20.

With under 3:30 to play in the second quarter, Citron knocked down Washington’s first three-pointer of the game. But the Liberty closed the half strong, ending on a 9–3 run to take a 41–26 lead into the locker room.

Citron and Iriafen combined for 14 points in the first half, while Stewart and Cloud led the Liberty with 21 combined.

Third Quarter

Washington came out hot to start the third quarter, opening with an 8–2 run behind back-to-back three-pointers from Alysha Clark and Sutton. Following a Liberty timeout, Citron knocked down a 12-foot pull-up jumper to trim the deficit to 43–36.

New York quickly regained control, answering with buckets from Kennedy Burke and Emma Meesseman, the latter connecting on the team’s sixth three-pointer of the game, to push the lead back to 12.

With 5:01 remaining in the quarter, Citron knocked down her second three-pointer of the night, reaching 10 points and recording her 39th career game with double-digit scoring. Despite Washington’s efforts to close the gap, New York consistently had an answer.

Citron’s third triple brought the Mystics back within striking distance at 52–44, but the Liberty continued to counter every push. Both teams traded buckets in the closing minutes of the quarter, and Washington entered the fourth trailing 61–50.

Citron led Washington with eight third quarter points.

Fourth Quarter

New York pushed its lead back to 15 early in the fourth quarter with scores from Cloud and Jonquel Jones, maintaining a comfortable double-digit cushion through the final minute of Tuesday night’s contest as the Mystics would fall 75-66.

Washington saw three players finish in double figures: Austin with 13 points, Iriafen with 16, and Citron also with 13.

Meesseman led the Liberty off the bench with a game-high 19 points, while Jones recorded a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double. Stewart added 14 points to round out New York’s balanced offensive attack.

Play of the Game

Emily Engstler threads the needle ➡️ Citron buries the triple! 🎯

Game Notes

Kiki Iriafen led the Mystics with 16 points and six rebounds. She finished her rookie season averaging 13.3 points and 8.5 rebounds on 48.8% shooting. Iriafen is the only Mystics rookie, and one of just seven in WNBA history, to average at least 12 points and 8 rebounds while shooting over 47% from the field. She recorded 34 double-digit scoring games (tied for 2nd among rookies) and had 31 games with 10+ points and 5+ rebounds, most among all rookies. Her 176 free throw attempts rank third in Mystics single-season history.
Sonia Citron added 13 points, three threes, four rebounds, four assists, and three steals. She averaged 14.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.4 assists while shooting 47.0% from the field and 44.5% from three. Citron is the only rookie in league history to average 13+ points, 4+ rebounds, and 2+ assists while shooting 47% FG and 40% 3PT (min. 125 3PA). Her 657 points are the most ever by a Mystics rookie and set a single-season franchise record. She also recorded 38 games with 10+ points, a WNBA rookie record, and made 81 threes, the third-most by a rookie.
Shakira Austin finished with 13 points, five rebounds, and four assists. She recorded 26 games with 10+ points, her most in a season, and has posted four straight games with 10+ points and 5+ rebounds.
The Mystics had five players with 3+ assists, their second-highest total this season. They tallied 24 assists on 27 made field goals and out-assisted New York 24–21. Washington also outscored the Liberty 38–32 in the paint and set a new franchise record with 669 free throw attempts this season.

Stat Leaders

Points:

Mystics – Kiki Iriafen (16)
Liberty – Emma Meesseman (19)

Rebounds:

Mystics – Kiki Iriafen (6)
Liberty – Jonquel Jones (11)

Assists:

Mystics – Shakira Austin & Sonia Citron (4)
Liberty – Sabrina Ionescu (9)

Looking Ahead

Up next for the Washington Mystics is the 2025 WNBA offseason.

Gallery Block

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