Kiki Iriafen's 9-Point Barrage in 4 Minutes Stunned the Liberty and Ended Their 8-Game Winning Streak
HOLY MOLY, folks! If you went to bed early last night, you missed one of the craziest finishes we've seen this WNBA season! The Washington Mystics, the league's youngest squad, marched right into Barclays Center and pulled off an ABSOLUTE SHOCKER, taking down the red-hot New York Liberty 86-83 on their home turf. We're talking about a team that had won TEN straight games against the Mystics, not to mention an eight-game winning streak this season. But Kiki Iriafen, oh man, Kiki Iriafen just said "NOT TODAY" and went absolutely bonkers in the final minutes!
The Mystics Said "Not So Fast, New York"
You wanna talk about heart? The Mystics were down by eight points, trailing 77-69, with just over four minutes left on the clock. Most teams would fold, right? Not these Mystics! This squad, with that raw, young energy, unleashed a stunning 14-4 run to flip the script entirely. Sonia Citron, who was dishing out dimes all night with eight assists, stepped up big time and knocked down a pair of free throws with just 1:09 left, grabbing the lead. Talk about nerves of steel! This wasn't just any win, either. This was their first victory over the Liberty since the very last day of the 2023 regular season. You KNOW that felt good.
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Clutch Plays and Buzzer Drama
The final minute was a whirlwind, truly living up to the game's 19 ties and 12 lead changes. Satou Sabally from the Liberty squared things up at 83 with two free throws, only 48.6 seconds left. The tension was palpable! But then, with the shot clock ticking down, Citron lofted a perfect pass to Iriafen, who coolly laid it in with 26.9 seconds to go. New York had a chance after Breanna Stewart missed a hook shot, and Iriafen even made one of two free throws to push the lead to three. The Liberty called a timeout, advanced the ball, and Sabrina Ionescu let fly with a long three-pointer that didn't connect. Leonie Fiebich snagged the rebound, fed it back to Sabally outside the arc, but her last-ditch shot came up short at the buzzer. WHEW! What a finish!
And let's not forget the team effort that set up this epic comeback. All five Mystics starters hit double figures, which is just incredible. Besides Iriafen's 20, we had Citron with 16 points and those eight assists, Shakira Austin added 14, Michaela Onyenwere chipped in 11, and Georgia Amoore dropped 10 points along with eight assists of her own. This wasn't a solo act, even with Iriafen's late-game heroics. They also got to the line a ton, shooting 32 free throws compared to New York's 20, which definitely made a difference.
What's Next for This Hot Mystics Squad?
This win pushes the Mystics' record to 7-7, and they've now won three of their last four games. They're finding their rhythm, showing grit, and proving that being the youngest team in the league doesn't mean you can't hang with the best. For the Liberty, who now sit at 11-5, this one's gotta sting. Giving up an eight-point lead in the final four minutes, especially after winning 10 straight in the series? That's a tough pill to swallow. But for the Mystics, this isn't just a win, it's a massive statement. They've got serious momentum now, and the rest of the league just got a serious wake-up call about what this young squad is capable of doing.
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.