Eight Rookies, One Upset Win, and the Mystics Are About to Face the Liberty's Wrath on Mother's Day

The Washington Mystics are young, hungry, and they just pulled off something they haven't done in over a decade. On Friday night in Toronto, this collection of eight rookies and three second-year players knocked off the expansion Tempo 68-65, marking their first season-opening road win since 2015. Now they're hosting the New York Liberty on Mother's Day matinee, and they're walking into a buzzsaw.

Citron and Austin Delivered When It Mattered Most

Sonia Citron was the engine for Washington's upset, pouring in 26 points against Toronto. But the moment that sealed the win belonged to Shakira Austin. The center knocked down four clutch free throws in the final minute, and afterward, she got real about what was going through her head. "I knew I was going to make them," Austin said. "No, I don't know, I was struggling the past month with my free throw shooting and that's something I wanted to focus on, because I want to be fouled, I want to get to the rim, but those free throws was the calmest I was the whole game."

Austin finished with 18 points. Meanwhile, top draft pick Lauren Betts appeared in 12 minutes but struggled, going 0-for-4 with five rebounds. This team is still figuring itself out, but they're figuring it out by winning.

Here Comes Liberty, Looking to Keep Rolling

The Liberty? They're a different animal right now. New coach Chris DeMarco had a debut for the ages on Friday, steamrolling Connecticut 106-75 without even needing Sabrina Ionescu (ankle) or Satou Sabally (illness) in the lineup. Breanna Stewart absolutely went off with 31 points and 10 rebounds, pushing her career WNBA total past 6,000 points. Marine Johannes added 17 points with five three-pointers.

New York has owned Washington lately, winning eight straight matchups dating back to the 2023 regular-season finale. The Liberty started last season 9-0 before injuries derailed them and they got bounced in the first round of the playoffs. But they're not the same team anymore, and they're hungry to start strong.

The Mystics know what's coming. As Citron said after the Toronto win: "We're just focusing on the now... Just taking it one day at a time." They'll need that same calm, clutch energy against a Liberty squad that just announced itself as a legitimate threat this season.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.