The 28-19 Fourth Quarter That Stunned the League-Best Lynx and Proved Washington's Early Season Form is No Fluke

WOAH. Seriously, folks, if you didn't catch Sunday's game, you missed a BANGER. The Washington Mystics, who have been quietly catching fire, just went into Minnesota and absolutely STOLE one from the league-best Lynx, 84-79. Sonia Citron was lights out with 21 points, leading a team that outscored one of the hottest teams in the league 28-19 in the FOURTH quarter. That's right, a team that had won 11 of their last 12 just got handed a reality check by a squad now hitting its stride, winning four of their last five games.

The Seven-Point Mountain They Climbed

Talk about a gut-check. The Mystics were down by seven at halftime, 42-35. We've all seen teams fold there, especially against a powerhouse like the Lynx who came out scorching with an 8-0 lead on Nia Coffey's three-pointer less than two minutes into the game. But not these Mystics. Angela Dugalic's back-to-back layups actually gave Washington their first lead at 21-20 in the opening quarter, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle that ended the first tied at 22. After Kiki Iriafen's layup tied the score again at 28, the Lynx unleashed a 10-0 spurt to build that double-digit lead. But Washington refused to quit. They erased that seven-point halftime hole, pulling even at 49 with five and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Even after Minnesota tried to pull away again, going up by six, Cotie McMahon dropped a clutch layup to cut it to four points, 60-56, heading into the final frame. You could feel the tension building, the momentum shifting, even if the scoreboard didn't scream it yet.

Unbelievable Clutch Moments in the Emerald Ci

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ty Then came the fourth quarter, and if you blinked, you missed three lead changes. Lauren Betts got the Mystics their first lead since the second quarter with a layup, making it 63-62 with less than eight minutes to go. McMahon even split a pair of free throws for a 70-69 lead. But the Lynx, led by Olivia Miles' 22 points and Natasha Howard's 20, weren't going down easy. Miles went on a three-point play that kicked off a 7-0 run, putting the Lynx back up by six! Seriously, my heart was POUNDING. But McMahon, again, hit a triple to pull within three with just over two minutes left. Kiki Iriafen, who chipped in 17 points, hit a layup to make it a one-point game, 76-75, with just over a minute left. Then the defensive pressure was REAL: a shot clock turnover, followed by Iriafen's go-ahead basket with 19 seconds remaining for a 77-76 lead. After a Minnesota timeout, Miles turned it over again and fouled Georgia Amoore, who hit one free throw. Iriafen snatched the offensive rebound on Amoore's miss and made one of two herself, giving Washington a three-point lead with 14 seconds left. One more offensive board for Washington on Michaela Onyenwere's miss, and Onyenwere hit a free throw to push it to four, 80-76. When Nia Coffey missed that final three-pointer for the Lynx, and Citron iced it with free throws, you just knew it was over. What a finish! This wasn't just another win for the Mystics. This was a statement, an 84-79 road upset over a team that rarely loses. At 8-7, Washington is riding high, proving they can hang with anyone. They're building serious momentum, picking up steam at just the right time. Keep an eye on this squad, folks. They've got fire in their belly, and after a comeback like that, anything feels possible.

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