Citron's Last-Second Shot Secures Mystics' Narrow Victory Over Tempo

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a thrilling finish, Sonia Citron delivered a clutch jumper as the clock ran out, leading the Washington Mystics to an 86-85 victory against the Toronto Tempo on Friday evening. Citron finished the game with 17 points, while rookie Lauren Betts achieved a personal best with 18 points on an impressive 8-of-9 shooting performance.

Betts, selected as the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft, played a career-high 21 minutes due to the absence of teammate Kiki Iriafen, who is sidelined with an ankle injury. Michaela Onyenwere also contributed significantly, adding 17 points to the Mystics' score. Shakira Austin recorded a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, although she also logged a career-high nine turnovers.

On the opposing side, Marina Mabrey was a standout for the Tempo, scoring 18 of her total 27 points in a dynamic fourth quarter. Brittney Sykes supported the offense with 20 points. Mabrey’s impressive performance included multiple three-pointers, bringing her career total to 473, surpassing Shekinna Stricklen for 23rd place in WNBA history.

Despite the Mystics leading by 14 points with just over three minutes remaining, the Tempo mounted a comeback. Mabrey’s late-game heroics included a four-point play and a crucial three-pointer that put Toronto ahead 84-83 with just seconds left. However, Sykes quickly responded with a layup to regain the lead for Washington.

With only 2.1 seconds on the clock, Betts managed to tip a jump ball to Citron, who executed the game-winning fadeaway jumper. Notably, Nyara Sabally, who has been averaging a career-high 12.4 points for the Tempo this season, did not participate due to a hamstring injury. The Tempo will next face Atlanta at home on Sunday, while the Mystics are set to embark on a four-game road trip beginning with a matchup against New York.