Shakira Austin's 25 and 13 Push Mystics to Franchise-Record 27

Photo: WNBA.com. Official Shakira Austin headshot.

Shakira Austin finished with 25 points and 13 rebounds as Washington beat Connecticut 79-69 at CareFirst Arena for the Mystics' franchise-record 27th win of the season.

Austin's night also delivered a career-high 11 free throws, her 20th double-double, and a new Mystics single-season rebounding mark at 397 boards, while Washington moved to 27-16 and one game clear of Dallas and New York with Thursday's home date against Chicago left on the regular-season sheet.

The previous ceiling was 26 wins in 2019, the only championship season in franchise history. That mark held for seven years. Tuesday night broke it without the usual Mystics glass edge. Connecticut won the rebounds 43-34, just the fourth time all year Washington lost that fight. The Mystics have still outrebounded opponents a WNBA-record 39 times in 2026. The one night the glass flipped, the free-throw tape and the third-quarter run carried the record anyway.

The putbacks were noise. The free-throw trips were the night. Austin went to the line for a career-high 11 makes, and that is how a center posts 25 when the Sun are packing the paint and winning the live-ball rebounds. Cotie McMahon added 13 and Sonia Citron 12. The 15-4 burst that pushed the lead into double figures with 3:26 left in the third, capped by McMahon's three for 66-53, is the stretch that turned a grind into a franchise line in the book.

The pair of frontcourt double-doubles is the quieter record under the win total. Austin is at 20. Kiki Iriafen is at 22. No WNBA teammates had both cleared 20 double-doubles in the same season before this Mystics group. The roster identity is two bigs who keep finishing possessions. When Connecticut finally won the glass, Washington still found points at the stripe and stops on the other end.

Dallas and New York sit tied for seventh. Washington's lead is one game with two days left in the regular season. Thursday against Chicago is the last chance to pad before the bracket locks. A franchise win record in September does not guarantee a deep playoff run, but it does freeze the argument about whether this Mystics team was a mid-pack fluke. Twenty-seven wins is past the 2019 championship pace on the calendar. The rebounding record still sits on the season ledger even on a night the Sun beat them there. Austin's 25 and 13, the 11 free throws, and the 397th board are the receipts for how Washington got here.

Diamond Miller led Connecticut with 19. Leila Lacan and Raegan Beers scored 11 each. The Sun close Thursday at home against Toronto. Washington stays home for Chicago. Twenty-seven travels overnight. Austin's career-high 11 free throws inside a 25-and-13 explain how it landed without the usual glass edge.

Sources

• Associated Press via CBS Sports. Mystics 79-69 over the Sun. Austin 25 points and 13 rebounds. Franchise-record 27th win. Prior mark was 26 in the 2019 title year. Career-high 11 free throws. 397 season rebounds for the franchise record. Austin's 20th double-double. Austin and Iriafen (22) are the first WNBA teammates with 20-plus double-doubles in the same season. Mystics outrebounded opponents a WNBA-record 39 times. Sun won the glass 43-34. McMahon 13, Citron 12. 15-4 run and McMahon three for 66-53. Washington 27-16, one game clear of Dallas and New York. Thursday vs Chicago. Sun Thursday vs Toronto.
• Sportsnet / AP. Same AP wire confirm.
• The Washington Post / Jake Kauderer. CareFirst Arena. Top rebounding team. Fourth time outrebounded. Scott Taetsch / Getty Images credit on Austin action.
• Photos: WNBA.com official headshot player ID 1631022.