Buzzer-Beater Victory
Sonia Citron's Buzzer-Beater Lifts Washington Mystics to Thrilling 86-85 Victory Over Toronto Tempo
Sonia Citron hit an 18-foot turnaround fadeaway at the buzzer to lift the Washington Mystics over the Toronto Tempo 86-85 on Friday night. The shot came with 0.5 seconds left, capping a wild final four minutes that saw Toronto erase a 14-point deficit before falling short. AP reported that Citron finished with 17 points, including the game-winner off a jump-ball tip from rookie Lauren Betts.
The win moves Washington to 5-6 on the season. Toronto, the WNBA's first team outside the United States, drops to 7-6 in just its first year of existence. Both clubs now sit at 2-2 in the Commissioner's Cup standings.
Citron's Buzzer-Beater Ends a Wild Fourth Quarter
Washington led 74-61 with just over six minutes left. Then Marina Mabrey took over. According to AP, Mabrey scored 18 points in roughly three minutes — including three straight 3-pointers and a four-point play. She hit a pull-up 3 with 31.6 seconds left to give Toronto an 84-83 lead. Brittney Sykes then drove for a layup with 11.1 seconds left to push it to 85-84.
Washington called timeout. With 2.1 seconds left, a jump ball gave Betts the tip over Sykes. Citron caught it, pivoted away from defender Julie Allemand, and let it fly. The ball swished as the clock hit zero. It was the most dramatic finish of the Mystics' young season, San Mateo Daily Journal noted.
Betts and Mabrey Both Set Personal Scoring Marks
Rookie center Lauren Betts was the story before the buzzer. The No. 4 overall pick scored a career-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting in just 21 minutes, according to AP. He stepped up with starter Kiki Iriafen sidelined by injury. Michaela Onyenwere added 17 points for Washington.
On the other side, Mabrey finished with 27 points — 18 of them in the fourth quarter alone. San Mateo Daily Journal reported she passed Shekinna Stricklen for 23rd place on the WNBA's all-time 3-pointers list with her 473rd career make. Sykes added 20 points and currently ranks third in the league in scoring at 21.6 points per game.
Toronto's 18 Steals Nearly Sank Washington
The Tempo forced a season-high 22 turnovers from the Mystics. Toronto also recorded 18 steals — the most by any WNBA team since the Seattle Storm grabbed 20 in 2025, according to AP. Center Shakira Austin committed a season-worst 9 turnovers by herself, the most by any player in a single game this year. Austin still finished with a double-double: 12 points and 11 rebounds.
Washington's shot selection also hurt. The Mystics went just 2-of-18 from 3-point range — an 11.1% clip — per AP. They survived by dominating the glass, 44-29, which gave them a 16-6 edge in second-chance points. Without that margin, the turnovers would have been fatal.
Toronto's Expansion Story Continues Despite Heartbreak
The Tempo joined the WNBA this year as the league's 14th franchise and first outside the United States. Owned by Larry Tanenbaum's Kilmer Sports Ventures, the team paid a $50 million expansion fee and spent another $25 million renovating the 8,500-seat Coca-Cola Coliseum, according to AP. Friday's loss was close, but coach Sandy Brondello called it part of the "expansion journey."
Washington now heads into a four-game road trip starting Sunday in New York. Toronto returns home to host the Atlanta Dream. With the Mystics carrying the youngest roster in WNBA history — average age 23.4 — AP noted the league's 30th season is shaping up as one of its most competitive ever.
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