Shakira Austin scored 20 points and Kiki Iriafen notched a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds to boost the visiting Washington Mystics to an 110-80 victory against the Chicago Sky on Thursday.
Washington (25-16) won for the fourth time in five games as the teams returned from the World Cup break.
Chicago (15-26) was without DiJonai Carrington (left foot) and Natasha Cloud didn’t play in the second half after sustaining a left knee injury. The Sky have lost four straight and seven of 10.
The Mystics moved a half-game ahead of the idle New York Liberty for sixth place in the WNBA playoff draw, tying the Dallas Wings, who defeated the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.
Sonia Citron, who entered the night tied with Austin as the Mystics’ scoring leader at 16.8 points per game, missed the game due to personal reasons.
Washington flexed its depth, however, leading by as many as 32 points as all five starters finished in double figures. Georgia Amoore and Michaela Onyenwere scored 12 points apiece and Cotie McMahon added 11.
Courtney Vandersloot paced five Sky players in double figures with 14 points. Sydney Taylor added 12 points and Rachel Banham, Kamilla Cardoso and Gabriela Jaquez each contributed 10.
Chicago matched Washington in the first few minutes, setting the pace with a Sydney Taylor layup moments after Kamilla Cardoso won the opening tip. Cardoso’s putback of her own miss gave the Sky a 10-9 advantage with 6:54 left in the first quarter but the hosts never led again.
Washington seized early control with a 9-0 run over the next 2:17. Austin contributed four points during the spurt while Iriafen drilled a 3-pointer.
Iriafen has notched a double-double in seven straight games.The Mystics outscored the Sky 58-39 after halftime.
Washington clinched the season series against Chicago with the victory. The Mystics will host the Sky in the regular season finale on Sept. 24.
–Field Level Media
