Photo credit: Angel Reese (X)
The Washington Mystics tied a franchise record with six straight wins after defeating the Atlanta Dream 79-74 at home on Friday, largely because center Shakira Austin and the Mystics defense completely shut down Atlanta star forward Angel Reese. Washington also set a franchise record with 12 blocks in the win.
Austin tied her personal best with five rejections and explained afterward how the Mystics limited Reese to just 7 points on 1-of-12 shooting. She described Reese as a physical player who thrives on initiating contact, similar to how she has guarded Bri Jones in the past. According to Austin, separating from that contact rather than absorbing it disrupts a physical scorer’s rhythm. At 6-foot-5, she said her length also allows her to control what happens near the rim.
How Austin’s defense changed the entire game
Austin blocked Reese three separate times, and her interior presence, combined with power forward Kiki Iriafen, suffocated Atlanta’s offense throughout the night. The Dream shot just 32% from the field as a team and were outscored 46-34 in the paint.
Austin also delivered the game’s decisive defensive stop, converting a contested layup over both Reese and Jones with 9.7 seconds remaining to push the score to 79-74. The 2022 No. 3 overall pick has continued justifying the three-year max contract Washington gave her this past offseason.
Offensively, Austin led all scorers with 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting, adding 11 rebounds and three assists in 27 minutes. She has now led the Mystics in both points and rebounds in each of her last three games, extending her momentum since earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors on Wednesday.
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Why Washington’s depth matters as much as its stars
Washington’s bench depth has become just as important as its top performers. Five different Mystics scored in double figures against Atlanta, compared to just two for the Dream. Washington also won the bench scoring battle 29-8, with rookie guard Cassandre Prosper posting a career-high 10 points in 19 minutes.
That pattern has repeated throughout Washington’s win streak. The Mystics had six double-digit scorers and won the bench battle 24-8 in a 96-92 win over Dallas on Wednesday, and posted the same double-digit scorer count while winning the bench battle 23-12 in a 100-99 win over Las Vegas on July 22.
How Austin is influencing the Mystics’ young roster
Rookie guard Cotie McMahon has emerged as a spark plug off the bench in each of the last two games, scoring a career-high 18 points on Wednesday before adding 11 points on Friday, marking her first time scoring in double figures in consecutive games. McMahon credited Austin’s work ethic as a major influence, describing her as someone who brings consistent energy to every practice and lift.
Austin currently ranks 17th in the WNBA with 16.1 points per game on 47.7% shooting, fourth with 9.6 rebounds and seventh with 1.4 blocks, building on a comeback season that earned her AP Comeback Player of the Year honors last year. As one of only two veterans on the roster alongside forward Michaela Onyenwere, Austin’s influence extends across the entire team. Rookie center Lauren Betts, who has grabbed at least seven rebounds off the bench in four straight games, has said Austin sets the standard for the group.
What comes next for the surging Mystics
Washington still has areas to clean up, shooting just 44% from the free-throw line and committing 18 turnovers against 14 assists on Friday. Even so, the combination of elite individual defense and consistent bench scoring has put the league on notice. The Mystics sit sixth in the WNBA at 18-12, a half game behind Atlanta for fourth place, as they prepare to host the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.
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