Fresh off their first season-opening road win since 2015, the Washington Mystics are set to host the New York Liberty in a Mother’s Day matinee.
The WNBA’s youngest squad—featuring eight rookies and three second-year players—spoiled the expansion Toronto Tempo’s debut Friday night with a 68-65 victory. Sonia Citron poured in 26 points, while Shakira Austin added 18, including four clutch free throws in the final minute to seal the win. “I knew I was going to make them,” Austin said. “No, I don’t know, I was struggling the past month with my free throw shooting and that’s something I wanted to focus on, because I want to be fouled, I want to get to the rim, but those free throws was the calmest I was the whole game.”
Top draft pick Lauren Betts logged 12 minutes in Toronto, finishing 0-for-4 with five rebounds. Washington is undergoing another major youth movement after finishing 16-28 last season, which ended with a 10-game losing streak. “We’re just focusing on the now,” Citron said. “Obviously, it’s exciting what we’re building here… Just taking it one day at a time.”
Meanwhile, new Liberty coach Chris DeMarco enjoyed a resounding debut Friday. Despite missing Sabrina Ionescu (ankle) and Satou Sabally (illness), New York routed Connecticut 106-75, pouring in 36 points in the first quarter and never trailing. “We wanted to punch first knowing that this is a season opener, home opener, a lot of different things, a lot of different people here, some familiar people here,” Breanna Stewart said via the New York Post. “This is us turning the page… and focusing on what we have now, making sure that we start the season strong.”
Stewart scored 31 points, surpassing 6,000 career points while adding 10 rebounds. Marine Johannes chipped in 17 points with five 3-pointers. The Liberty started last season 9-0 before injuries derailed them, and they were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. New York has won eight consecutive meetings with Washington dating back to the 2023 regular-season finale.
