Mystics fall to Fever 78-76 as Caitlin Clark scores game winning shot

Caitlin Clark scored a game-high 19 points and the Indiana Fever held off the Washington Mystics 78-76 on Monday night at CareFirst Arena.

The two-point loss dropped Washington to 4-6 and evened the season series at a game apiece after the Mystics won the first meeting in overtime at Indiana in May. The Fever improved to 6-5. Clark added five assists, and Aliyah Boston grabbed 10 rebounds for Indiana.

Mystics vs Fever: a two-point home loss

The Mystics shot 50.0 percent from 3-point range, connecting on 9 of 18, and got balanced scoring from four players in double figures. They also handed out 21 assists, committed only 15 turnovers to Indiana's 20 and made 17 of 24 from the free throw line.

The difference was volume inside. The Fever attempted eight more shots from the field and made four more, finishing 29 of 66 to Washington's 25 of 58. Indiana's edge in made baskets was just enough to cover Washington's advantages at the line and from deep.

The 21 assists gave the Mystics their third game with at least 20 this season. It was also the third time this year that Washington has had four players reach double figures.

Michaela Onyenwere posts a season-high 17

Michaela Onyenwere led the Mystics with a season-high 17 points on 4-of-7 shooting, hitting three 3-pointers to match her season high and adding a steal. It was her first game with at least 15 points as a member of Washington and the 19th of her career. She has now reached double figures in two of her last three games.

Georgia Amoore perfect from three

Rookie guard Georgia Amoore scored 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting, including a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc, and chipped in four assists, a steal and a block. The clean night from distance made her the 26th rookie in WNBA history to go a perfect 4 or more from 3-point range in a game and the third rookie in Mystics history to do so. It was Amoore's second career game in double figures.

Shakira Austin and Sonia Citron round out the effort

Shakira Austin posted 10 points, a team-high nine rebounds, four assists and a block. She has reached at least 10 points and five rebounds in seven games this season, tied with A'ja Wilson and Kamilla Cardoso for the second-most such games by a center this year, and has scored in double figures in nine of her 10 games.

Sonia Citron added 12 points, five assists, a steal and a career-high-tying two blocks. It was the second game of her career with at least 10 points, five assists and two blocks. Citron has now recorded at least 10 points and five assists in three straight games, the longest such run of her career.

Off the bench, rookies Cotie McMahon and Angela Dugalic each provided a lift, with McMahon scoring seven points and grabbing seven rebounds and Dugalic adding seven points and five rebounds.

What's next for the Mystics

Washington stays home to host the Toronto Tempo on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Mystics and Fever meet once more this season, on September 20 in Indiana.