Sonia Citron's buzzer-beater lifts Mystics past Tempo 86-85

Sonia Citron hit a shot as time expired to lift the Washington Mystics past the Toronto Tempo 86-85 on Friday night at CareFirst Arena.

The win moved Washington to 5-6 and gave the Mystics their second straight victory in the Commissioner's Cup, where they are now 2-2. It also gave Washington a 2-0 lead in the four-game season series with Toronto. Marina Mabrey led all scorers with 27 points for the Tempo.

Mystics vs Tempo: how Washington won

The Mystics had no business winning on their 3-point shooting, which was where the game nearly slipped away. Washington made just 2 of 18 from beyond the arc, a mark of 11.1 percent. It won anyway by controlling everything inside.

Washington poured in 54 points in the paint, its league-leading fourth game with at least 50 this season, and dominated the glass 39-21. The 18-rebound margin was the Mystics' largest of the year and their third game outrebounding an opponent by at least 15, the most such games in the WNBA this season. Washington also grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and made 22 of 26 free throws, an 84.6 percent clip that helped offset the cold shooting from distance.

Lauren Betts scores a career-high 18 off the bench

Rookie Lauren Betts was the spark, scoring a career-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and two steals in just under 21 minutes off the bench. It was her first career game with at least 15 points and made her the sixth rookie reserve in franchise history to reach 18, and the third rookie bench player to lead the team in scoring this season.

Five Mystics reach double figures

Washington had five players score in double figures, tied for the most by a Mystics group this season. Citron finished with 17 points to go with the game-winner, adding five rebounds, three assists and two steals for the third 15-point, five-rebound, two-steal game of her season.

Michaela Onyenwere also scored 17, with a season-high eight rebounds, for her first game this season with at least 15 points and five rebounds. She has now scored 15 or more in back-to-back games for the first time since 2024 and pulled down a career-high five offensive rebounds.

Shakira Austin posted a double-double with double-figure scoring, a game-high 11 rebounds and two blocks, her fifth double-double of the season and 19th of her career. She matched her single-season high with five games of at least 10 points and 10 rebounds, a mark she last reached in 2023.

Dugalic and Amoore round out the effort

Making her first career start, Angela Dugalic scored 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting and grabbed six rebounds, the first 10-point, five-rebound game of her career. Georgia Amoore ran the offense with a career-high-tying and game-leading seven assists.

What's next for the Mystics

Washington hits the road to face the New York Liberty on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET. The Mystics and Tempo meet twice more this season, on July 14 in Toronto and August 19 in Washington.