Mystics Get Revenge with 78-64 Win over the Storm

Seattle stumbled on Wednesday after two strong performances.

(Seattle, WA) - The Washington Mystics (3-3) got their revenge on Wednesday night after an embarrassing loss on Sunday. They dominated Seattle in all facets. They completely shut down Seattle’s offense, limiting them to just 29 points in the first half and a season-low 64 points for the game. The teams split this early series that featured two of the youngest teams in the WNBA. The Mystics beat the Seattle Storm (3-5) by a final score of 78-64.

Jade Melbourne led the Storm with 15 points on 6-8 FG shooting. Unfortunately, she was the only Storm player to score in double figures. Four other members scored eight points each. That included Flau’jae Johnson, Natisha Hiedeman, Katie Lou Samuelson, and Mackenzie Holmes. Holmes was close to earning her first career double-double as she finished with eight points and 10 rebounds. That included four offensive rebounds. She was a team-best +6 in plus/minus.

I spoke with Coach Raman about Holmes’ effort after the game.

“Mack cares so much and really wants to do whatever it takes to help this team win. She was one of the ones who obviously heard that (halftime) message and, you know, 4 offensive rebounds to finish the game, 10 total. Talking on the floor, talking from the bench, just really being a presence as she always is, so really proud of her effort tonight.” Raman told me.

Jade Melbourne spoke in the post-game press conference about Holmes as well.

“Mack is the teammate that everyone dreams of having. She’s the ultimate team player. She’s the one to hype you up. She’s going to be there on your good day, your bad day. Anything that you don’t want to do as an individual, Mack wants to do. She’s the one percent. If you think it’s a 30% chance of getting a loose ball, Mack’s going to find a way to go get it. She’s on the floor. She’s getting the loose ball. Even if there’s not even a chance to get it, Mack’s going to still try and get it, but that’s Mack. She knows exactly what her role is on this team.” Melbourne said.

Flau’jae, Natisha, Jordan Horston, and Zia Cooke combined to shoot 8-37 FG (22%). It felt like nobody could buy a basket on Seattle’s side all game long.

Seattle lost the majority of team stats. They had a small advantage in steals (7-4) and blocked shots (3-2). They also had a 6-2 edge in fast break points. Their reserves outscored the Mystics’ bench 29-19. The Storm trailed for the entire 40 minutes as Washington dominated, leading by as many as 25 points.

Washington Mystics

Shakira Austin led the way for the Washington Mystics with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. She led her team in all three categories. Michaela Onyenwere contributed with 14 points on 5-10 FG, including three big three-pointers in the first quarter to set the tone. Kiki Iriafen added 13 points and nine rebounds, just missing out on a double-double.

Surprise player, Alicia Florez, added nine points, five rebounds, three assists, and two steals off the bench. This was Florez’s first WNBA game, as she was elevated from the development squad. I spoke with Coach Raman after the game about her surprising impact.

“I thought she gave a really solid performance all around, just a very strong player, physically. I thought she did a good job of facilitating out there and taking her spots when they were there, offensively. And, just like kind of being solid and helping the ball move. Yeah, she had a good game.” Raman stated.

The Mystics outshot the Storm 42% (28-66 FG) to 35% (22-63 FG). They were better from beyond the arc as well, 33% (7-21 FG) to 22% (5-23 FG). They out-rebounded Seattle 40-31. They had a slight edge in second-chance points (13-11) and points in the paint (36-34). D.C. had an 18-14 edge in assists and outscored Seattle 15-8 in points off turnovers.

Game Breakdown

Shakira Austin scored off the offensive rebound for the game’s first basket. Michaela Onyenwere drilled a corner three. Jade Melbourne went one for two from the foul line. Onyenwere used a Euro-step for two, putting the Mystics ahead 7-1. Onyenwere knocked down another three in the opposite corner from her first, then taunted Seattle’s bench, resulting in a Technical Foul. Natisha Hiedeman knocked down the Technical free throw. Kiki Iriafen added two more from the foul line to put the Mystics ahead by double digits.

Stefanie Dolson tracked down an offensive rebound, which led to a Natisha Hiedeman three-pointer, but Onyenwere answered back with her third corner three. Seattle got four straight points on drives from Melbourne and Jordan Horston. Shakira Austin knocked down another triple, the Mystics’ fourth of the first period. That put Washington ahead 18-9, forcing Coach Sonia Raman to call a timeout.

Out of the timeout, Seattle got a good look at the three, but missed. Austin scored an AND1 on the other end. Austin scored again on a take to the rim. Mackenzie Holmes responded with a corner three. Melbourne then made a nice pass to Awa Fam, who cut to the rim for two. Katie Lou Samuelson connected on a three-pointer. Lou was then fouled on a defensive rebound, which sent her to the line. She split the pair to cut the Storm’s deficit to five at 23-18.

The Mystics responded with a quick 5-0 run with a Georgia Amoore three, and an assist to Alicia Florez. Zia Cooke scored in the lane. At the end of the first quarter, Washington led 28-20.

Jordan Horston passed to Hiedeman, cutting to the rim for two right before the shot clock buzzer. Onyenwere and Kiki Iriafen scored on back-to-back possessions in the paint. Lexie Brown knocked down a three-pointer. The Mystics continued to add pressure with baskets from Iriafen and Florez. Florez knocked down a midrange jumper, and Austin scored a couple more inside the paint. The Mystics used a 12-0 run to balloon their lead to 19. Seattle was held scoreless for six minutes and tallied just nine points in the quarter.

The Storm got baskets from Zia Cooke and Katie Lou Samuelson late in the period, but they weren’t able to get stops on either end. Iriafen and Amoore pushed D.C.’s lead back to 19 right before the halftime buzzer. At the midway point, the Mystics led the Storm 48-29. Washington outshot Seattle 49% (18-37 FG) to 39% (11-28 FG). They also killed Seattle on the glass, out-rebounding them 22-10 through the first 20 minutes.

Natisha Hiedeman got an open-court steal that resulted in a transition two-on-one layup for Melbourne. Melbourne and Flau’jae Johnson scored four more points in the paint to spur Seattle onto a 6-0 run to begin the 2nd half. That forced Mystics’ Coach Sydney Johnson to call a quick timeout. Out of the timeout, Jordan Horston was fouled near the rim and made both free throws. Baskets by the Mystics’ dynamic sophomores, Iriafen and Citron, pushed D.C.’s lead back up to 15.

After two free throws from Melbourne, Washington went back to their star player. Citron had a strong drive to the rim and got open for a three-pointer to push the Mystics’ lead back to 18, forcing Coach Sonia Raman to call a timeout.

Seattle gave up multiple offensive rebounds, leading to a layup by Cassandre Prosper. Awa Fam made a nice jumper over Austin. Fam added two more free throws a few plays later. But Seattle wasn’t able to cut into Washington’s lead. Lauren Betts added four free throws to make it 66-45 at the end of the third quarter.

Lauren Betts drilled a midrange jumper to open up the final period. Hiedeman added two points from the line. Kiki Iriafen with an AND1 through multiple Storm defenders. Flau’jae used a strong drive to the rim. Florez knocked down a triple. Mack Holmes answered right back with one of her own. Holmes made a nifty spin hook layup that swirled around the cup and in.

Johnson and Samuelson added more points from the free throw line. Angela Dugalić used a strong drive down the baseline for two. Seattle continued to hustle late into the game, collecting multiple offensive rebounds, despite the shots refusing to drop. Flau’jae scored another second-chance basket.

The Storm were never able to put a sizeable run together to get the game within striking distance. They cut the Mystics’ lead to 11 in the third quarter, but never cut it any closer throughout the 2nd half. Flau’jae and Jade scored the final six points of the game, but it wasn’t enough. At the final buzzer, the Storm had lost 78-64.

Final Box Score

Part 2

Part 2 will include additional commentary, analysis, and interviews. It will be sent to paid subscribers tomorrow morning.

Up Next

The Seattle Storm (3-5) head back to Canada to face the Toronto Tempo (4-4). The game is Saturday, 5/30 at 10:00 AM PT.

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