Mystics Rally Late to Edge Aces 100-99 in Back-and-Forth Battle

The Washington Mystics erased a nine-point fourth-quarter deficit and closed the game on an 18-8 run to defeat the Las Vegas Aces 100-99 Wednesday night at CareFirst Arena. The contest featured 13 lead changes, seven ties and no double-digit leads, with the deciding points coming in the final seconds.

Las Vegas (18-8) received another dominant performance from A’ja Wilson, who finished with 38 points while adding at least five rebounds, five assists, five combined steals and blocks, and just one turnover. Jackie Young contributed 24 points, while Chelsea Gray added 19 points in the loss.

Washington (14-12) placed six players in double figures, led by Shakira Austin’s 25 points and Sonia Citron’s 20.

The opening quarter set the tone for the night, with neither team able to create much separation. Las Vegas built its largest lead of the period at 19-14 before Washington answered with a 5-0 run to tie the game. Jewell Loyd’s three-pointer helped the Aces take a narrow 22-21 advantage into the second quarter.

Washington responded with a 7-0 run early in the second period to grab its largest lead at that point, 28-22. The Aces answered with an 8-1 run to move back in front, and the teams exchanged the lead five times before halftime. The Mystics carried a slim 46-45 advantage into the break.

Las Vegas found its rhythm in the third quarter after Washington briefly led 51-50. An 11-2 Aces run turned the momentum, giving Las Vegas a 61-53 lead. Although the Mystics repeatedly cut the deficit to four points, the Aces entered the final quarter ahead 78-71 after shooting 62.5 percent from the field in the period.

The Aces appeared to be in control during the fourth quarter, extending their advantage to nine points on five separate occasions. Wilson’s floater with four minutes remaining made it 91-82, matching Las Vegas’ largest lead of the night.

Washington answered with an 8-0 run fueled by two Aces fouls, a turnover and two missed shots, trimming the deficit to 91-90 with 2:30 remaining. Gray converted an and-one opportunity to halt the run, but the Mystics responded with their seventh three-pointer of the game.

Wilson converted five of six free throws down the stretch, helping Las Vegas maintain a 99-97 lead with 17.8 seconds remaining. After Sonia Citron missed a shot, Austin secured the offensive rebound, drew a foul on the putback attempt and completed the three-point play with 12.8 seconds left to give Washington its first lead since early in the third quarter, 100-99.

Las Vegas had one final opportunity, but Gray’s potential game-winning shot with 1.4 seconds remaining did not fall.

The Aces shot 54.8 percent from the field and connected on 26 of 29 free throws (89.7%), their second-best free throw shooting performance of the season. Washington shot 49.3 percent overall and knocked down a season-high 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range after entering the game shooting a league second-lowest 28.4 percent from beyond the arc. The Mystics also owned a 34-24 rebounding advantage and outscored Las Vegas 19-9 in second-chance points.

Wilson’s performance marked her league-leading eighth 30-point game of the season and the 45th of her career. She also extended her streak of consecutive games scoring in double figures to 48. Young’s streak of 33 consecutive made free throws came to an end in the third quarter, while NaLyssa Smith recorded three blocked shots for her sixth career game with at least three blocks.

Both teams now turn their attention to WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago before resuming the regular season on July 28. The Aces return home to host the Portland Fire, while the Mystics travel to face the Connecticut Sun.