WASHINGTON (7News) — The Washington Mystics are on a four-game win streak, their longest stretch of victories since Sept. 8 – 13, 2020.
The team is finding its flow and gaining some nationwide recognition to add to its victory column.
After their 81-75 victory over Dallas to close out July, they’re holding strong to the No. 8 final playoff spot.
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While two of their Big 3-star players, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, were named All-Stars, Mystics vet Shakira Austin is collecting some awards on her own.
Austin earned the Associated Press Eastern Conference Player of the Week (July 28-August 2), averaging 22.5 pts, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals.
The star center is also shooting 50% from the field, a testament to Coach Johnson’s belief that she could be DC’s franchise player.
“She’s part of our core,” Johnson told 7News’Jade Lawson on draft night before the WNBA’s 30th season tip-off.
Much of D.C. and the rest of the league waited anxiously to see whether Austin would remain the cornerstone of the Mystics’ flourishing garden or help cultivate new growth with the Toronto Tempo, the WNBA’s newest expansion franchise.
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“She’s D.C. through and through. I fundamentally believe that this is the best team in the league, in the world; this is the place to get the best out of Shakira and to see her grow into the player that she’s already become, but there’s more; there’s a lot more in the tank,” Johnson said.
Since day one, Coach Johnson has believed Austin could be the franchise player, and it’s proving to be true,
“I never, ever, ever looked at this thing without Shakira Austin with the Mystics,” Johnson explained. “… literally there wasn’t a day that’s gone by that we would let Shakira walk out of the door; we’re letting someone else claim her that was never going to happen,” he added.
The team is on a four-game win streak since defeating Dallas at home. The young core is also the only team to defeat all Top 7 teams so far this season.
D.C. will face the DMV native Azzi Fudd and the Dallas Wings again tonight at Carefirst Arena. They’re tied 1-1 in their 2026 series.
