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Mystics power past short-handed Tempo 79-62 behind double-doubles by Iriafen and Austin

TORONTO (AP) — Kiki Iriafen had 25 points and 14 rebounds, Shakira Austin added 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Washington Mystics beat the Toronto Tempo 79-62 on Tuesday night.

The Mystics began the second half on an 11-3 run, capped by an Iriafen layup, to take their first lead, 37-35, since the midway point of the first quarter.

Washington outscored Toronto 53-30 in the second half.

Michaela Onyenwere added 15 points for Washington (12-10), which outrebounded Toronto 46-26 and got 20 second-chance points compared to the Tempo’s three. All-Star Sonia Citron played 31 minutes and was held to just two points — the lowest scoring game of her two-year career.

Julie Allemand led short-handed Toronto (10-14) with 15 points and Nyara Sabally added 13. Brittney Sykes (left plantar fascia), Kiki Rice (left ankle sprain) and Temi Fagbenle (concussion) did not play.

Isabelle Harrison and All-Star Marina Mabrey had eight points apiece in the Tempo’s lowest scoring game this season. Toronto’s previous low was a 68-65 loss to Washington in its first regular-season game on May 8.

Up next

Mystics: Host Portland on Thursday.

Tempo: Host Atlanta on Friday.

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Mystics’ Kiki Iriafen, Sonia Citron selected to USA for FIBA Women’s World Cup

A'ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum will miss the FIBA Women's World Cup for health reasons and will be replaced by Washington teammates Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron, USA Basketball announced Monday. Wilson, the four-time WNBA MVP, has shouldered quite a workload in the first part of the season for the Las Vegas Aces and needed a break to rest and get ready for the playoffs. She was voted the most outstanding player of the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2022 World Cup. She will be sorely missed by the United States. Plum has been dealing with a calf injury for most of the WNBA season and it still hasn't 100% healed. She was a catalyst in the Paris Games gold-medal contest against France and sparked the Americans to the one-point victory. Iriafen and Citron were both part of U.S. camps this past winter. Iriafen played on the American team that went to Puerto Rico and won the World Cup qualifier. Citron had to miss that tournament because of an injury, so she'll be making her national team debut in Germany.
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