The Washington Mystics have been on a tear, winning seven straight games against top-notch competition, including the Golden State Valkyries, Las Vegas Aces, Dallas Wings, and Atlanta Dream.

Team Effort

Under head coach Sydney Johnson, the Mystics have shown a full-team effort, led by young talent like second-year guard Sonia Citron, who is averaging 17.1 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin have anchored the frontcourt, with both players establishing themselves as elite bigs in the league.

Michaela Onyenwere is contributing 9.6 points per game while shooting a team-best 41.9% from three, and Cotie McMahon has become a key contributor off the bench, averaging 6.9 points per game. The Mystics have a clear identity, with the WNBA’s second-best defensive rating (103.3) and leading the league in rebounds per game (37.5) and free throw attempts (25.8).

Playoff Push

The Mystics have catapulted up the standings, now sitting in fifth place, having surpassed the Dream, Wings, and New York Liberty. They recently added veteran forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, who was waived by the Liberty, to gear up for a playoff run. Laney-Hamilton was a starter on a championship team two years ago and could emerge as a key contributor come playoff time.

If the playoffs were to start today, the Mystics would face the Fever in the first round. The two teams have faced off twice this season, with each team winning once. The Mystics are ahead of schedule, with only Michael Onyenwere (four playoff games) and Shakira Austin (two playoff games) having playoff experience on the roster.

Original reporting: All Sports Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.