In one of the most extraordinary games CareFirst Arena has witnessed, the Washington Mystics survived a four-overtime marathon to defeat the Portland Fire 124-123 on Sunday, June 28, delivering a heart-stopping finish to a contest that tested the endurance and resolve of both rosters.
Sonia Citron was the engine that kept Washington alive throughout the extended affair, pouring in a game-high 32 points to lead all scorers. Her ability to generate offense in the clutch moments of overtime proved decisive for the Mystics. Shakira Austin was a force on the glass, hauling in 13 rebounds to anchor Washington’s interior presence, while Kiki Iriafen orchestrated the offense with a team-best 6 assists, keeping the ball moving through four grueling extra periods.
Portland’s Carla Leite matched Citron bucket for bucket, finishing with 32 points of her own — a remarkable individual performance that nearly lifted the Fire to a road victory. Leite also led all players with 9 assists, making her the fulcrum of everything Portland attempted offensively. Emily Engstler contributed 11 rebounds to give the Fire a competitive edge on the boards, finishing with 44 total rebounds as a team compared to their relentless offensive attack.
The Fire shot 45 percent from the field on 45-of-101 attempts and connected on 14 of 39 three-point tries, good for a 36 percent clip from beyond the arc. Portland was particularly sharp at the free-throw line, converting 19 of 21 attempts for a 90 percent mark — a level of efficiency that kept them within striking distance through every overtime period. Despite those numbers, 24 total turnovers — 22 individual and 2 team — proved to be a persistent problem that Washington was able to exploit at critical junctures.
Portland’s 12 steals and 8 blocks illustrated how hard the Fire competed defensively, and their 29 assists as a team reflected a cohesive offensive system. Yet the Mystics found a way to answer every Portland surge, refusing to let the game slip away even as the clock reset for a third and then a fourth overtime period.
The sheer length of the contest — four overtime sessions — speaks to how evenly matched these two teams were on this night. Neither side could manufacture a decisive separation through regulation or the first three extra frames, setting the stage for a frantic final overtime in which Washington ultimately secured the one-point margin that mattered most.
For the Mystics, the victory at home is a significant boost, adding a hard-fought win to their ledger in what was a showcase of resilience and depth. For Portland, the loss will sting given how close Leite and company came to stealing a road result in one of the most competitive environments in the league. The Fire’s 12 offensive rebounds demonstrated their tenacity, but Washington’s ability to hold on when it mattered most was the difference in a game that will be remembered for a long time at CareFirst Arena.
