Brooklyn, NY — Rookie forward Kiki Iriafen made a triumphant return to the lineup Friday night, delivering a clutch performance in the closing moments as the Washington Mystics snapped the New York Liberty’s eight-game winning streak with an 86-83 victory at Barclays Center.
Playing for the first time since suffering an ankle injury on June 8, Iriafen scored a game-high 20 points and provided the biggest basket of the night. With the score tied at 83 and less than 30 seconds remaining, Sonia Citron found Iriafen cutting to the rim for a layup that gave Washington the lead for good.
The Liberty had opportunities to answer, but Washington’s defense stood firm. Breanna Stewart missed a contested attempt at the basket, and after Iriafen split a pair of free throws, New York came up empty on two potential game-tying three-point attempts by Sabrina Ionescu and Satou Sabally.
The victory marked a significant breakthrough for the Mystics, who improved to 7-7 on the season while ending a 10-game regular-season losing streak against New York. Washington had not defeated the Liberty in a regular-season contest since the final game of the 2023 campaign.
New York entered the game riding one of the league’s hottest stretches, but the Mystics refused to back down. After trailing by six points midway through the fourth quarter, Washington mounted a decisive rally led by Iriafen.
The rookie scored six consecutive points during a 10-2 run that erased the deficit and put the Mystics ahead 81-79 with just over a minute remaining. The teams traded baskets down the stretch before Iriafen’s late heroics ultimately decided the contest.
Citron also played a key role in the final minutes, knocking down two free throws that briefly gave Washington the advantage before Sabally answered from the line to tie the game at 83.
For New York, Leonie Fiebich led the offense with 19 points. Stewart contributed a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds while adding six assists. The Liberty’s bench was instrumental in keeping the game close early, with reserves accounting for nearly half of New York’s first-half scoring output.
Satou Sabally and Han Xu each scored eight points before halftime as the Liberty carried a narrow 43-39 lead into the break.
Unlike last Sunday’s meeting, when New York cruised to an 86-64 victory, Washington had the benefit of Iriafen’s presence. Her return immediately provided a spark on both ends of the floor and helped the Mystics secure one of their biggest wins of the season.
The Mystics will continue their road trip with the first game of a home-and-home series against the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Liberty head west to begin a four-game road swing, starting with a matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks in a game that commemorates the historic first WNBA contest played 30 years ago.
