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Mystics Edge Aces 100-99; Valkyries Lead League Defensively

7/23/2026

28 2 Full Breakdown

Summary

Mystics Edge Aces

The Washington Mystics defeated the Las Vegas Aces 100-99 on Wednesday night.
Shakira Austin scored 25 points and hit a three-point play with 12.8 seconds left.
A’ja Wilson posted 38 points on 12-of-16 shooting, missing a free throw with 17 seconds left.
Washington outrebounded the Aces 34-24 in the fourth quarter, sparking the comeback.
The win moved the Mystics to 13-13 and left the Aces at 18-8, two games behind Minnesota.

Summary

Valkyries Lead Defense

Golden State Valkyries posted the league’s best defensive rating, allowing the fewest points per game.
Reserve Janelle Salaun led the league’s most productive bench, making her a top Sixth Player of the Year candidate.
The team’s continuity, returning more players than any other club, helped it start 19-8.
Coach Natalie Nakase said the squad must improve foul discipline and late-game execution after a fourth-quarter collapse.

History

Historical Context

Approved by the NBA Board of Governors in April 1996, the WNBA launched its inaugural 1997 season with eight franchises, drawing 14,284 fans to the first game and crowning the Houston Comets as champions. Rapid expansion added the Washington Mystics in 1998 and the league’s first collective-bargaining agreement in 1999. That early growth underpins today’s competitive Mystics-Aces matchup.

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Mystics Edge Aces

The Washington Mystics defeated the Las Vegas Aces 100-99 on Wednesday night.
Shakira Austin scored 25 points and hit a three-point play with 12.8 seconds left.
A’ja Wilson posted 38 points on 12-of-16 shooting, missing a free throw with 17 seconds left.
Washington outrebounded the Aces 34-24 in the fourth quarter, sparking the comeback.
The win moved the Mystics to 13-13 and left the Aces at 18-8, two games behind Minnesota.

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