WNBA scores, takeaways: Mystics take control of final playoff spot as stunning turnaround from 0-12 continues

Washington beat Atlanta on Friday, while Chicago also lost

By Jack Maloney Sep 14, 2024 at 4:01 am ET• 3 min read

The WNBA took over the sports world on Friday night with a busy five-game slate that featured 10 of the league's 12 teams. With less than a week remaining in the regular season, no seeds have been locked in and the eighth and final playoff spot is still up for grabs, so each of the contests had major playoff implications. 

Here's a look at the scores and some key takeaways from the action:

• Las Vegas Aces 78, Indiana Fever 74
• Seattle Storm 83, Dallas Wings 81
• Washington Mystics 72, Atlanta Dream 69
• Minnesota Lynx 83, Chicago Sky 66
• Connecticut Sun 88, Phoenix Mercury 69

Mystics take hold of final playoff spot

It took the Mystics nearly an entire month to get their first win, and their 0-12 start was the fourth-worst in league history. Another 2-9 stretch on either side of the Olympic break left them in last place in the middle of August. Surely that would be a lottery team, right?

Wrong. At least for now. 

After a gritty win over the Dream on Friday, in which they came back from an early double-digit deficit, the Mystics have taken control of the eighth and final playoff spot. Because they own the tiebreaker over the Chicago Sky, they now control their own destiny. 

Brittney Sykes had herself a day in the Washington Mystics' 3-PT win over the Dream!

20 PTS
3 REB
3 3PM
2 AST
2 STL
1 BLK
7-13 FG #WelcometotheW pic.twitter.com/cdZLR7YylW

— WNBA (@WNBA) September 14, 2024

The Mystics are 7-2 in their last nine games, and have more wins in this stretch than they did in their first 28 games of the season. They've certainly gotten some help from the Dream and Sky over the last month or so, and have had an easier schedule than most, but that shouldn't take away from their remarkable turnaround.