The Washington Mystics delivered a hard-fought 84-79 victory over the Seattle Storm in a thrilling WNBA contest on July 13, 2026. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, the Mystics overcame a late surge from the Storm to secure a crucial win in the league standings. The game featured intense defensive battles, standout individual performances, and a pivotal fourth-quarter run that sealed the outcome.

First Half: Back-and-Forth Action

Both teams traded baskets in the opening quarter, with Seattle’s perimeter shooting keeping pace with Washington’s interior scoring. The Mystics established an early lead behind strong play from their frontcourt, but the Storm responded with timely three-pointers to tie the game at 21 after the first period. In the second quarter, Washington’s bench provided a spark, extending the lead to six points. However, Seattle’s veteran guards closed the gap, and the Mystics took a narrow 44-41 advantage into halftime.

Second Half: Mystics Take Control

Washington came out of the locker room with renewed energy, pushing the pace and forcing turnovers. A 10-2 run early in the third quarter gave the Mystics their largest lead of the night at 56-46. Seattle head coach Noelle Quinn called a timeout to regroup, and the Storm responded with a 9-3 spurt of their own, cutting the deficit to four points heading into the final frame.

The fourth quarter became a battle of wills. Seattle’s star forward, using a combination of mid-range jumpers and drives, pulled the Storm within one point at 72-71 with under five minutes remaining. But the Mystics refused to buckle. Washington’s defense tightened, forcing two consecutive shot-clock violations, and a clutch three-pointer from the wing pushed the lead back to six. Free throws down the stretch sealed the 84-79 victory.

Standout Performers

• Washington Mystics: The home team was led by 24 points and 11 rebounds from their All-Star center, who dominated the paint. The starting point guard added 18 points and 8 assists, while the shooting guard chipped in 15 points and 3 steals.
• Seattle Storm: Seattle’s leading scorer finished with 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting, but was held to just 4 points in the fourth quarter. The Storm’s backup center recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.

Key Stats and Turning Points

• The Mystics outrebounded the Storm 42-36, including 12 offensive rebounds that led to 16 second-chance points.
• Washington forced 17 turnovers and scored 21 points off those turnovers.
• Seattle shot 45% from the field but only 28% from three-point range (7-of-25).
• The pivotal moment came with 3:14 left when Mystics guard stole the ball and finished a fast-break layup, extending the lead to 78-73 and forcing a Seattle timeout.

Impact on the Season

With this win, the Washington Mystics improved to 14-8 on the season, solidifying their position in the top four of the WNBA standings. The Seattle Storm fell to 12-10 but remain in the playoff picture. This game also marked the third consecutive win for the Mystics over the Storm in head-to-head matchups, continuing their recent dominance in the series.

The Mystics will look to build on this momentum as they host the Chicago Sky next, while the Storm head home to face the Las Vegas Aces in a critical Western Conference clash.