The Washington Mystics secured an 81-75 victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday night at CareFirst Arena, handing the visitors their second consecutive defeat.
Shakira Austin paced the hosts with 28 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Teammate Kiki Iriafen contributed 22 points and nine rebounds, as the pair combined for 50 points in the win.
The result improved Washington’s standing, yet the evening carried a disciplinary cost for two Mystics players.
Backup guard Cotie McMahon and Iriafen each received unsportsmanlike assessments that will trigger automatic fines under league guidelines.
The key incident involving McMahon occurred midway through the fourth quarter. While battling for position on a rebound, she became entangled with Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale and shoved her to the floor.
Officials halted play, conducted a review and assessed McMahon a Flagrant 1 foul.
The sequence led to a brief exchange of words between the players before order was restored.
Iriafen’s technical foul came after she slammed the ball hard in response to a shooting foul called against her.
League rules stipulate that each flagrant point results in a $500 fine. A Flagrant 1 counts as one point, so McMahon faces a $500 penalty.
Technical fouls follow a similar structure for the early stages of the season. A player’s first three technicals each carry a $500 fine. The technical assessed to Iriafen marked her second of the year, leaving her with the same $500 obligation.
Players must remain cautious moving forward. Accumulation of four flagrant points or eight technical fouls triggers an automatic one-game suspension.
Paige Bueckers and the Wings entered the matchup looking to snap their skid but could not overcome Washington’s interior dominance and rebounding edge.
Austin’s efficient scoring and Iriafen’s activity on both ends proved decisive in a contest that remained competitive into the final minutes.
The Mystics’ victory provided a positive step in their campaign, tempered only by the forthcoming financial penalties for the two infractions.
Officials enforced the calls on the court, and the league’s standard fine schedule now applies without further announced review.
Both McMahon and Iriafen will absorb the $500 costs associated with their respective violations as the season continues.
