Minnesota Lynx at Washington Mystics
· Women's National Basketball AssociationPowers scores 27, Lynx keep Mystics out of playoffs 83-77
Needing a win to secure the eighth seed, the Mystics cut a 12-point deficit with less than 4 1/2 minutes to go to 79-77 when Ariel Atkins made two free throws.
Layshia Clarendon made two free throws with 27.5 seconds to play and Powers followed with two more following a turnover to seal the win.
Minnesota (22-10) also claimed the third seed and a first-round bye when the playoffs start on Thursday. The Lynx will play the lowest remaining seed in the second round next Sunday.
Playing without injured starter Elena Delle Donne and head coach Mike Thibault, who missed a second-straight game because of COVID protocol, the Mystics were tied at halftime. The Lynx took charge in the third quarter and led 68-58 heading into the fourth quarter.
Napheesa Collier added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota and Sylvia Fowles had eight points and 13 boards.
Natasha Cloud scored 22 points for Washington, Atkins added 17 and Tina Charles had 14 with 13 rebounds.
Regular Season Series
MIN wins series 2-1
Recent Plays
| 4th 0.0 |  |
End of Game | 83 - 77 |
| 4th 0.0 | |
End of the 4th Quarter | 83 - 77 |
| 4th 1.8 |  |
Sylvia Fowles defensive rebound | 83 - 77 |
| 4th 7.1 |  |
Natasha Cloud misses 26-foot three point jumper | 83 - 77 |
| 4th 14.6 | |
Aerial Powers makes free throw 2 of 2 | 83 - 77 |
Statistics
 MIN |
 WSH |
|
|---|---|---|
| 29-66 | FG | 29-64 |
| 44 | Field Goal % | 45 |
| 5-16 | 3PT | 7-22 |
| 31 | Three Point % | 32 |
| 20-23 | FT | 12-14 |
| 87 | Free Throw % | 86 |
| 38 | Rebounds | 29 |
| 10 | Offensive Rebounds | 7 |
| 28 | Defensive Rebounds | 22 |
| 16 | Assists | 16 |
| 10 | Steals | 5 |
| 2 | Blocks | 4 |
| 12 | Turnovers | 15 |
| 3 | Team Turnovers | 0 |
| 15 | Total Turnovers | 15 |
| 1 | Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 1 | Total Technical Fouls | 1 |
| 0 | Flagrant Fouls | 0 |
| 16 | Points Conceded Off Turnovers | 19 |
| 0 | Fast Break Points | 8 |
| 34 | Points in Paint | 34 |
| 16 | Fouls | 20 |
| 13 | Largest Lead | 3 |
Game Information
Location: Washington, DC
Attendance: 2,854 · Capacity:
2025-26 Western Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Golden State |
- | 0 | W1 | 1 | 1 |
 Dallas |
- | 0 | W1 | 1 | 1 |
 Las Vegas |
0.5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
 Los Angeles |
0.5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
 Minnesota |
0.5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
 Phoenix |
0.5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
 Portland |
0.5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
 Seattle |
1 | 1 | L1 | 0 | 0 |
2025-26 Eastern Conference Standings
| TEAM | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 New York |
- | 0 | W1 | 1 | 1 |
 Washington |
- | 0 | W1 | 1 | 1 |
 Atlanta |
0.5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
 Chicago |
0.5 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 |
 Indiana |
1 | 1 | L1 | 0 | 0 |
 Toronto |
1 | 1 | L1 | 0 | 0 |
 Connecticut |
1 | 1 | L1 | 0 | 0 |
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