Shakira Austin sank a pair of free throws with 17 seconds left to play as the Washington Mystics spoiled the Toronto Tempo's WNBA debut with a 68-65 victory on Friday. Austin was then fouled again, making two more free throws with 10 seconds to go to clinch the Mystics win. Austin and Kiki Iriafen each had a double-double for Washington (1-0) in the season opener for both teams. Austin had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Iriafen had 12 points and 16 boards. Marina Mabrey led all scorers with 27 points and pulled down seven boards for the expansion Tempo (0-1). Brittney Sykes sank the first-ever basket in franchise history in front of a sold-out crowd of 8,210 at Coca-Cola Coliseum. She finished with 14 points.
Austin's free throws lift Mystics past Tempo 68-65 in Toronto's regular-season debut