Washington Mystics edge Indiana Fever in thrilling season finale

In a thrilling season finale on Thursday night, the Washington Mystics secured a narrow 92-91 victory over the Indiana Fever at Capital One Arena, which hosted a record crowd of 20,711, the largest in WNBA history. Sika Kone led the Mystics with a career-high 20 points, while Ariel Atkins and Emily Engstler contributed 17 points each. Despite the win, the Mystics finished the season with a 14-26 record and missed the playoffs after the Atlanta Dream clinched the final playoff spot earlier in the evening. The game started with Indiana taking a commanding 20-2 lead, capitalizing on Washington's slow start. However, the Mystics rallied back, ending the first quarter down by just two points. By halftime, Washington had turned the game around, leading 52-45, thanks to a strong second quarter where they shot 60% from the field. The Mystics continued their momentum into the second half, extending their lead to 82-66 by the end of the third quarter. As the game progressed, Indiana, already secured in the playoffs as the No. 6 seed, pulled its starters midway through the second half. Caitlin Clark, the standout rookie for the Fever, had a quiet night with only eight points, marking her first game under double figures since June. Kristy Wallace led Indiana with 17 points, but the Fever struggled to capitalize on their opportunities in the final moments of the game. Despite a valiant effort from Indiana's reserves, including missed shots in the closing seconds, the Mystics held on for the win. This game marked the end of the regular season for both teams, with Washington looking to regroup for the next season after a disappointing finish.