The New York Liberty left Washington with a 98-93 overtime victory after a game that rarely settled into a rhythm. On May 10, 2026 at CareFirst Arena the crowd saw a stop-and-start affair marked by whistles, lead swaps and clutch free throws that ultimately favored the visitors. The win came despite an uneven performance and significant foul trouble, and it preserved the Liberty’s perfect start to the season.
Across the contest the pace felt fractured: both teams battled through frequent stoppages and physical play. The Liberty committed 31 personal fouls while the Mystics were assessed 27, a stat that shaped late possessions and rotations. Several key players entered and exited the game due to fouls — notably Jonquel Jones who fouled out late in the fourth quarter and Han Xu who left the game after fouling out in overtime — creating lineup disruptions for New York.
How the game unfolded
New York led for much of the matchup, but Washington regained momentum late in the fourth. A reverse layup by Cassandre Prosper with 7:58 remaining in the period produced the Mystics’ first lead since early in the second, and the final minutes of regulation included five lead changes and five ties before extra time. The tie at 92 came after a critical putback by Kiki Iriafen with 33.5 seconds left, and that sequence forced the game into overtime.
Final sequence and closing plays
In the closing possessions Betnijah Laney-Hamilton sank two free throws after a foul on Prosper, then a turnover created by Marine Johannes swung possession back to New York. Rookie Pauline Astier iced the game with two late charity tosses for the Liberty even as a chorus of displeasure rang through the arena. The Liberty managed to convert the decisive opportunities at the stripe to finish the 98-93 victory.
Standout performances
The offensive engine for New York was Marine Johannes, who finished with 25 points while draining six 3-pointers and consistently forcing defensive adjustments. Breanna Stewart added 23 points and nine rebounds and took a potential game-winner at the end of regulation that did not fall. Rookie Pauline Astier impressed with an all-around line: 18 points, seven assists, five rebounds and two steals, showing early-season poise in key moments.
Mystics contributions
Washington received a strong inside night from Kiki Iriafen, who paced the Mystics with 20 points and 12 rebounds, while Sonia Citron scored 17 and Shakira Austin recorded a double-double. Those performances kept the home team competitive and helped fuel the late comeback that created the dramatic finish before overtime.
Context and what’s next
The win keeps the Liberty unbeaten after a season-opening 31-point win over the Connecticut Sun and now sends them to Portland; New York will play the Fever twice in a short span before a scheduled break. The Mystics, meanwhile, will regroup before a road trip to Indiana. The game exposed areas for improvement — particularly sluggish third-quarter starts and discipline on defense — but also highlighted New York’s depth and the immediate impact of contributors like Johannes and Astier.
