Mystics Finally Break the Drought, Take Down Dream 83–72

Photo Credits: Trevon Daigre

COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — For the first time in nine months, the Washington Mystics could finally breathe. After closing the 2025 season on a 10-game skid — plus one preseason loss for pain’s sake — the Mystics snapped an 11-game drought with an 83–72 win over the Atlanta Dream on Sunday at Gateway Center Arena.

It wasn’t pretty, and it wasn’t necessarily headline-worthy on paper. But inside a locker room that hasn’t seen “W” vibes since last August, this result felt monumental.

First Half: Trading Blows and Finding Rhythm

The first two quarters felt like rehab basketball, both teams shaking off rust and experimenting with lineups. Atlanta leaned on the physicality and energy of Angel Reese, who scrapped for every board and bucket on her way to 10 points in limited minutes.

Washington, meanwhile, worked through its own trial-and-error. Lauren Betts, the 6-foot-7 center, was the early stabilizer the Mystics desperately needed. Her size alone warped the game; offense suddenly flowed smoother with her as a hub at the elbow and her post presence forced double-teams that freed the perimeter.

Betts dropped 17 points in the first three quarters, looking the part of a player ready to become Washington’s interior anchor. Her soft touch around the rim and improved passing stood out, flashes of the player scouts projected when she went forth overall in the 2026 WNBA Draft.

Third Quarter: Mystics Hit the Switch

The third quarter was where Washington put its stamp on the game and reminded everyone that defense still travels.

Head coach Sydney Johnson rolled out his starters to start the second half while Atlanta went deeper into the bench. The Mystics took full advantage. They held the Dream to 20 percent shooting and just 11 points in the quarter, outscoring them 22–11.

Washington’s rotations looked cleaner, their communication tighter, and their rebounding — long a problem in last year’s collapse — finally looked authoritative. Betts patrolled the paint like mid-2000s Lisa Leslie.

Once the Mystics’ offense started clicking, the confidence followed. Their bench leapt with every stolen pass and transition finish, and for the first time in a long time, Washington looked like a team having fun again.

Fourth Quarter: Cotie McMahon Closes the Deal

By the time the fourth rolled around, the result was largely sealed, but the young Mystics weren’t done showing out. Rookie forward Cotie McMahon, who had been quiet for three quarters, erupted for all nine of her points in the final frame.

Her mix of strength and burst down the lane gave Washington a spark right when fatigue could’ve invited a sloppy finish. She bullied smaller defenders, drew contact, and knocked down free throws — the kind of confident stretch that reminds you why the Mystics saw her as a long-term building block.

Lauren Betts and the Blueprint

If this was Washington’s “we still exist” game, Lauren Betts was its blueprint. Her 17 points all came within the first three quarters, but every basket felt like part of something larger.

This version of Betts looked assertive, no hesitation on entry passes, more confident facing up, and finally willing to be the defensive anchor Washington has craved since Elena Delle Donne’s departure. Her chemistry with Shakira Austin looked promising too, showing glimpses of a modern twin-tower lineup that could give smaller teams nightmares.

Atlanta’s Night: Rest, Rhythm, and Reality Checks

For Atlanta, this was more about evaluation than execution. Head coach Karl Smesko made it clear that May is more for chemistry tests than statement games. The Dream rested Rhyne Howard, Tina Charles, and other key starters for the second half, giving way to the bench to gain some valuable live minutes.

Even so, Angel Reese’s 10-point first half stood out. The rookie’s motor hasn’t stopped since LSU. She attacked the glass, drew fouls, and defended multiple positions before taking her early seat. Her presence, even in a meaningless preseason result, feels like the kind of backbone the Dream haven’t had in years.

But the lack of offensive structure without the starters showed; Atlanta’s release valves disappeared, leaving the bench gassed and overmatched by Washington’s still-active rotation.