Kiki Iriafen powered the Washington Mystics to victory with her 22nd double-double of the season. She finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds alongside a 20-point, 10-rebound performance from Shakira Austin.

What happened

Iriafen set the tone inside for Washington, posting 21 points and 14 rebounds to record the 22nd double-double of her season. Austin matched that interior presence with 20 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and two steals in the Mystics victory.

The frontcourt pair carried the Mystics on both ends, with both players reaching double figures in points and rebounds. Austin added playmaking and defensive activity with five assists and two steals to complement Iriafen's scoring and rebounding.

Why it matters

Iriafen's 22nd double-double extends the Mystics single-season record. Each additional double-double further separates her record-setting campaign from the previous standard in Washington.

That paired interior production lands with playoff seeding on the line for Washington. Getting 20-point double-doubles from both Iriafen and Austin gives the Mystics a frontcourt foundation that travels into postseason play.

Austin's line underscores the balance, as five assists and two steals added creation and disruption to her 20 points and 10 rebounds. With both players producing at that level, Washington does not need to lean on one interior option alone.

By the numbers

Iriafen: 21 points, 14 rebounds, 22nd double-double. The performance extends her Mystics single-season record for double-doubles in a season.

Austin: 20 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals. Her all-around line provided Washington with secondary scoring, glass work, passing and defensive production in the same outing.

Two 20-point scorers, two double-digit rebounders, one victory. The symmetry of 21 and 14 next to 20 and 10 reflects how evenly Washington's interior workload was shared.

What to watch next

Mystics return for their next postseason outing with the frontcourt pair's production to track. The question is whether Iriafen and Austin can sustain this level of paired double-double output as the postseason continues.

Iriafen's record count now sits at 22 double-doubles, giving her another milestone to build on in the next game. Austin's combination of scoring, rebounding, assists and steals will also remain central to Washington's approach.

With playoff seeding on the line, continued interior production from both players would keep Washington positioned around its established strengths. The next postseason outing offers the next measure of that frontcourt pairing.