The Mystics big three of Shakira Austin, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen are amongst the league leaders in the WNBA’s newest stat, gravity.

The league rolled out the stat through its Inside the Game feature, powered by Amazon Web Services. Gravity measures how much the defense shifts and how the player changes the game each time they touch the basketball. A player who commands gravity pulls defenders towards them above expected. Measuring how much attention they draw compared to what the spacing on the floor predicts.

When you think about gravity, the first player that comes to mind is someone like Stephen Curry. But the NBA does not have an official stat in its database. The W is being innovative with how they track data using AI technology. The Mystics are learning to adjust their game plan around this new technology as well. 

Mystics Young Stars:

Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen are already two players who defenses are scheming against, which is quite the accomplishment. Both of them are second-year players at the young age of 22. They became All-Stars as rookies last season. The league is being put on notice of how good they are. 

Citron led the league in 3-point percentage last season at 44.5%. That type of shooting will definitely command plenty of attention from defenses. With her poise under pressure at such a young age, Citron will only get better, and defenses will have to adjust to stop her. She is currently first in the gravity stat. 

Iriafen was amongst the top six in the league in multiple rebounding categories. Last season, she was fourth in rebounds per game and third in total rebounds. This all contributed to her being fifth in double-doubles. Iriafen is also a player who attacks the rim constantly in the paint. Her play style warrants a lot of defensive attention.

Shakira Austin has improved in every aspect of her game. She is in the running for the Most Improved Player of the Year award. With her putting up career-highs across the board, she is demanding more attention. Austin is embracing her leadership role with this young team, and that comes with the responsibility of the team’s game-planning to stop her. She is amongst the leaders in gravity as well.

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Coaching Adjustments:

Mystics Head Coach Johnson talked more about how their game plan has changed to compensate for the added attention. For a rebuilding team that has exceeded expectations, having three players rank among the league leaders in gravity is another sign that the Mystics’ young core is ahead of schedule.

Austin, Citron, and Iriafen are not only producing statistically, but they are also forcing opponents to adjust their game plans every night. As defenses continue to key in on Washington’s emerging stars, the challenge will be finding ways to capitalize on that attention. If the Mystics can do that consistently, their rising trio will continue to be one of the most difficult groups in the WNBA to defend and a major reason for the franchise’s bright future.

The post Austin, Citron, Iriafen, All Amongst the WNBA’s Newest Stat appeared first on The Lead.

The Indiana Fever needed a response. Three days after blowing a 12-point lead in an 83-75 loss to the New York Liberty, Caitlin Clark and her team traveled to Washington looking to stop the bleeding. The Mystics had already beaten the Fever in a 104-102 overtime thriller back on May 15, making this Commissioner’s Cup matchup feel personal. What unfolded at CareFirst Arena on Monday night was the kind of game that defines careers, and Clark made sure it went her way.

Caitlin Clark Hits Deep Game-Winning Three After Missed Free Throws

Clark had come under significant fire in recent weeks, not only for some on-court struggles, but her behavior toward officials, coaches, and teammates. After a 4-2 start, the Fever were 1-3 in their last four games entering the contest.

None of that past noise mattered in the final seconds. The Fever had led by as many as 17 points but watched that advantage evaporate. With 41.4 seconds left, Shakira Austin converted a layup to give Washington a 74-73 lead. Clark then drew a foul but missed both free throws, handing the Mystics a golden opening.

But the game was not done with Clark. She started on the baseline, set a decoy screen for Lexie Hull which worked perfectly, then ran off a screen from Aliyah Boston on the far wing. When Cotie McMahon’s attempt to jump the passing lane failed, Clark had the floor to herself. She set her feet and let it fly from 31 feet. Nothing but net.

Clark said postgame, “Cotie almost got a fingertip on it. It kind of worked out perfectly that she went for the steal, and honestly, probably the most wide open shot I had all night, so my hands got a little clammy, but still went in, I guess.”

Clark finished with 19 points, three rebounds, and five assists, shooting 7-of-16 from the field. It was her first career game-winning shot in the WNBA.

Sydney Johnson Physically Held Back Before Police Escort

The Fever’s clutch win came against a Mystics team already carrying the weight of a very public meltdown just two nights earlier. And the chaos surrounding Washington’s bench had a direct connection to Monday’s matchup.

On Saturday, Mystics head coach Sydney Johnson got into a prolonged argument with officials. He had to be held back by his assistant coaches but kept pressing toward the referees. He received two technical fouls and was promptly ejected. That only added fuel to the fire, and Johnson continued scolding the referees. It reached the point where some of his own players were trying to calm him down. Three officers working security helped usher him toward the locker room.

Afterward, Johnson told reporters, “I lost my cool. There’s nothing more than that. That’s it. Officials did what was appropriate, and that’s all I can say.”

Washington came into Monday’s game fresh off that 32-point loss to the Atlanta Dream. They nearly completed the comeback before Clark ended the night from deep.

The Fever improve to 6-5 on the season with the win, while the Mystics fall to 4-6. Indiana returns home next, where they will look to build on the momentum of Clark’s first career game-winner. Washington will need to regroup quickly with a packed schedule ahead.

The Indiana Fever entered Monday night’s game against the Washington Mystics with plenty of noise surrounding the state of the franchise following a late-game collapse to the New York Liberty on Saturday, dropping the Fever’s record to 5-5.

Clark’s play in particular was a cause for concern amongst fans and pundits alike, with two-time NBA Champion Mychal Thompson questioning if the Fever were utilizing Clark properly.

For her part, Clark was undeterred by the negativity surrounding her team. She opened the game with 10 points in the first quarter, as Indiana stormed out to a commanding lead. The Mystics clawed their way back into the game, and things got tight late. Shockingly, with the Fever down one, Clark missed two free throws in the final minute of regulation.

It looked for a second as if the discourse around her struggles would continue… Then she took over. Clark dished a clutch assist to Kelsey Mitchell to take a one-point lead, and in Indiana’s next possession, down one again, Clark showed why she’s the face of the league.

CAITLIN CLARK FROM 30 IN THE CLUTCH OMGGGGG pic.twitter.com/7xVnmcoonC

— Shabazz (@ShowCaseShabazz) June 9, 2026

Fans reacted to the incredible moment on social media.

“That’s the GOAT right there,” one fan wrote on Twitter.

“This one is gonna give the haters nightmares,” someone else added.

“People were running their victory laps over those missed free throws LMAOO,” one fan added

Clark may have struggled in the games leading up to Monday’s win, but that shot made it clear as ever: She’s back.

The post ‘That’s the GOAT’: Caitlin Clark silences the world with game-winning three pointer appeared first on The Comeback: Today’s Top Sports Stories & Reactions.