Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo WNBA preview and prediction

The Washington Mystics look to clinch the season series with the Tempo as they travel to Toronto this evening for a 7 p.m. ET tip-off.

This is the third of four games between the teams this season. Washington has won the first two by a combined four points, including a 68-65 victory in the teams’ season opener and a thrilling 86-85 triumph last month on a game-winning buzzer-beating basket by Sonia Citron.

Citron, an All-Star for the second consecutive season, has averaged 21.5 points in the two games, while Marina Mabrey, the first-time All-Star for Toronto, has scored 27 points in both contests.

Washington Mystics vs. Toronto Tempo WNBA Odds and Betting Trends

Washington is a 2.5-point road favourite on the WNBA odds, with a -135 moneyline, while the Tempo are at +115. 

The Mystics are 6-5 straight up and against the spread on the road, but they are just 1-4 ATS in their past five games overall. The Tempo are 1-4 straight up and against the spread in their last five games at home. 

The over/under for this contest is 172.5. Washington has played to the Under in five of seven games, while the Tempo, second-to-last in scoring defence, allowing 92 points per game, have played to the over in nine of twelve games. 

Washington Mystics

The Mystics just completed a 3-1 homestand, concluding with an 84-79 triumph over Seattle on Sunday. Shakira Austin led the way with 27 points, Citron added 19, and fellow second-year player and two-time All-Star Kiki Iriafen had 12 points and 13 rebounds. 

Austin is often overshadowed by her two younger teammates, but the fifth-year forward is averaging a career-high 14 points per game, and her 9.1 rebounds per game are second on the team behind Iriafen’s 9.4 and seventh in the league.

Rookie Lauren Betts, the fourth overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, is steadily improving. She is averaging 6.1 points, but had 11 against the Storm on Sunday, the fourth time she has reached double digits. Her career high is 18, which she achieved last month against the Tempo. 

Toronto Tempo

The Tempo have lost four of five and eight of 11 since the expansion franchise started the season 7-5. Injuries have played a major role, especially the extended losses of veteran guard Brittney Sykes (20.1 ppg) and her rookie backcourt partner Kiki Rice (12.7 ppg, 4.7 REB). 

Reserve centre Tami Fagbenle continues to be plagued by a myriad of injuries and is questionable Tuesday as well.

The one constant has been Mabrey, who went 9-for-19 from the field and scored 30 points as the Tempo ended a franchise-high four-game skid with a 93-91 victory over New York on Sunday. 

It was the second consecutive game and fifth time this season that Mabrey has tallied 30 or more points. She is third in the league at 21.6 points per game, and she leads the WNBA with 3.5 made 3-pointers per contest.

Rookie Laura Juskaite followed her career-high 25-point performance in a loss to Dallas with 18 against the Liberty. Julie Allemand is doing her best to fill in for Sykes and Rice. She had 10 assists on Sunday.

Nyara Sabally, who is also battling a litany of injuries, returned after missing a game to score 11 points against New York. 

WNBA Prediction: Who will win Mystics vs. Tempo?

Despite the win over the Liberty, Toronto blew a 20-point lead. The Tempo have a minus-49 point differential in the fourth quarter of their last five games. That trend needs to end quickly.

Washington is playing better overall, but those first two meetings were very tight. Expect this one to have a little less drama. Take the Mystics to win, 92-87.