Washington Mystics took Portland Women 105-100 in the Women's NBA on 23 August 2026. The visitors held their nerve in a tight finish to move four points clear in fourth place, while Portland remained fifth with 16 wins and 24 defeats.
Portland started brighter, building a 14-point lead at one stage. They kept knocking on the door with their shooting from distance, landing 13 three-pointers compared to Washington's seven. But by then the game had shifted — Washington found their rhythm and refused to let it go.
The statistics show a match decided at the free-throw line. Portland hit every attempt from the stripe, 15 from 15, while Washington converted 32 of 44. That difference of 15 points from the line turned a close game into a win. Portland also won the battle on the break, scoring four fast-break points to Washington's seven, but couldn't match the visitors' efficiency elsewhere.
Rebounding was the other story. Washington pulled down 38 boards to Portland's 25, including nine on the offensive end. Those second-chance opportunities — 15 points — mattered more than Portland's 10. The hosts did take better care of possession with only 13 turnovers against Washington's 17, but turnovers were never going to win the game on their own.
Portland had looked lively coming into this, winning three of their last five games including a 100-93 victory over Seattle on 9 August. Washington's recent run had been steadier, with a 93-82 win over Toronto on 19 August. Neither side showed signs of fatigue, though Portland's 28 personal fouls told a different story about composure in the closing stages.
The result keeps Washington in fourth place, two points behind the teams above them. Portland stay fifth but the gap is closing — four points separates them from Washington now, and the hosts have played the same number of games. They'll want revenge, and they'll want to find a way to control the boards next time.
