WNBA: Aces secure playoff spot with win over Mystics

: Jackie Young #0 of the Las Vegas Aces reacts after scoring a basket and drawing a foul against the Washington Mystics in the fourth quarter of their game at Michelob ULTRA Arena on August 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

LAS VEGAS— Jackie Young had a season-high 32 points and five 3-pointers, A’ja Wilson added 15 points and the Las Vegas Aces secured a playoff spot with an 83-76 victory over the Washington Mystics in the WNBA on Thursday night.

Young scored 12 straight Las Vegas points in the fourth quarter, capped by a 3-pointer with 4:17 remaining, for a 74-64 lead.

READ: WNBA: Aces end the Mystics’ 7-game winning streak

Young finished 10 of 14 from the field, including 5 of 8 behind the arc, and 7 of 8 at the free-throw line for her first 30-point performance of the season. Fellow guard Jewell Loyd added 13 points.

Las Vegas (24-11) moved within a game of second-place Golden State (24-9).

Shakira Austin had 29 points and eight rebounds and Sonia Citron added 17 points and eight assists for Washington (19-14), which has lost two straight following a seven-game winning streak. Kiki Iriafen, who picked up her fifth foul with 1:45 left in the third quarter, finished with just five points in 27 minutes.

The Aces began the game on a 14-2 run but missed their first eight field-goal attempts of the second quarter as the Mystics got within 25-24. The Aces led 38-32 at the break.