Mystics’ Kiki Iriafen delivers ‘poise’ praise to Georgia Amoore after Liberty upset

NEW YORK — Although the Washington Mystics are on the playoff bubble, their only victory against a top-seven team entering Friday was a 104-102 overtime road win over the Indiana Fever on May 15. However, they beat the New York Liberty 86-83 at Barclays Center on Friday, partially thanks to rookie point guard Georgia Amoore.

Second-year forward Kiki Iriafen opened up about the native Australian’s progress this season after the game.

I asked Kiki Iriafen how she thinks Georgia Amoore has played so far this season. Amoore had 10 points and eight assists over 28 minutes.

“I think Georgia is doing an amazing job. It’s not easy to be a starting point guard coming off an injury. Rookie season, so much is being… pic.twitter.com/ARboQalP7m

— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) June 20, 2026

“I think Georgia is doing an amazing job. It’s not easy to be a starting point guard coming off an injury,” the USC alum told ClutchPoints. “Rookie season, so much is being thrown at her, so much is expected of her. She carries herself with a lot of poise; she’s always trying to find her teammates. I think every single game you’re seeing her get more confident, more aggressive, and that’s everything that we need. She’s such a huge piece for us and a big reason why we won today.”

Amoore tallied 10 points (3-9 FG, 1-6 3-point) with a season-high eight assists against three turnovers over 28 minutes and is now the only rookie besides Minnesota Lynx point guard Olivia Miles to have a 10-plus point/eight-plus assist game this season. The 25-year-old also notched 10 points (3-5 FG, 2-4 3-point) with two assists and two turnovers across 19 minutes in Wednesday’s 88-81 road win over the Connecticut Sun, when Washington was without Iriafen (ankle) and center Shakira Austin (knee).

Amoore has had an up-and-down campaign thus far after sitting out last season due to a torn ACL, but she still has time to prove that she can be the long-term point guard. The 2025 No. 6 overall pick may have a groove alongside fellow guard Sonia Citron, who tied her career high with eight assists against two turnovers over 35 minutes on Friday and had four assists against three turnovers on Wednesday. If both players keep facilitating, it could keep defenses off-balance as they try to keep up with the ball movement.

The Mystics’ last two contests are a microcosm of how they can win in different ways. Citron did the heavy lifting for the shorthanded squad on Wednesday, logging a game-high 26 points (7-13 FG, 0-4 3-point) with a career-high 11 rebounds and one block over 38 minutes before all of their starters scored in double figures on Friday. That was the franchise’s first such game since 2022, and it needed everyone to contribute against a Liberty team currently fourth place in the league standings.

It helped to have Iriafen and Austin back, who combined for 34 points (12-22 FG, 1-2 3-point) with 13 rebounds. Plus, Washington won despite shooting just 4-for-18 from deep, partially because it notched 20 assists against 11 turnovers (1.85 ratio).

If the Mystics’ offense keeps flowing as it did on Friday, a playoff spot isn’t off the table despite being in the second year of a rebuild. At 7-7, they’re currently tied with the expansion Toronto Tempo (8-8) in winning percentage for the eighth and final slot.

Sydney Johnson has 1 wish for Georgia Amoore

One rotational difference over the last two games is that Washington head coach Sydney Johnson benched rookie point guard Alicia Florez, who had previously taken crunch-time minutes from Amoore. However, he played bench guards Lucy Olsen and Cotie McMahon 20 and 21 minutes on Wednesday, respectively, before playing them a combined 25 minutes on Friday.

Amoore has started all 14 games, but her minutes have fluctuated from as low as 16 to as high as 29. In Friday’s postgame presser, Johnson weighed in on whether the former Kentucky Wildcat is playing at the level he expected at this point in the season.

I asked Sydney Johnson if Georgia Amoore is playing at the level he expected at this point in the season:

“It’s hard to say. I want a full season of health from her…Get your shots up, please run the team, user your creativity and charisma…I trust that if she has the health and… pic.twitter.com/wncDVPUKdr

— Joshua Valdez (@joshvaldez100) June 20, 2026

“It’s hard to say. I want a full season of health from her…Definitely want her threes, get those shots up,” he said. “Please, please, please run the team, use your creativity and charisma…I trust that if she has health and the minutes, just like Lauren [Betts], Cotie, and Cass [Cassandre Prosper], she’s gonna grow…I didn’t really put a standard necessarily; I just want her availability…She’s only in her rookie year.”

While Iriafen and Citron have established themselves as franchise cornerstones, they also started all 44 games after getting drafted Nos. 3 and 4 overall last year, respectively. Amoore didn’t have that luxury, so it will be hard to evaluate her until she has a full season under her belt. At the same time, her performances in the last two games provide a glimpse into why she was drafted shortly after her star peers.

Up next for the Mystics is a road matchup with the Lynx on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV before hosting them on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET. Minnesota owns the WNBA’s best record at 13-3.

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