Practice English with NewsPractice with News
Sports204 words2 min read

Washington Mystics Beat Phoenix Mercury 94-84

0:00 / 0:00

Listen to the story

The Washington Mystics defeated the Phoenix Mercury 94-84 in a WNBA game played on August 25, 2026. The Mystics scored 10 more points than the Mercury to win the matchup. This result adds to the ongoing standings for both teams during the 2026 WNBA season.

Basketball games in the WNBA are divided into four quarters. Teams compete to score the most points by shooting the ball through a hoop. The team with the higher score at the end of the game is declared the winner. In this game, Washington's total of 94 points was enough to beat Phoenix's 84 points.

The Mystics are based in Washington, D.C., while the Mercury represent Phoenix, Arizona. Both teams are part of the WNBA, a professional basketball league for women that includes teams from cities across the United States. Each team plays many games throughout the season, and the results help determine which teams reach the playoffs later in the year.

This win moves the Mystics forward in their season schedule. Every game matters for teams hoping to finish with a strong record and qualify for the postseason. Fans of both teams closely follow these results as the season continues toward its final stages.

Vocabulary10 words

Mystics
the basketball team from Washington, D.C.
Mercury
the basketball team from Phoenix, Arizona
WNBA
the main professional basketball league for women in the USA
matchup
a game between two specific teams
standings
a list showing how well each team is doing
quarters
the four timed sections of a basketball game
league
an organized group of sports teams
season
the full period when a sport's games are played
playoffs
extra games after the season to decide the champion
schedule
the planned list of games a team will play

Quiz

1. By how many points did the Mystics win?
2. Where is the Phoenix Mercury team based?
3. Why do teams try to win games during the season?

Fill-in-the-blank listening

Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.

The Washington Mystics defeated the Phoenix Mercury 94-84 in a _____ game played on August 25, 2026.

The Mystics scored 10 more points than the Mercury to win the _____.

This result adds to the ongoing _____ for both teams during the 2026 WNBA season.

Basketball games in the WNBA are divided into four _____.

The team with the higher score at the end of the game is declared the _____.

The Mystics are based in Washington, D.C., while the Mercury represent _____.

Both teams are part of the WNBA, a professional basketball _____ for women.

Each team plays many games throughout the _____.

The results help determine which teams reach the _____ later in the year.

This win moves the Mystics forward in their season _____.

Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think game results matter throughout a sports season?
  2. What skills do you think are important for a basketball team to win games?
  3. Have you ever watched a WNBA or basketball game? What did you think of it?
  4. Why might fans be interested in the standings during a season?

More Sports stories

Next story · Medium

Patriots Play Final Preseason Game Against Browns

→