Mystics spoil Toronto Tempo's WNBA debut, 68-65, on Shakira Austin's late free throws

Toronto basketball got its WNBA night, and lost it at the line. Shakira Austin hit two free throws with 17 seconds left as the Washington Mystics spoiled the Tempo's regular-season debut 68-65 in front of a packed, electric Coca-Cola Coliseum.

Marina Mabrey gave the home crowd 27. Brittney Sykes added 14. But Toronto could not buy a three — 5-of-25 from beyond the arc, 17-of-63 from the field overall — and that's how the league's newest team loses by three. Austin finished with 18 and 11 to go with the game-winning attempts. Sonia Citron led Washington with 26. Rookie Kiki Iriafen had a quiet 12 and 16 boards.

It's one game. It still stings. Toronto is the first WNBA team in Canada and the first major-pro women's basketball franchise the country has ever had. The crowd showed up. The roster is real. The shooting variance just didn't fall on debut night. There will be plenty of nights when it does.