WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — Something magical is happening in Washington, and the Mystics are at the center of it.

“Toughness and togetherness” have become defining traits for this Mystics squad, but it’s their ability to respond to adversity that continues to keep fans in The District on the edge of their seats.

Just three minutes into the third quarter, the Mystics trailed Dallas 76-56.

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By the start of the fourth quarter, the deficit had been trimmed to six after Washington outscored Dallas 24-12 in the third. Rookie Cotie McMahon sparked the run, scoring 10 of the Mystics’ 24 points in the quarter.

“It’s always been in me,” McMahon said following the game. “I can’t thank anyone else but my coaches and my teammates; they don’t want anything else from me, they don’t want me to bottle it in,” she said.

While fast starts remain important, it’s becoming the Mystics’ finishing lineup that’s defining this team. The “Finishing Five,” McMahon, Sonia Citron, Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen and Michaela Onyenwere, continue to display chemistry built on relentless defense, versatility and unselfish offense.

McMahon finished with a career-high 18 points while shooting 60% from the field and 75% from the free-throw line.

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“They want me to play my game and keep that aggressiveness,” McMahon added. “That’s seriously why I am on the floor; and then to just feed off of who I’m playing behind. I got Kira, I got Kiki, Mic, Sonia, they all bring a different type of aggressiveness so it would almost be wrong of me to go into the game and not match that energy,” she added.

Austin, whom head coach Sydney Johnson has repeatedly called the franchise cornerstone, led the Mystics with 27 points and 13 rebounds for another double-double.

Johnson also credited the home crowd, thanking Mystics fans for helping fuel the comeback.

The group prepares to face Angel Reese and the ATL Dream at home Friday, August 7 at CareFirst Arena.