Kristi Toliver's WNBA-record 9 3s gave Mystics the playoff breakout they've never had

Toliver got hot and wasn’t missing anything.

Kristi Toliver is a new record holder. On Sunday in the WNBA’s second round of single elimination playoff games, Toliver nailed nine of them — setting not only the playoff record, but the all-time one for most threes in a single game. Please watch all of them right here.

It’s all sorts of three-pointers: off-the-dribble jumpers, spot-up shots without hesitation, and a few triples she jacked after staring down the defender in front of her. By stepping a couple feet back from the line, Tolliver fooled them into a sense of security, then mercilessly betrayed them by launching a bucket that swished home anyway.

Oh, and yes, Toliver can play inside, too.

After hitting three in the first half, Toliver broke out for six triples in the final 20 minutes. And the game was within a point or two in the third quarter! That’s when Toliver started bombing, and as the Mystics stretched out their lead, the Liberty never had a real chance to come back.

The 30-year-old Toliver played with the Los Angeles Sparks last season, but she arrived in Washington as a much needed veteran presence. She’s a local star, graduating from the University of Maryland after growing up in Virginia, giving the Mystics a hometown hero when they needed her most.

Toliver finished with 32 points on 10-of-20 shooting while hitting 9-of-16 behind the arc. The previous record for made three-pointers had been eight, something Riquna Williams and Diana Taurasi had both done.

But now Toliver sits on top of the record books, and impressively so.