WASHINGTON, Aug. 15 (Ticker) -- Chamique Holdsclaw had 26 points, 13 rebounds and five steals as the Washington Mystics defeated the Charlotte Sting, 74-62, to take a 1-0 lead in their best-of-three Eastern Conference first-round playoff series.

Holdsclaw, who had been hobbled by a pair of sprained ankles down the stetch during the regular season, shot 9-of-18 from the field and 8-of-10 from the line as the Mystics won their first playoff game in franchise history and moved within one game of eliminating the defending conference champions.

WNBA Most Improved Player Coco Miller and Vicky Bullett added 12 points apiece for Washington, which shot 51 percent (28-of-55) and limited Charlotte to 37 percent (25-of-68).

Bullett's hook shot with 16:30 left in the first half gave Washington the lead for good, 7-5, and her layup with 14:29 to go made it 16-5. Charlotte got no closer than four points thereafter.

NBA TV highlights from Sting-Mystics: 56k | 300k

Andrea Stinson scored 16 points and Allison Feaster 15 for the Sting, who entered the playoffs on a four-game winning streak.

On Tuesday, Charlotte beat Washington at home, 67-57, to secure the second seed and home-court advantage in the series. Holdsclaw was limited to eight points on 5-of-17 shooting in the contest.

Game 2 will be Saturday in Charlotte.