2026 WNBA playoff race reaches its final stretch

Wings beat Sun 97-71; Shepard collects 22nd double-double

The Dallas Wings beat the Connecticut Sun 97-71 to close out the FIBA World Cup break, with Arike Ogunbowale scoring 18 and Jessica Shepard recording 17 points and 10 rebounds for her 22nd double-double of the season. Dallas extended its four-game win streak and moved into a three-way tie for sixth in the WNBA standings, while Connecticut’s Aaliyah Edwards led the Sun with 26 points in a challenging night.

Fans Slam Athletic Over Clark Stat Error

Caitlin Clark continues to push historic rookie benchmarks while Olivia Miles’ standout start sparks debate over true rookie records, highlighted by ongoing misstatements and subsequent corrections from analysts. Clark’s strong late-season stretch and 800-plus points with 300-plus assists underscore her impact, even as commentary around Miles and Clark draws scrutiny over accuracy.

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Aug 29, 2026

The Portland Fire snap Atlanta's four-game win streak with a 101-83 win, as Emily Engstler scores a career-high 25 points and Angel Reese posts a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double.

Aug 30, 2026

The Phoenix Mercury snap a four-game skid with a 101-69 rout of the Toronto Tempo, as Alyssa Thomas dishes 12 assists despite the team's playoff elimination.

Aug 31, 2026

Caitlin Clark continues setting rookie benchmarks with over 800 points and 300 assists this season, as debate grows over comparisons to fellow rookie standout Olivia Miles.

Aug 31, 2026

The Dallas Wings close out the FIBA World Cup break with a 97-71 win over the Connecticut Sun, as Jessica Shepard notches her 22nd double-double of the season.

Mercury rout Tempo 101-69, ends skid

Phoenix Mercury rolled to a 101-69 win over the Toronto Tempo, with Noemie Brochart and Shay Ciezki each scoring 15 as six Mercury players hit double digits. Alyssa Thomas dished 12 assists as Phoenix snapped a four-game skid, marking the team’s second-largest win margin of the season, while Tempo was without leading scorer Marina Mabrey due to an adductor injury.

Photo: cottonbro studio / Wikimedia Commons (Pexels)

Sparks Hold Off Mystics 88-82

The Los Angeles Sparks rallied to an 88-82 win over the Washington Mystics, with Nneka Ogwumike scoring 24 and Rae Burrell delivering 12 of her 15 in the fourth quarter. The result highlights the contrast of the Mystics pursuing a playoff push while the struggling Sparks, who traded away Kelsey Plum, continue to navigate a difficult season despite standout performances from Burrell and Sonia Citron.

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Photo: KoolShooters / Wikimedia Commons (Pexels)

Reese's Eighth Tech Could Be Rescinded; Suspension Pending

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese drew her eighth technical foul of the season against the Portland Fire, triggering an automatic one-game suspension and a $1,500 fine under the WNBA’s updated penalties, with ongoing debate over whether the call will be rescinded. The looming suspension jeopardizes Atlanta’s playoff seeding and their critical matchup with the Minnesota Lynx as the team navigates late-season tension and schedule pressure.

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Fever 111-91 Sun rout; Clark, Mitchell lead

The Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 111-91 behind 34-point efforts from Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, boosting them to fourth in the standings as they head into the FIBA World Cup break. Clark was listed probable with a back injury, Dantas was ruled out for the rest of the season due to knee surgery, and Boston was sidelined by an injury, with the team aiming for a strong finish and continued MVP chatter for Clark and Mitchell.

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Engstler Career Night Helps Fire Beat Dream 101-83

Portland Fire defeated the Atlanta Dream 101-83 to snap the Dream’s four-game winning streak, led by Emily Engstler’s career-high 25 points and Carla Leite’s 26 as Portland shot 58% from the field. Angel Reese notched a 16-point, 16-rebound double-double for Atlanta, which remained playoff-bound but fell to fifth place, while DeWanna Bonner did not play for the Dream.

Photo: John Mac / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Photo: Phoenix Mercury — Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons

Aces' NaLyssa Smith to miss rest of season

Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith will miss the rest of the season with a left-leg injury suffered against the Toronto Tempo, a huge blow to a team already relying on her inside scoring and rebounding. The injury comes as the WNBA season pauses for the FIBA World Cup, giving the Aces a break to regroup and plan how to fill the frontcourt void ahead of the final stretch and playoffs.

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Photo: Michael Cohn Photo / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Wings, Mystics Clinch WNBA Playoff Berths

The Dallas Wings, after a remarkable turnaround from last season, clinched a playoff berth and sit in an 8th-place seeding position that could set up a first-round matchup with the top seed. The Washington Mystics secured their first playoff appearance since 2023 under coach Sydney Johnson, led by Shakira Austin’s 31 points and clutch performances, as the league moves toward seven of eight postseason spots being clinched.

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Naz Hillmon Fined $500 for Second Tech, WNBA Rules

In recent WNBA action, Naz Hillmon was fined for her second technical foul of the season as Atlanta beat Los Angeles, while Alyssa Thomas delivered a historic triple-double and became the first player to reach 5,000 points, 3,000 rebounds and 2,000 assists—despite also accumulating a sixth tech and contributing to Phoenix’s playoff elimination. The week also featured Angel Reese’s career-high 31 points for Atlanta and A’ja Wilson’s near-triple-double for Las Vegas in a win that underscored a mix of standout performances and ongoing discipline-related fines across the league.