WNBA Recap: Aces Hold off Dream, CC's Best Game of the Year, and Another Win for an Expansion Team

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The WNBA season delivered a thrilling slate of basketball on Sunday. featuring. We got the best game of the year from one individual, historic achievements, and all 4 games were close. From a nail-biting game-winner in Atlanta to an absolute scoring clinic in Los Angeles, fans were treated to a dramatic showcase of hoops across the league.

Las Vegas Aces 85, Atlanta Dream 84

The Las Vegas Aces closed out their road trip in spectacular fashion, escaping State Farm Arena with a thrilling 85–84 victory over the Atlanta Dream. The contest came down to the absolute wire, with veteran point guard Chelsea Gray cementing her status as one of the league’s most clutch performers. Gray delivered the game-winning basket with 3.6 seconds remaining and immediately followed it up with a decisive steal to run out the clock. She finished the afternoon with a stellar stat line of 21 points, five rebounds, and six assists, draining five three-pointers. Superstars A’ja Wilson and Chennedy Carter provided a lethal secondary punch, contributing 20 points apiece, while NaLyssa Smith anchored the interior with 13 points and six rebounds.

The Dream put up a fierce resistance on their home court, as they rode a 20-2 run to turn an 81-64 deficit into an 84-83 lead with 36.5 to go. They were led by Allisha Gray’s game-high 25 points and nine rebounds. Guard Te-Hina Paopao showcased her deep range by connecting on four shots from beyond the arc to finish with 19 points, while Madina Okot dominated the glass to record her first double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. Jordin Canada was a defensive nightmare for the Aces, racking up an incredible seven steals alongside her 11 points and five assists. However, Atlanta was ultimately undone by minor execution errors, including eight turnovers from Angel Reese, allowing Las Vegas to sneak away with the single-point victory.

Indiana Fever 89, Seattle Storm 78

At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Fever bounced back to secure their first home victory of the season with a commanding 89–78 win over the Seattle Storm. The evening belonged to Caitlin Clark, who authored another chapter in her professional career by putting up 21 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds. The stellar performance marked Clark’s 21st career double-double and her 12th career game featuring at least 20 points and 10 assists, extending her own WNBA record. Kelsey Mitchell and reserve Sophie Cunningham were spectacular, scoring 17 points each to help Indiana build an early 32–19 lead in the first quarter that they would never relinquish.

Indiana’s victory was especially poignant as they took the floor without All-Star center Aliyah Boston, who missed the first game of her professional career due to a lower right leg injury. Boston’s absence snapped an extraordinary streak of 275 consecutive games played dating back to her collegiate days at South Carolina. Even without their anchor, the Fever adjusted brilliantly, outscoring Seattle 50–30 in the paint. The Storm struggled to find an interior response, though Natisha Hiedeman fought valiantly with a team-high 19 points. Flau’jae Johnson chipped in 14 points, but shot just 3-14 from the field and 0-4 from three. Zia Cook added 13 off the bench, but Seattle’s defensive lapses down low capped their comeback hopes and dropped them to a 1–3 record.

Toronto Tempo 106, Los Angeles Sparks 96

An absolute offensive fireworks display lit up Crypto.com Arena as the visiting Toronto Tempo outlasted the Los Angeles Sparks in a high-scoring 106–96 shootout. The undisputed star of the night was Toronto guard Brittney Sykes, who put a jaw-dropping 38 points. Sykes was efficient from the floor, shooting 10-of-21, but did her most devastating damage at the free-throw line, where she went a flawless 15-of-15. She also added three assists and three steals to her night. Rookie Kiki Rice stepped up beautifully in a starting role to record 19 points and five rebounds, while Marina Mabrey added 14 points to keep the Tempo offense humming.

The Sparks countered with an equally explosive backcourt performance from Kelsey Plum, who poured in 28 points and dished out seven assists over 36 minutes of action. Forward Dearica Hamby narrowly missed a double-double of her own, fighting through a physical Toronto defense to finish with 21 points and nine rebounds, while veteran Nneka Ogwumike contributed 17 points and seven boards. Rookie Kate Martin provided a spark off the bench with 11 points on three made long-range shots. Despite the Sparks matching Toronto’s intensity for most of the night, they could not overcome the Tempo’s immaculate execution from the charity stripe down the stretch.

Chicago Sky 86, Minnesota Lynx 79

In a gritty, defensive battle at the Target Center, the Chicago Sky proved their depth and resilience by pulling out an impressive 86–79 road victory over the Minnesota Lynx. Playing through a barrage of roster injuries, the Sky found a savior in rookie Gabriela Jaquez. The fifth-overall pick played with veteran composure, leading Chicago with a spectacular 20 points and eight rebounds. Center Kamilla Cardoso was a wall in the interior, anchoring the defense with a double-double of 11 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks, while veteran guard Rachel Banham chipped in 13 crucial points off the bench. Natasha Cloud orchestrated the floor beautifully with 11 points, six rebounds, and seven assists, complemented by Jacy Sheldon’s 10 points and four steals.

The victory was significantly tempered for Chicago, however, as rising star Rickea Jackson suffered a painful lower-body injury just 11 minutes into the game and had to be helped off the court. The shorthanded Lynx, missing three frontcourt rotation players of their own, fought until the final whistle. Kayla McBride paced Minnesota with 20 points and four steals, while Natasha Howard flirted with a triple-double by racking up 17 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. Courtney Williams added 17 points for the Lynx, but Minnesota simply could not solve Chicago’s suffocating, physical defense in the game’s final minutes.