WNBA Tuesday Night Recap: Unstoppable Streaks, Milestone Nights, and a Reunion

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Tuesday night’s three-game WNBA slate delivered a dramatic mix of blowouts, historical milestones, and high-stakes Commissioner’s Cup action. The league’s hottest team kept their historic streak rolling, one protected its home floor in front of a packed arena, and a marquee homecoming turned into a physical, down-to-the-wire battle.

Here is the detailed breakdown of last night’s action across the league.

Minnesota Lynx 100, Dallas Wings 76

Venue: Target Center (Minneapolis, MN)

The Minnesota Lynx (10-2) became the first team in the WNBA to reach double-digit wins this season, putting on an absolute offensive clinic to secure their eighth consecutive victory in a definitive blowout of the Dallas Wings.

How It Happened

Minnesota completely decided this game in the opening 20 minutes. The Lynx starters were utterly unconscious, shooting a blistering 23-of-32 (72%) from the floor and drilling 6-of-8 from beyond the arc in the first half alone. By the time both teams headed to the locker room, Minnesota held a massive 58-38 cushion. The Lynx offense operated with surgical precision, finishing with 71 of their 100 points coming directly from the starting unit. Courtney Williams hit a late jumper with 30.7 seconds left on the clock to push Minnesota past the century mark for the third time this season. In a display of elite discipline, the two teams combined to score 26 consecutive free throws before a single miss occurred late in the fourth quarter.

Standout Performers

Olivia Miles (MIN): The rookie sensation continued her spectacular campaign, anchoring the offense with 24 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Kayla McBride & Natasha Howard (MIN): McBride was deadly from the perimeter, hitting four 3-pointers en route to 22 points, while Howard dominated the interior with 21 points.

Paige Bueckers (DAL): Led the Wings in a tough environment, netting a resilient 23 points, while veteran Arike Ogunbowale chipped in 16.

Atlanta Dream 82, Chicago Sky 75

Venue: Wintrust Arena (Chicago, IL)

All eyes were on Chicago for the most anticipated homecoming of the summer, as Angel Reese returned to the arena where she began her historic WNBA career. The game didn’t disappoint, delivering a physical, gritty battle that featured 15 lead changes and 13 ties before Atlanta pulled away late.

How It Happened

The Bench vs. The Starters: The Sky stayed alive by absolutely dominating the bench scoring battle (28-4) and lighting it up from deep, shooting 53.3% from 3-point range. Natasha Cloud was spectacular off the pine, dropping 18 points and grabbing 6 boards.

The Late 9-0 Surge: Chicago took a 58-57 lead into the final frame, but the Dream’s starting unit flexed its muscle down the stretch. Naz Hillmon scored 16 points—including a crucial layup off a slick feed from Reese and a subsequent 3-pointer—to ignite a decisive 9-0 run. Reese capped off the scoring burst with under a minute left to build an unrecoverable 80-70 advantage.

Standout Performers

Angel Reese (ATL): Silenced the boos and embraced the emotion, putting up 17 points and 17 rebounds. It marked her eighth double-double of the season and the 57th of her career—the most by any player through 75 games in WNBA history.

Rhyne Howard (ATL): Mirrored Reese with 17 points of her own while making history by becoming the youngest player in WNBA history to hit the career milestone of 2,500 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 200 steals, and 100 blocks.

Kamilla Cardoso (CHI): Eclipsed her 1,000th career point, anchoring the Sky’s interior defense with 13 points and 4 blocks.

Golden State Valkyries 87, Phoenix Mercury 81

Venue: Chase Center (San Francisco, CA)

In front of an energetic crowd of 18,064 fans, the Golden State Valkyries snapped a two-game skid by holding off a furious second-half rally from the Phoenix Mercury in a crucial Commissioner’s Cup matchup.

How It Happened

The Electric Start: Golden State looked unstoppable early, shooting 57.1% in the first half to race out to a commanding 49-32 halftime lead, pushing their advantage to as many as 18 points.

The Mercury Fight Back: Phoenix responded with absolute fervor in the third quarter, dropping a massive 29-point frame. Led by Monique Akoa Makani (19 points), the Mercury carved the lead down to 66-61 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Closers: Just as Phoenix threatened to erase the lead completely, Gabby Williams took over. She drilled a clutch 3-pointer with under six minutes left to create breathing room, later delivering an elite defensive steal and converting a three-point play to ice the game.

Standout Performers

Veronica Burton (GSV): Paced the Valkyries by tying her season-high with 25 points, 19 of which came in a spectacular first half, while adding 8 assists.

Gabby Williams (GSV): Matched Burton with 25 points of her own, marking her second consecutive 20-point performance for the first time in her career.