WNBA Recaps: Indiana Drops 123 Points, Liberty and Mystics Win 1-Point Thrillers

Wednesday’s six-game WNBA slate before the All-Star break felt less like midsummer basketball and more like a high-octane October playoff blitz. From franchise scoring records in Indianapolis to a jaw-dropping late-minute miracle at Barclays Center, fans were treated to a chaotic night.

Here is your game-by-game breakdown of yesterday’s thrilling action across the league.

Indiana Fever 123, Connecticut Sun 88

Record-Setting Rampage: Fever Drop Franchise-High 123 Points

Gainbridge Fieldhouse witnessed pure offensive poetry on Wednesday night as the Indiana Fever systematically dismantled the Connecticut Sun 123-88. The 123-point outburst established a new franchise single-game scoring record and marked the third-highest non-overtime total in WNBA history.

Indiana set the tone immediately, storming out to a 70-46 halftime lead—the highest-scoring first half in franchise history. Caitlin Clark came out firing, knocking down three consecutive triples in the game’s opening four minutes and finishing with 27 points and 11 assists in just 27 minutes of action. She also had 6 turnovers and a technical foul that put her one away from a 1-game ban.

The highlight reel didn’t stop there:

• Kelsey Mitchell added 23 points, extending her WNBA-record streak to 11 consecutive games with at least three 3-pointers made and 10 straight games scoring 20+ points.
• Aliyah Boston controlled the painted area with surgical precision, posting 22 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals.

Connecticut—playing without injured frontcourt stars Brittney Griner and Aaliyah Edwards—had no answers for Indiana’s transition velocity. Despite Diamond Miller’s 15 points, the Sun watched the Fever shoot a scalding 62% from the floor and knock down 11 three-pointers to seal Indiana’s third straight victory.

Stat Check: Caitlin Clark now stands alone in WNBA history with 10 career games recording at least 25 points and 11 assists. No other player in league history has more than five.

New York Liberty 95, Chicago Sky 94

Final-Minute Miracle: Ionescu Explodes to Steal Win at Barclays

For 39 minutes at Barclays Center, it appeared the struggling New York Liberty were headed for another painful defeat. Trailing 91-85 with less than a minute remaining (and down by as many as 12 in the fourth quarter), Sabrina Ionescu staged a clutch performance to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

Ionescu went completely nuclear in the game’s final 60 seconds, scoring 9 of her 29 total points in the closing minute alone. She hit back-to-back contested deep three-pointers to pull New York even with Chicago, sending the Brooklyn crowd into an absolute frenzy.

With the game tied 94-94 in the dying seconds, Jonquel Jones drew a foul inside and calmly sank the game-winning free throw with 3.4 seconds on the clock. Chicago’s desperation half-court heave fell short at the buzzer, capping off a heartbreaking collapse for a Sky squad that had led 32-26 after the first quarter behind strong play from Azurá Stevens and Kamilla Cardoso. Sydney Taylor did all she could, finishing with 31 points.

Washington Mystics 100, Las Vegas Aces 99

Capital Shootout: Mystics Outlast Aces in High-Scoring Drama

Fans inside CareFirst Arena were treated to a 199-point track meet as the Washington Mystics outlasted the Las Vegas Aces 100-99 in a game where neither defense could find a stop down the stretch.

Sonia Citron (20 points, 8 assists) and Shakira Austin (25 points, 6 rebounds) went toe-to-toe with A’ja Wilson (38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) and the Aces’ star-studded roster. The Mystics pushed the pace aggressively in transition, forcing Las Vegas into rotational breakdowns and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities.

A late bucket by Washington inside the final 20 seconds gave the Mystics a one-point cushion. Las Vegas had one last possession to win it, but Washington’s perimeter enclosure forced a contested jumper off the mark as time expired, securing a massive home win for the Mystics.

Minnesota Lynx 86, Seattle Storm 76

Phee is Back: Collier Returns as Lynx Keep Rolling

The Minnesota Lynx headed into the All-Star break owning the best record in the WNBA (22-6), thanks in large part to the triumphant return of MVP runner-up Napheesa Collier.

Making her season debut at Climate Pledge Arena, Collier looked like she hadn’t missed a beat, dominating inside with 24 points and 10 rebounds. Alongside Kayla McBride (20 points), Collier provided the steadying hand Minnesota needed when Seattle mounted a late comeback.

The Storm pulled within 77-76 with 1:42 remaining following a 5-point burst from Flau’jae Johnson (16 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists). However, Collier drew a crucial foul on a shot-clock-beating 3-pointer, calmly sank all three free throws, and followed with a smooth turnaround jumper on the next possession to spearhead a game-closing 9-0 run for Minnesota.

Dallas Wings 101, Portland Fire 97

Offensive Fireworks in Portland: Wings Cross Century Mark

Up in the Pacific Northwest, the Dallas Wings and Portland Fire engaged in a fast-break spectacle, with Dallas escaping Moda Center with a 101-97 victory. Paige Bueckers returned to the lineup and scored 24 points to go with 6 dimes. She got a lot of help from Arkie Ogunbowale (24 points, 6 assists) while Jessica Shepard recorded another triple-double with 18 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Dallas’ high-octane backcourt pushed the pace relentlessly, piercing Portland’s interior defense to generate high-percentage rim looks and wide-open perimeter triggers. Portland put up a valiant effort on their home floor, keeping within one possession in the game’s final minute, but clutch free-throw execution sealed Dallas’ century-mark road win.

Phoenix Mercury 86, Los Angeles Sparks 82

Desert Heat in LA: Mercury Out-Muscle Sparks at Crypto.com Arena

In the night’s afternoon West Coast tilt, the Phoenix Mercury picked up a gritty 86-82 victory over the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. A Sparks team that goes into the All-Star break on a five-game losing streak.

Relying on veteran execution down the stretch from Alyssa Thomas (19 points, 11 rebounds, 15 assists) and Kahleah Copper (21 points), Phoenix countered every LA surge in the fourth quarter. Despite strong double-digit scoring efforts from Nneka Ogwumike (13 points, 13 rebounds), Dearica Hamby (18 points, 10 rebounds), and Rae Burrell (20 points), the Sparks turned the ball over on key late-game possessions, allowing Phoenix to secure the four-point road victory.