WNBA Recaps: Wings Hold On, Valkyries Target Top Seed, and Dream Roll

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Saturday action in the WNBA delivered the expected results: the Atlanta Dream held their 4-spot in the playoff race, while the Golden State Valkyries moved closer to the top spot in the league. In Dallas, the Wings got a big win behind Paige Bueckers to move into 6th place.

Just about a week of action left before the postseason gets underway, and the jockeying for position looks like it will play out all the way till the last game of the year.

Here is a look at last night’s action in the W.

Dallas Wings 87, Phoenix Mercury 82

The Dallas Wings had to dig deep on their home floor, surviving a furious fourth-quarter charge from the Phoenix Mercury to lock down an 87–82 victory. Paige Bueckers was the steadying hand Dallas needed in the closing minutes, putting on a clinic with a team-high 26 points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals while knocking down five three-pointers. Arike Ogunbowale chipped in 22 points and six assists.

Phoenix refused to go quietly, utilizing timely perimeter shooting to erase a late deficit and turn the final minutes into a high-octane possession game. However, Bueckers’ late-clock shot creation and key free throws down the stretch sealed the win. The victory continues a crucial late-season surge for Dallas, helping them gain valuable ground in the playoff seeding picture as they push for optimal postseason positioning. Alyssa Thomas recorded her 6th triple-double of the season with 19 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.

Atlanta Dream 106, Chicago Sky 81

Aye, man. What else can we say? Another day, another Angel Reese masterpiece and DPOY campaign outing in the books 😮‍💨

You know the face. You know the name. You know the game! AR5 is YOUR @albertapp Player of the Game! pic.twitter.com/Sbhzdu1HDK

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) September 20, 2026

The Atlanta Dream put on an offensive clinic at home, overwhelming the Chicago Sky 106–81 to maintain firm control near the top of the conference standings. Atlanta set a blistering pace from the opening tip, pushing transition opportunities and hitting shots from all three levels to build an insurmountable early lead.

Angel Reese continued her dominance and played like a woman ready for the postseason. She led the Dream with 23 points and added 10 rebounds and four assists. The win allows Atlanta to hold its ground in the tight race for home-court hosting rights.

Golden State Valkyries 70, Seattle Storm 57

“Valkatraz” was on display at Chase Center as the Golden State Valkyries flexed their defensive muscles to lock down a 70–57 victory over the Seattle Storm. Golden State choked off Seattle’s passing lanes and contested every interior attempt, holding the Storm to under 60 points in a masterclass of team defense. While offensive rhythm was hard to come by for both squads, the Valkyries dominated the defensive glass and executed cleanly out of timeouts to keep Seattle at arm’s length throughout the second half.

The Valkyries had 5 players in double figures, led by Kaita Charles’ 16 points and 12 rebounds. The victory carries massive postseason implications: Golden State pulls to within just a half-game of the Minnesota Lynx for the WNBA’s best overall record, setting up a potential wire-to-wire showdown for the No. 1 overall seed down the stretch.