WNBA Friday Night Recap: Mercury Survive, Wings Fly High, and Sky Snap Skid

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An action-packed three-game Friday night slate delivered milestones, thrilling late-game execution, and gutty short-handed victories across the WNBA. Here is a detailed breakdown of last night’s action.

Chicago Sky 85, Connecticut Sun 80

Venue: Wintrust Arena (Chicago, IL)

The Chicago Sky (4-6) successfully halted a painful five-game losing streak by holding off a late-game surge from the Connecticut Sun (2-10). Chicago bounced back from a dismal 11-point first quarter with an explosive 32-point second quarter to get back into the mix by halftime.

Key Performers & Highlights

Skylar Diggins (CHI): Paced the Sky with a stellar 24 points, scoring 18 of them in the first half. She completed a crucial three-point play with 1:20 left in the game and iced the win at the free-throw line.
Elizabeth Williams (CHI): Stepped up late, scoring all 10 of her points in the second half. She sank back-to-back clutch baskets—a driving lane bucket and a hook shot—in the final minute to put Chicago ahead for good.
Diamond Miller & Brittney Griner (CON): Led Connecticut with 16 points apiece. Griner filled the stat sheet with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks.

Milestone Watch: Connecticut’s Aneesah Morrow grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds. In doing so, she surpassed her 400th career rebound, becoming the 21st-fastest player in WNBA history to hit the milestone (53 games)—matching a pace set by league legend Nneka Ogwumike.

Dallas Wings 104, Los Angeles Sparks 96

Venue: Crypto.com Arena (Los Angeles, CA)

The Dallas Wings (7-3) extended their winning streak to four games, flashing a lethal offensive masterclass on the road. Dallas tied a season-high with 30 team assists and shot a blistering 53.2% from the field to push past a resilient Sparks team.

Key Performers & Highlights

Arike Ogunbowale (DAL): Exploded for a game-high 30 points, including 10 quick points in the first quarter to keep Dallas steady through an early back-and-forth battle.
Paige Bueckers (DAL): Served as the ultimate floor general, dishing out a career-high 14 assists to tie the Wings’ single-game franchise record. Her 9 assists in the first half also marked a personal best.
Jessica Shepard (DAL): Dominated the interior, registering her sixth double-double of the season with 22 points and 15 rebounds.
Kelsey Plum (LA): Returning from an ankle injury, Plum didn’t skip a beat, leading Los Angeles with 27 points and 6 assists. Nneka Ogwumike added 13 points and 10 boards in the loss.

Phoenix Mercury 78, Portland Fire 72

Venue: Moda Center (Portland, OR)

In a Commissioner’s Cup showdown, a heavily depleted Phoenix Mercury (4-8) squad showed championship grit, taking down the expansion Portland Fire (6-6) on their home floor. The Mercury played without core superstars Alyssa Thomas (left calf) and Kahleah Copper (left hip) but managed to pull off their second straight victory.

Key Performers & Highlights

DeWanna Bonner (PHX): Put the team on her back with a season-high 19 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 blocks. Bonner hit a critical, late-clock corner 3-pointer down the stretch and went a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line in the final three minutes.
Natasha Mack (PHX): Followed up her previous career night with another strong showing, logging 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting.
Sarah Ashlee Barker (PDX): Anchored Portland with 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Karlie Samuelson went a perfect 4-of-4 from deep early on to finish with 13 points.

Ultimately, the Fire were undone by 20 turnovers, allowing Phoenix’s Jovana Nogic to hit a tie-breaking driving layup with 2:46 remaining that ignited a decisive game-ending run.