WNBA Recaps: Aces Outlast Liberty, Lynx Steamroll Tempo, and Sky Top Sun

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Thursday night in the WNBA saw fans treated to a high-scoring thriller in Sin City, a defensive masterpiece in Toronto, and a gritty Eastern Conference battle in Chicago.

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

Las Vegas Aces 104, New York Liberty 99

In front of a sold-out crowd of 10,000 at Michelob ULTRA Arena, the Las Vegas Aces (20–8) earned a hard-fought 104–99 victory over the New York Liberty (16–13) in a matchup that delivered playoff-level intensity.

A’ja & Jackie Power the Offense: A’ja Wilson dominated inside, dropping a game-high 33 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists. Jackie Young was equally unstoppable, pouring in 29 points and dishing out 9 assists, including an explosive 15-point first quarter that set the tone early. Chelsea Gray added 16 points and 4 assists to help Las Vegas shoot an efficient 52% from the field and 46% (13-for-28) from beyond the arc.
Stewie’s Historic Night: Breanna Stewart led New York with 26 points, 11 rebounds, 3 steals, and a block. In doing so, Stewart passed Candace Parker for 10th place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list. Rookie Pauline Astier delivered a huge spark off the bench for the Liberty, shooting 8-for-12 for 19 points.
The Turning Point: New York rallied late in the fourth to trim the deficit to one possession, but key free throws from Young and a crucial defensive stop in the final minute secured the five-point win for Las Vegas.

Minnesota Lynx 104, Toronto Tempo 72

The league-leading Minnesota Lynx (24–6) extended their winning streak to nine games with a 104–72 road blowout over the expansion Toronto Tempo (10–18) at Scotiabank Arena.

Balanced Attack: Minnesota’s offensive execution was flawless, led by a trio of 16-point performances from Napheesa Collier, rookie Olivia Miles, and Courtney Williams. Kayla McBride (13 points) and Dorka Juhász (12 points) provided additional scoring punch off the bench.
Defensive Lockdown: The Lynx forced 22 turnovers from Toronto, turning those mistakes into 31 points off turnovers while picking up 14 steals as a team.
Toronto’s Struggles: Laura Juškaitė paced Toronto with 19 points, and Marina Mabrey added 16, but the Tempo couldn’t weather a 20–6 second-quarter run by Minnesota that blew the game open.

Chicago Sky 94, Connecticut Sun 88

At Wintrust Arena, the Chicago Sky held off a late surge by the Connecticut Sun to earn a 94–88 victory.

Key Contributors: Chicago rode balanced scoring led by Kamila Cardoso’s 26 points and interior strength, taking control of the game early in the third quarter. DiJonai Carrington’s return energized the Sky on both ends of the floor, providing perimeter defense and transition scoring.
Fourth-Quarter Push: Connecticut, who had all starters in double figures, mounted a late fourth-quarter rally to close the gap within six points, but Chicago made critical defensive stops and converted key clutch free throws down the stretch to close out the win.