Wednesday night's WNBA action pits the No. 7 Las Vegas Aces against the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries — two teams locked in an unexpected dead heat as midseason momentum continues to narrow the WNBA standings.
Separated by just half a game, the Aces will take on the host Valkyries in a rematch of Sunday's 101-71 blowout win for Las Vegas.
Despite 2024 WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson's top-tier league stats, the 2023 champs have struggled to find consistency this season — exemplified by Saturday's 53-point loss to the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx.
"One thing I did do is send a message to them, and just say if you weren't embarrassed from [the Lynx loss], then don't come into this gym," Wilson said in response. "It's not always going to be just the stars — it's going to take all of us."
On the other side, new WNBA addition Golden State still has a serious shot at becoming the first expansion team to make the playoffs in their debut year, and they'll look to come back swinging after Sunday's lopsided loss.
Downing the Aces isn't a foreign concept for the 2025 debutants, who blasted Las Vegas 95-68 in June.
Golden State's not-so-secret weapon could make a difference in this rematch, as the Valkyries home crowd will try to make "Ballhalla" as rowdy as possible for the visiting Aces.
How to watch Las Vegas vs. Golden State on Wednesday
The No. 7 Aces will tip off against the No. 8 Valkyries at 10 PM ET on Wednesday, with live coverage airing on NBA TV.
The No. 5 Indiana Fever rattled off a fifth straight win over the weekend, rolling through opponents to sit five games above .500 for the first time in 10 years — all while superstar guard Caitlin Clark remains stuck on the sidelines.
"This is a group that's been resilient all season long," Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White said following the Fever's fourth win in a row — an 88-78 victory over the No. 11 Dallas Wings on Friday.
Then on Sunday, the Fever added a close 78-74 road victory over the No. 6 Seattle Storm.
"While we don't like it, sometimes it can be a blessing in disguise," White added, referencing Clark's prolonged absence due to an ongoing groin injury. "Because everybody else finds themselves."
Aiming to push up the WNBA standings this week, Indiana is currently sitting just a half-game behind the No. 4 Phoenix Mercury — who lost ground by falling 95-72 to the No. 3 Atlanta Dream on Friday.
Notably, Mercury All-Star Satou Sabally exited the court in the second half of Friday's loss, with Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbets later telling reporters, "She didn't bring the energy that we needed.”
Elsewhere, the Storm and No. 7 Las Vegas Aces found themselves in a holding pattern over the weekend, with Seattle dropping two tight matchups while Las Vegas bounced back from Saturday's record-setting 53-point blowout loss to the No. 1 Minnesota Lynx with a 101-77 drubbing of the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries on Sunday.
Staring down the back-half of the 2025 WNBA season, teams crowded at the top of the table are starting to separate themselves from the pack — though they're not necessarily the squads that fans may expect.
The No. 9 Golden State Valkyries emerged as the WNBA's big winners on Tuesday night, with the 2025 expansion side shaking off a tough Sunday loss to the last-place Connecticut Sun with a 77-75 win over the No. 5 Atlanta Dream.
Golden State forward Cecilia Zandalasini scored a team-leading 18 points off the bench — including the game-winner — as Golden State built up a 30-point third quarter to narrowly hang onto the lead.
"We were talking about resilience, so it felt really good, especially on the road," starting guard Tiffany Hayes said after the win.
While Golden State secured momentum with the upset win, Tuesday's result wasn't quite enough to catapult the Valkyries over the postseason cutoff line.
Both the No. 7 Las Vegas Aces and the No. 8 Washington Mystics held fast to their playoff positions with Tuesday victories over No. 10 LA and No. 12 Chicago, respectively — denying both the Sparks and the Sky any headway in pushing out of their current lottery slots.
LA did see some upside in forward Cam Brink's return from injury, with the 2024 No. 2 draft pick contributing five points and three rebounds in her limited 14-minute performance.
With such parity, any WNBA team — including Golden State — can make a run up the 2025 table, so long as the squads at the top cede any ground.
Second-year LA Sparks forward Cameron Brink is gearing up to make her long-awaited return on Tuesday night, stepping back on the WNBA court after missing more than a year of action due to a June 2024 ACL tear.
Brink's return couldn't come at a better time for LA, as the Sparks continue to take serious aim at a postseason run after rattling off five wins in a row.
The 2024 No. 2 overall draftee will likely be on a minutes restriction as she works her way back into full-game fitness, with the Sparks easing her in during their Tuesday matchup against Las Vegas.
"It means the world," Brink told the Long Beach Press Telegram about her WNBA return earlier this week. "I'm just very excited, very humbled by this experience. It's no easy thing to come back from."
Brink's comeback will close out a trio of WNBA games on Tuesday:
- No. 9 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 4 Atlanta Dream, 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): After a hot start, the Valkyries slid into a free-fall, leaving Golden State hoping to improve on their 2-6 July record against a gelling Dream side.
- No. 12 Chicago Sky vs. No. 8 Washington Mystics, 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The young Mystics are currently clinging onto the final playoff spot, with a chance to push ahead against the injury-ridden Sky.
- No. 7 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 10 Los Angeles Sparks, 10 PM ET (NBA TV): The Sparks are the shiniest team in the WNBA right now, but they'll have their work cut out against an Aces team desperate to bust out of the mid-table doldrums.
While the last-place Connecticut Sun aren't exactly making a strong 2025 postseason run, they are playing spoiler, securing their fourth season victory in a 95-64 blowout win over a hungry No. 9 Golden State side on Sunday.
Eight-time All-Star Tina Charles — the WNBA's all-time top rebounder and second-best career scorer — led the game with 24 points, as the 36-year-old veteran continues to showcase her value.
"This season hasn't been the same as it always has for the Sun, but [fan] loyalty has really fueled us and we know that they're going to show up for us," said Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey after the win.
Monday's WNBA slate will see the Sun shoot for their first winning streak of the 2025 season, with Connecticut taking on a Seattle side they’ve humbled once already:
- No. 5 Seattle Storm vs. No. 13 Connecticut Sun, 7 PM ET (ESPN3): The Storm is hunting consistency after splitting their last 10 games 5-5 — ceding ground in the WNBA standings — while the Sun aims to repeat their July 9th upset victory over Seattle.
- No. 2 New York Liberty vs. No. 12 Dallas Wings, 8 PM ET (ESPN): Injuries could impact Monday's showdown in Texas, as the Wings aim to benefit from a rested Paige Bueckers while the Liberty deal with a knock to star Breanna Stewart.
Higher ranked squads will always look to rebound, but Connecticut's trajectory proves that the underdogs can have their say on any given day.
The final WNBA team returning to regular-season action from the 2025 All-Star weekend hits the court on Friday night, when the Golden State Valkyries resume their quest to become the first expansion side to make the playoffs in their debut season.
Entering the WNBA All-Star break on a three-game losing skid, No. 9 Golden State will shoot to regain momentum with games against No. 12 Dallas and No. 13 Connecticut this weekend.
The weekend action features tight clashes across the WNBA standings, with serious positioning implications on the line:
- No. 3 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 2 New York Liberty, Friday at 7:30 PM ET (ION): Both the Mercury and Liberty are getting healthy, with Phoenix aiming to curb a two-game losing streak during their visit to a surging New York.
- No. 12 Dallas Wings vs. No. 9 Golden State Valkyries, Friday at 10 PM ET (ION): It's a youth-fueled battle as the quick-start Valkyries attempt to re-enter the win column against the young and hungry Wings.
- No. 4 Seattle Storm vs. No. 8 Washington Mystics, Saturday at 7:30 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The up-and-down Mystics look to prove they can hang with some of the best as they host perennial playoff contenders Seattle.
- No. 5 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, Sunday at 7 PM ET (NBA TV): Following a turbulent July, Atlanta faces a tough test of their resilience in Sunday's clash with the league-leading Lynx.
The New York Liberty wasted no time returning to work after a successful All-Star Weekend, with multiple reports stating that 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman will join the reigning champs for the second half of the 2025 season.
A 2019 WNBA champion with the Washington Mystics, Meesseman hasn't played in the US league since the end of 2022, opting instead to prioritize European play following a stint with the Chicago Sky.
Averaging 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game in 2022, Meesseman was reportedly also scouted by the Minnesota Lynx and the Phoenix Mercury before landing with the New York Liberty.
Fresh off leading Belgium to victory at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2025, Meesseman's arrival is now dependent on her visa application's timeline.
Currently sitting at No. 2 in the WNBA standings, the Liberty have remained strong despite dealing with key absences from their starting lineup.
The Liberty expect Jonquel Jones's return to the court this week after the center missed extended time with an ankle injury, while star guard Leonie Fiebich has already logged New York minutes following her EuroBasket run with Germany.
Along with the reported addition of Meesseman, the Liberty also picked up Stephanie Talbot on Monday, snagging the Australian forward just days after the Golden State Valkyries waived the 32-year-old free agent.
How to watch the New York Liberty on Tuesday
The budding superteam will stack up against the No. 6 Indiana Fever in their Tuesday return from the 2025 WNBA All-Star festivities.
The action tips off at 8 PM ET, with live coverage on ESPN.
The New York Liberty appear to be back on track, with the reigning champs leapfrogging the Phoenix Mercury to reclaim the No. 2 spot in the WNBA standings on Wednesday night.
Led by a 24-point, 11-rebound double-double from star forward Breanna Stewart, the Liberty punched a 98-77 win over a Caitlin Clark-less No. 6 Indiana Fever, as the 2025 WNBA All-Star captain remains day-to-day with a groin injury.
With Wednesday's victory, New York is now riding a three-game winning streak into All-Star weekend — and there's even more good news is on the horizon for the Liberty with starting center Jonquel Jones expected to return from her ankle injury after the break.
As for now-No. 3 Phoenix, New York's gain is the Mercury's loss, as their Wednesday clash with the league-leading Lynx ended 79-66 in Minnesota's favor while injured Phoenix stars Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper rode the bench.
Expansion upstart Golden State has also started to skid, leaving the Valkyries entering the break at No. 9 with three consecutive losses — including a 67-58 stumble against the No. 4 Seattle Storm on Wednesday.
Elsewhere, the No. 8 Las Vegas Aces have begun to regroup, entering the All-Star break on a two-game winning streak behind 2024 MVP A'ja Wilson and her combined 71 points and 26 rebounds over the last two games.
With the second half of the 2025 season tipping off following this weekend's All-Star festivities, momentum will be at a premium as early performances roll into postseason trajectories.
The WNBA will close out this week's regular-season slate with a day-long basketball extravaganza on Wednesday, in which 10 of the league's 13 teams will attempt to enter the 2025 All-Star break on a high.
While the Minnesota Lynx have the No. 1 spot locked up, Wednesday's results could shuffle other positions in the league standings:
- No. 5 Atlanta Dream vs. No. 11 Chicago Sky, 12 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): With both Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins out due to leg injuries, the shorthanded Sky will face a Dream side trying to bounce back from a two-game losing streak without Rhyne Howard.
- No. 2 Phoenix Mercury vs. No. 1 Minnesota Lynx, 1 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Lynx close out their grueling slate with a matchup against their closest challenger, as the Mercury look to go 2-0 against the league leaders.
- No. 8 Golden State Valkyries vs. No. 4 Seattle Storm, 3 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Valkyries have struggled following their hot start, with Golden State hoping to snap their two-game losing streak against the Storm.
- No. 6 Indiana Fever vs. No. 3 New York Liberty, 7:30 PM ET (CBS Sports): The Liberty have been quietly stacking results since numerous absences caused a skid, with the reigning champs hosting an Indiana side hoping that another injury doesn't prevent their superstar guard from suiting up.
- No. 9 Las Vegas Aces vs. No. 12 Dallas Wings, 8 PM ET (WNBA League Pass): The Aces are still just outside of the playoff line, but an opportunity against a young Dallas team still finding their flow could see Las Vegas shift into contention.
The No. 1 Minnesota Lynx couldn't be stopped in their second straight game in the Windy City on Monday, answering their Saturday loss to Chicago with a 91-78 victory over the No. 10 Sky.
Despite a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double from Chicago forward Angel Reese — her ninth in a row — Minnesota prevailed behind double-digit performances from four Lynx starters, including a game-leading 29 points from 2025 MVP candidate Napheesa Collier.
Notably, Monday's win comes as the Lynx look to close a grueling stretch of schedule before the 2025 WNBA All-Star break.
Beginning with the July 1st Commissioner's Cup final, Minnesota has contested eight games — including two sets of back-to-back matchups — in the last two weeks alone.
"We're in the midst of one of the most illogical schedules in my 25 years of doing this," Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve said this week. "Four out of five games at noon, two back-to-backs in there. It's illogical."
Considering the league leaders booked two of their four season losses in that stretch — last Wednesday's loss to the No. 2 Phoenix Mercury plus Saturday's stumble against the Sky — the jam-packed schedule raises questions about the subsequent fatigue and its impact.
Minnesota's not done yet, as they'll face Phoenix again on Wednesday — Minnesota's ninth game in 16 days.
Despite holding a three-game advantage over the Mercury, the Lynx will need to maintain Monday's momentum to keep pace, as Phoenix also started the week in the win column.
The Mercury took down the No. 8 Golden State Valkyries 78-77 on Monday, with new signee DeWanna Bonner playing difference-maker with a game-leading 22-point, 11-rebound performance off the bench in the tightly contested matchup.
How to watch the Phoenix Mercury vs. Minnesota Lynx this week
In their last game before the 2025 WNBA All-Star break, Minnesota will try to avenge their recent loss to Phoenix when the No. 1 Lynx host the No. 2 Mercury at 1 PM ET on Wednesday.
Live coverage of the game will air on WNBA League Pass.