No. 8 Washington is starting to see results, taking on No. 1 Minnesota on a three-game winning streak that includes upset victories over No. 4 New York and tonight’s top-ranked opponent.
Second-year Mystics guard Sonia Citron continues to impress, fueling Sunday’s 84-79 win over the Lynx with 21 points. It was enough to offset 22 points from Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles.
“I think it takes time to get to where you want to go,” said Washington forward Kiki Iriafen. “And that’s something that our coaches have stressed to us.”
The Lynx hunt revenge tonight, dropping just their third game this season to the eager young Mystics
“I want it to be hard, and I want us to fail,” said Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve, reflecting on lessons learned. “Because when you have good times, maybe you don’t really know who you actually are.”
“You take those moments and you appreciate them, but definitely it’s frustrating to not get the result you want,” said Miles.
Where to Watch Tonight's Lynx vs Mystics WNBA Game
Washington takes on Minnesota tonight at 7:30 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.
For the vast majority of the league's existence, WNBA player stats have been ruled by the bigs. From the days of Lisa Leslie and Candace Parker to the more recent dominance of A’ja Wilson, the game has been primarily controlled by interior players — not guards.
However, that longstanding status quo is starting to wane.
There are a few different elements driving this change. The one that will get the most attention is a shift towards freedom of movement by this season’s officiating crews. While that has undeniably played a role, the primary driver is much more straightforward.
To put it simply, today’s WNBA guards are just that good.
Olivia Miles: A Live Dribble Magician (Minnesota Lynx)
2026 WNBA Stats: 20.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 47.4% FG, 35.3% 3P
If you went into a lab and meticulously designed the perfect point guard for the modern era, you’d end up creating a duplicate of 2026 No. 2 draft pick Olivia Miles.
It all starts with the handle. Miles has that rare balance of control and creativity that makes defense look like hell. One misstep or bad guess and a defender will find themselves in the center of a viral highlight.
She’s got an array of passes diverse enough to hit a roller from any angle, along with the poise to make tough layups look easy, and recently she’s put the shooting concerns to bed. The future is blindingly bright in Minnesota.
Paige Bueckers: A Live Dribble Magician (Dallas Wings)
2026 WNBA Stats: 19.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 6.1 APG, 50.2% FG, 40.3% 3P
The disadvantage of being a prodigy is that it’s almost impossible to impress anyone, but what Paige Bueckers has done so far is jarring.
After her terrific rookie campaign, Bueckers has responded to her early success by improving in every measurable aspect of the game. She’s been more efficient from the field, she’s making more threes at a higher clip, and she’s finding teammates more often while turning the ball over slightly less.
It’s the kind of growth that points to a tireless work ethic and a crystal clear understanding of her own skillset — frankly terrifying traits for someone of her talent level to have.
Brittney Sykes: A Shapeshifting Bucket-Getter (Toronto Tempo)
2026 WNBA Stats: 20.1 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.5 APG, 42.1% FG, 27.1% 3P
It’s difficult to imagine what a functional scouting report for Brittney Sykes would look like, because every bucket comes in a different way.
She’s more than capable of shooting off the catch or operating with poise in the pick and roll. But if you leave her on an island, Sykes can break her matchup down off the dribble with enough flair to make two points feel like four.
Between her and fellow guard Marina Mabrey, the Toronto Tempo have a real shot at making the playoffs in their first year as a franchise. Perimeter firepower goes a long way in today’s WNBA.
Kelsey Plum: A Quick-Stop Artist (LA Sparks)
2026 WNBA Stats: 34.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 6.4 APG, 52.7% FG, 38.3% 3P
Since 2021, Kelsey Plum has been an offensive maestro. The silky smooth lefty has featured in four of the last five WNBA All-Star Games thanks to a lethal blend of pace, quickness, and touch. But now that defenders can’t lean on aggressive physicality to slow her down, Plum’s reached an entirely new level.
Right now, she’s averaging the fourth-most points per game in league history on ridiculous efficiency. And if she maintains those averages, Plum will be the first player in the WNBA to average more than 25 points and five assists in a single season.
At this rate, the hand-checking rules might need an exception.
Allisha Gray: A Scorer Always in Motion (Atlanta Dream)
2026 WNBA Stats: 19.5 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 2.2 APG, 45.8% FG, 34.1% 3P
There aren’t many players who are as intuitive without the ball in their hands as Allisha Gray.
Of course, she knows how to do the little things, like drifting alongside ball-handlers and rotating over to fill open space. But Gray has all the finer points of off-ball movement down as well.
She forces defenders into excruciating guessing games with every screen and dribble hand-off, hitting them with a dizzying combination of feints and committed cuts to create space for her feathery jump shot. There’s nothing like watching a great player manipulate the little things.
Caitlin Clark: A Long Range Game-Breaker (Indiana Fever)
2026 WNBA Stats: 21.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 8.2 APG, 42.6% FG, 33.1% 3P
It hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever this season. They’ve both endured their fair share of rough patches and there are probably more bumps in the road in store for a team attempting to diversify its attack. But one thing remains clear: Caitlin Clark is a strategic wrecking ball.
The gravity of her shot-making pushes defenses to extend further than average rotations can support. And in turn, that widens passing lanes for one of the best playmakers in the game.
It’s never fun guarding someone who can comfortably pull up from 30-feet.
Rhyne Howard: A Prototype Without a Blueprint (Atlanta Dream)
2026 WNBA Stats: 19.1 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, 42.4% FG, 38.5% 3P
Rhyne Howard is one of the most underrated athletes in all of sports.
Offensively she’s a nightmare from the future. Her frame gives her the ability to shoot over most defenders, and that combined with a lethal jump shot has enabled Howard to lead the WNBA in made 3-pointers. On the other end of the floor, she leads the league in steals with three per game — one entire steal more than anyone else.
If you love great guard play, watch the Dream.
Chelsea Gray: An All-Seeing Oracle (Las Vegas Aces)
2026 WNBA Stats: 20.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 47.4% FG, 35.3% 3P
If forced to guess, we’d say Chelsea Gray’s in-game heart rate averages somewhere between 40 and 50 BPM — likely due to the ice coursing through her veins.
Gray plays with the serenity that every point guard dreams of, as if she can peer into the future and use that omniscient anticipation to set teammates up for easy baskets, or burst through lanes with unflinching strength.
And now, deep into a Hall of Fame career, Gray is shooting threes at a career-high volume and efficiency.
Kelsey Mitchell: An Angle Eraser (Indiana Fever)
2026 WNBA Stats: 20.9 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 2.5 APG, 47.4% FG, 35.3% 3P
Not once in Kelsey Mitchell’s career has she aimlessly put the ball on the floor. When she dribbles, Mitchell has a very specific aim in mind — and it’s usually getting to the rim.
For years now Mitchell’s been manipulating angles and abruptly changing her pace to attack the basket. And as long as her jump shot remains pristine, defenders will never have an answer for it.
She’s a decisive slasher and a polished shooter wrapped up into one player, which is the basketball equivalent of peanut butter and jelly. Some combinations are mutually additive.
Written in coordination with Half Past Noon.
WNBA award debates are already in full swing, as familiar favorites like A’ja Wilson and fresh faces like Olivia Miles emerge as betting odds favorites for MVP, Rookie of the Year, and other top honors.
Four-time MVP A’ja Wilson hasn’t let up, leading the WNBA player stats with 25.7 points and 2.2 blocks per game while sitting Top 5 in rebounds and 3-point percentage.
Indiana sharpshooter Caitlin Clark isn’t far behind, ranking third in scoring and second in assists, while leading rebounders Angel Reese and Jessica Shepard battle for a shot at Defensive Player of the Year.
Minnesota first-year Olivia Miles is dominating the Rookie of the Year odds — while also landing on a few MVP shortlists.
The 23-year-old leads her class with 18.5 points and 4.9 assists per game, making her the overwhelming ROY favorite at -2500 while climbing the MVP ranks at +1200.
Retired Sparks legend Candace Parker won MVP and ROY in 2008, remaining the only player in WNBA history to take both in a single season.
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve took aim at officials after a narrow WNBA Commissioner's Cup 2026 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
Reeve's side fell to the Aces 97-100 in a tightly contested on-the-road matchup over the weekend. But Reeve argued it was the referee's decision in the waning minutes of the fourth quarter that ultimately cost her team their eight-game winning streak.
The WNBA Referee Call That Sparked Reeve's Frustration
The Lynx were leading 94-93 in the final minute when officials called a three-point shooting foul on veteran guard Kayla McBride. Reeve challenged the play, but the officiating crew upheld the call under a newly implemented league guideline on shooter follow-through.
"The interpretation of the rule, the officials got wrong, unfortunately," Reeve said. A correct call, she added, could have changed the outcome entirely. Instead, the Aces converted the free throws to retake the lead and seal the win.
Olivia Miles Posts Career High in Lynx vs. Aces Loss
Despite the loss, rookie Olivia Miles gave Minnesota fans reason to look ahead. She posted a career-high 29 points, bouncing back from a tough first quarter and high turnover count to carry the Lynx offense down the stretch.
"When you have a rookie like that, maybe not playing her best, maybe turning it over, not defending the way we need her to defend," Reeve said, "and then just kind of willing yourself at the end and willing the team at the end to give us a chance, that's a special player."
Where to Watch WNBA Commissioner's Cup Games This Week
The Lynx will look to rebound when they host the Portland Fire tonight at 8 PM ET on WNBA League Pass.
The Aces will travel to Dallas to take on the Wings tonight at 8 PM ET on USA Network.
Top teams tussle in this weekend’s WNBA Commissioner's Cup showdown, as No. 1 Minnesota travels to Las Vegas on Saturday to take on a No. 2 Aces team nipping at its heels.
Even without sidelined star Napheesa Collier, the 10-2 Lynx are off to a breakout season behind top-scorer and Rookie of the Year shoe-in Olivia Miles.
“She’s special,” Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve said of the No. 2 draft pick. “We’ve had, obviously good teams, legendary teams, but it’s a different time now.”
Las Vegas is charting a similar course, carrying a five-game winning streak into the weekend as four-time MVP A’ja Wilson leads the league with 25.8 points per game.
Veteran point guard Chelsea Gray has been in vintage form, after tying the single-game record for made 3-pointers in Thursday’s win over Portland.
“Our trust is something we have been growing forever,” Wilson said of her on-court chemistry with Gray. “Our trust, our communication — just the kind of person Chels is.”
Where to Watch Lynx vs Aces WNBA Commissioner's Cup Game
Minnesota takes on Las Vegas on Saturday at 8 PM ET, live on CBS.
Olivia Miles scored 24 points, seven rebounds, and six assists as the Minnesota Lynx beat Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings 100-76 on Tuesday.
With the win, Minnesota (10-2) extended its streak to eight straight, becoming the first WNBA team to reach double-digit wins this season.
Minnesota's 1st Half Shooting Seals Lynx vs Wings Win
Minnesota set the tone early.
The Lynx shot 72% from the floor in the first half, building a 58-38 lead that Dallas never seriously cut into. Kayla McBride added 22 points on four 3-pointers while rookie sensation Miles and the Lynx starters combined for 71 points through three quarters.
2025 Rookie of the Year Bueckers led the Wings with 23 points, but she couldn't carry the load alone.
Wings mainstay Arike Ogunbowale chipped in 16 points, but the Wings' defense ultimately had no answer for Minnesota's ball movement. Minnesota hit the 100-point mark for the third time this season in the Lynx vs Wings win, subsequently pulling away in the final minutes.
Where to Watch WNBA Commissioner's Cup Games This Week
Dallas looks to rebound from the loss as the Wings host Phoenix on Thursday at 9 PM ET, live on Prime.
Minnesota later takes its winning streak to Las Vegas on Saturday at 8 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.
Two Western Conference titans are colliding, as No. 4 Dallas and No. 1 Minnesota carry unbeaten Commissioner’s Cup records into tonight’s high-stakes rematch.
The Lynx won last month’s non-tournament clash 90-86 behind Natasha Howard’s buzzer-beating 26 points, while Dallas looks to extend a four-game winning streak after Friday's 104-96 victory over LA boosted the Wings to No. 2 in the Commissioner’s Cup race.
“Our defense in that game was maybe right before we started figuring some things out,” top 2026 draft pick Azzi Fudd said of Dallas’s May 14th loss. “Now we have a much better understanding of our defensive identity.”
The clash pits Fudd against record-breaking No. 2 pick Olivia Miles, after Miles out-dueled her with 15 points and six assists in their first meeting.
“She’s a great shooter and a great passer,” Wings forward Maddy Siegrist said of Miles. “She’s going to make a lot of ‘wow’ plays, so you just try to make everything as difficult as possible.”
Dallas will expect reinforcement from previously injured Li Yueru and Aziaha James, while veteran Odyssey Sims remains sidelined.
Where to Watch Lynx vs Wings WNBA Commissioner's Cup Game
Minnesota hosts Dallas tonight at 8 PM ET, live on WNBA League Pass.
No. 1 Minnesota held off No. 5 Golden State 87-84 in Thursday's Lynx vs Valkyries matchup.
Cecilia Zandalasini's buzzer-beating 3-point attempt fell short, sealing the result for Minnesota in its second 2026 WNBA Commissioner's Cup game.
Olivia Miles, Kayla McBride Combine to Sink Golden State
The victory kept the Lynx perfect in the early Western Conference Commissioner's Cup race, as rookie guard Olivia Miles led the team with a career-high 28 points. She shot 8-of-11 from beyond the arc, setting a WNBA rookie stats record for made 3-pointers in a single game.
Meanwhile, veteran Kayla McBride directed the offense, keeping Minnesota organized through a tight fourth quarter.
The Lynx trailed 75-70 with seven minutes left before going on an 11-0 run to retake the lead, but Golden State's bench kept the game close.
Zandalasini scored a team-high 18 points and hit her 100th career 3-pointer during the first quarter.
Second-year Valkyries forward Janelle Salaün caught fire in the third frame, scoring nine of her 17 points by sinking three consecutive long-range shots, while Tiffany Hayes chipped in 15 on 6-for-9 shooting.
With her final basket, Hayes passed Hall of Famer Maya Moore on the WNBA's all-time scoring list.
Still, it wasn't enough to lift the Valkyries over the home side.
Golden State Continues Losing Streak vs Minnesota
Veteran guard Courtney Williams put her team up by three with just five seconds left in the game, going 1-of-2 from the free throw line. She finished with 17 points on the night, joining Miles, McBride, and forward Natasha Howard as the Lynx's top scorers.
The Lynx now becomes the only team in the WNBA that the Valkyries have never beaten.
This latest win shakes up the Western Conference table, with Minnesota improving to a 2-0 Commissioner's Cup record while Golden State drops to 1-1.
Where to Watch WNBA Games This Weekend
Golden State next heads to Las Vegas to play the Aces on Saturday at 3 PM ET, before the Lynx host the Storm earlier at 1 PM ET. Both games air live on ESPN.
We’re just about one month into the 2026 WNBA season, and already A’ja Wilson has added to the record books, a couple rookies have gotten off to historic starts, and the Indiana Fever is playing at a breakneck speed.
It’s been a lot to keep up with, so here are some curated player stats that you might’ve missed as WNBA teams continue to shatter expectations across the league.
Top 2026 WNBA Scores and Player Stats
Through the first month, Minnesota rookie Olivia Miles leads all rookies in points, assists, and steals.
Despite her recent injury struggles, LA guard Kelsey Plum is leading the league in scoring with 26.8 points per game and a true shooting percentage of 72.9%.
After Tuesday’s win over the Sparks, Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson has more games with 25+ points, 15+ rebounds, and 5+ blocks than any player in WNBA history.
Fever superstar Caitlin Clark averaged 8.5 assists per game over the course of her career — that’s 1.8 more than anyone in WNBA history.
There are three players with a +/- above 10, and two of them are rookies: Olivia Miles (+12.3) and Azzi Fudd (+10.5).
Chicago forward Angel Reese tied the single-season record for offensive rebounds per game in 2024 with 5.1. This season, she’s averaging 5.4.
Rookie standouts Paige Bueckers (Dallas) and Olivia Miles (Minnesota) are the only players in the WNBA to make the Top 10 in total points and assists so far this season.
The Golden State Valkyries are holding opponents to the lowest number of points in the paint and points off turnovers of any team in the league.
If the season ended today, the Lynx’s +13 net rating would mark the 17th highest in league history. And captain Napheesa Collier has yet to play a single game.
New York has the highest assist percentage in the league at 73.7% while ranking second in true shooting percentage at 59.3%.
And Indiana is playing at a pace of 99.22 — on track to becoming the league’s speediest team since 2019.
Research done in coordination with Half Past Noon.
Olivia Miles set a new WNBA rookie stats record in Thursday night's Lynx vs Valkyries Commissioner's Cup game, hitting eight 3-pointers to lift the No. 1 Lynx over No. 5 Golden State 87-84, shooting 8-of-11 from beyond the arc.
The previous rookie mark of seven 3-pointers in a single game was shared by Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (2024) and former New York Liberty guard Crystal Robinson (1999).
However, Miles passed both with her eighth triple in the fourth quarter.
Olivia Miles Scores Season-High 28 Points in Lynx vs Valkyries Win
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft entered the game shooting just 2-of-18 from long distance. But by the final buzzer, she had rewritten the WNBA rookie stats record book.
"It's just a testament to my mindset and my confidence," Miles said the milestone after the game. "The support that I have here to go out there and hoop and be myself, it just allows me to be comfortable."
Miles finished the night with a season-high 28 points, seven assists, four rebounds, and three blocks. She either scored or assisted on 44 of Minnesota's 87 points.
The victory extended Minnesota's winning streak to six and brought the Lynx to 8-2 on the season — the best record in the WNBA.
Miles Makes Case for Rookie of the Year with WNBA Stats
Miles averaged 17 points, 6.3 assists, and 4.9 rebounds per game through her first 10 games, while Thursday's performance firmly cemented her name in the 2026 Rookie of the Year conversation.
Minnesota head coach Cheryl Reeve praised her young guard, noting that once a few early shots fell, Miles found a rhythm the Valkyries couldn't disrupt.
"We had been trending toward her being confident to take shots," Reeve said, admitting that Miles's record-breaking night "was not on our bingo card."
Where to Watch the Weekend's WNBA Schedule
The Lynx next host the Seattle Storm on Saturday at 1 PM ET, before the Valkyries head to Las Vegas to face the Aces at 3 PM ET. Both games air live on ESPN.