No. 3 Las Vegas is shooting its shot, searching for a bounce-back against No. 2 Golden State tonight after opening the best-of-five Aces vs Valkyries WNBA playoffs series with a 71-60 loss.
Gabby Williams dropped 25 points in Game 1, one-upping A’ja Wilson’s 24 while holding Las Vegas to a season-low 60 points on the road.
Wilson has anchored the Aces all postseason with 26.2 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks per game, with Jackie Young putting up 20.2 points on 46.3% shooting over her last 10.
The banged-up Aces’ lineup hangs in the balance, with guard Jewell Loyd currently listed as “doubtful” after the veteran departed Game 1 with a left leg knock.
Las Vegas carried a hefty IL on Sunday, as Loyd joined Stephanie Talbot (leg), Dana Evans (knee), and NaLyssa Smith (SEI) on the bench.
“We’re a little bit depleted right now,” coach Becky Hammon said. “At some point I wish we would get healthy, but you know, it is what it is.”
Las Vegas takes on Golden State tonight at 9:30 PM ET (NBC Sports).
Allisha Gray went down with an injury to her left hand in the first quarter of Sunday's WNBA playoffs semifinal between the Atlanta Dream and New York Liberty.
How Did Allisha Gray Get Injured?
The All-Star guard came up clutching her shooting hand after hurting her pinky and ring fingers while closing out on a Sabrina Ionescu layup at State Farm Arena. Trainers taped the two fingers together in the locker room before Gray checked back into the game in the second period.
But that return didn't last long. Gray visibly struggled to grip the ball, missing badly on a three-point try before tearing off the medical tape on the court.
Then, just before halftime, Gray went down again while appearing to re-injure the same hand. She headed back to the locker room before the Dream ultimately ruled her out for the remainder of the game.
Gray's Injury Impacts Atlanta Dream's WNBA Playoffs Run
Despite losing such a key offensive player, Atlanta managed to take its WNBA playoffs opener against New York, 92-82, though head coach Karl Smesko was transparent about his fears regarding Gray's availability moving forward.
"She's been a huge reason we've been so successful this year and it was tough to see her not out there," he said postgame. "Hopefully she'll be OK.
Gray averaged 19 points per game during the regular season and is one of three All-Stars on the roster. With no timeline on her return, Atlanta looks to fill in the gaps in a pivotal Game 2 on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN.
It was a nervous few minutes for Angel Reese fans on Wednesday as the Atlanta Dream faced off against the New York Liberty. Reese took an elbow to the face from guard Sabrina Ionescu during the first half of the her team's final regular-season game. Following the injury, her teammates helped her to the bench where Reese remained for the game's second half.
Dream vs Liberty 1st Half Ends with Hard Angel Reese Foul
The contact came with just over nine seconds remaining in the second quarter. As Ionescu made her way to the basket, Reese stepped up to defend just outside the arc. The New York guard swung her arm to create space, accidentally clipping the Dream forward in the mouth.
Sabrina Ionescu is charged with a flagrant 1 after this inadvertent elbow against Angel Reese.#WNBAonUSA | Dream 💭 | Liberty 🗽 pic.twitter.com/Xdo2QtbO1F
— USA Sports (@usasports) September 24, 2026
Reese briefly returned to the floor to shoot the resulting free throws but sat out the rest of the season-ending matchup. Before leaving, she had posted six points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in 17 minutes.
After the game, head coach Karl Smesko offered a reassuring update on the Reese's injury.
"She was cleared to come back in," Smesko said. "We just made a decision that it would be smarter for her to sit out the second half."
When considering the bigger post-season picture, Smesko's caution makes sense. The Atlanta Dream locked in the No. 4 WNBA playoff seed at 30-14, setting up a first-round date with either the Indiana Fever or Washington Mystics.
With the regular season wrapped, keeping Reese healthy for the Dream's postseason run is the priority.
Seattle Storm center Ezi Magbegor suffered a torn ACL in her right knee during Australia's FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup quarterfinal qualifying win over Italy on Wednesday. The injury ended both her tournament run and her 2026 WNBA season.
Details Behind the Ezi Magbegor Injury
The contact occured in the first quarter after Magbegor planted her right leg during a play against Italian defender Lorela Cubaj. She collapsed immediately and had to be helped off the court. Still, Australia held on for the win despite nearly blowing a 26-point lead.
Before the injury, Magbegor had been one of the best players at the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, averaging 15.6 points on 60.5% shooting and 42.9% from three across Australia's first three games as team captain.
The incident adds yet another roadblock to Magbegor's on-court journey.
She already missed the first seven weeks of the Storm's WNBA season with a foot injury, then broke a bone in her face just three weeks after her 2026 debut. Across 14 games, she averaged 6.9 points and four rebounds — her lowest marks since her second year in the league.
A typical ACL recovery takes nine to 12 months, meaning she could also miss the start of the 2027 WNBA season.
Chicago’s rough spell just got rougher. Marquee 2026 signing Skylar Diggins landed on the season-ending injury list after re-aggravating a right knee issue.
Diggins hasn’t played for the Sky since July. She initially aired her frustrations on social media before clarifying her benching was tied to injury, not friction with the team.
The 36-year-old said she has not requested a trade. She expects to be back with Chicago next season, fulfilling the backend of her two-year, $1.8 million deal.
Already eliminated from playoff contention. No. 10 Chicago now turns toward an offseason full of personnel questions after another losing campaign.
Kelsey Plum and A'ja Wilson will sit out of the 2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup, USA Basketball confirmed Sunday. The two withdrew for health reasons, leaving Team USA without two of its most experienced players ahead of the international tournament in Berlin.
Workload, Late-Season Injuries Sideline Kelsey Plum & A'ja Wilson
Plum, 32, is sidelined with a lower leg injury that already ended her WNBA season with playoff-eliminated Phoenix. She played just once since joining the Mercury on August 9th.
Wilson, meanwhile, shouldered a heavier workload after Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith went down with a season-ending knee injury. The 30-year-old has appeared in all but three games this season, averaging 26 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
USA Basketball Adds Mystics Stars to FIBA World Cup 2026 Roster
Still, USA Basketball moved quickly to fill the gaps.
Washington Mystics teammates Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, both 2026 All-Stars, will join the roster for their first major global tournament.
Even without Wilson and Plum, there's plenty of talent in Team USA's FIBA World Cup lineup. Caitlin Clark, Breanna Stewart, Napheesa Collier, and Angel Reese headline a group chasing a fifth straight World Cup title when play opens September 4th against China.
Toronto Tempo guard Brittney Sykes and forward Aneesah Morrow will miss the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season after both sustained injuries during an August 21st matchup against the Portland Fire.
Brittney Sykes, Aneesah Morrow Ruled Out After Portland Fire Game
Sykes suffered a left foot strain, while Morrow went down with a left knee issue. Neither player will require surgery, and both are expected to make full recoveries.
The losses sting for an expansion franchise already reeling from a 12-game losing streak.
Sykes had been one of Toronto's most reliable scorers, averaging 18.6 points across 17 games before missing time earlier this season with a plantar fascia knock.
Morrow, meanwhile, appeared in just seven games after arriving via a July 31st trade from Connecticut. She contributed an average of 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in limited play.
But the Tempo's injury troubles extend beyond the duo.
Injuries Plague Toronto Tempo's Inaugural Season
Leading scorer Marina Mabrey, along with Nyara Sabally and Maria Conde, were also ruled out of Sunday's 88-78 loss to the Las Vegas Aces with various ailments.
Toronto dressed just seven rostered players for that game. The team recently signed Kiana Williams to a hardship contract to help pad out their thinning lineup.
Azzi Fudd's rookie year has ended due to injury.
On Tuesday, the Dallas Wings announced that 2026 No. 1 overall draft pick will undergo arthroscopic surgery on her right knee, ending a debut season that had already put her name among the league's best shooters.
Knee Injury Sidelines Azzi Fudd for Rest of the Season
Fudd's injury traces back to early August, when soreness sidelined her from the Wings' matchup against the Washington Mystics. She briefly returned to practice on August 11th, but never made it back to the court.
"Most of you probably already saw," Fudd wrote on social media. "I've got a small procedure coming up on my knee, and I'll be out as I recover. I know exactly what comes next: rehab, put in the work, come back ready and better than before."
Before the setback, the former UConn guard was averaging 13.1 points per game on 39.7% shooting from deep. She also knocked down 62 three-pointers, a Dallas Wings rookie record, and became the first rookie to win the WNBA 3-Point Contest at All-Star Weekend in Chicago.
Her absence from Dallas's starting five has already taken a toll. The Wings have gone 1-5 without her after posting a 19-11 record with her in the lineup. Dallas currently holds the final playoff spot with just eight games remaining in the regular season.
Star WNBA rookie Olivia Miles left Wednesday's Lynx vs Valkyries game early with a left ankle injury. However, shorthanded Minnesota managed to pull away to secure the 77-66 win over Golden State.
How Olivia Miles Suffered an Injury Against the Valkyries
The trouble came in the fourth quarter. During a defensive play, Miles accidentally stepped on teammate Napheesa Collier's foot and rolled her ankle. She limped toward the bench, then sat on the court in visible pain before walking gingerly to the locker room.
She did not return.
Afterward, head coach Cheryl Reeve downplayed the moment, saying Miles had only "tweaked" it.
"I don't have any idea where it's at," she shared after the game. "I haven't seen the play yet. So obviously we're hoping that she's okay."
Before her exit, the rookie dominated play for her side. She poured in 20 points on 8-of-10 shooting, then added seven assists, two steals, and two blocks across 30 minutes.
Lynx Prepare for WNBA Postseason as Olivia Miles Recovers
Still, the injury should worry Minnesota fans. This isn't her first injury scare this season. Miles rolled the same left ankle against the LA Sparks in July, leaving that game before later returning to the bench.
Miles is the leading Rookie of the Year contender and a key scoring presence on the Lynx, so any absence would sting as Minnesota heads into the WNBA postseason. This latest win keeps them atop the WNBA standings after they secured their 2026 playoff berth earlier this month.
The Lynx next face the Washington Mystics on Friday at 7:30 PM ET on ION.
Jonquel Jones went down with an ankle injury in the first quarter of Tuesday's Liberty vs Sky matchup. Without their six-time All-Star, New York faded as Chicago pulled away for a 93-86 win.
How Did Jonquel Jones Injure Her Ankle in the Liberty vs Sky Game?
The injury came with the game tied at 16.
Jones tripped over DiJonai Carrington while backing into the post, and Carrington's knee caught her lower left leg. The Liberty center limped off the court, and didn't return during play. New York's front office said she will be evaluated in the coming days.
With Jones missing, former Liberty teammate Natasha Cloud took over for the Chicago Sky. She posted a career-high 35 points with 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Backup center Han Xu absorbed the extra minutes for the Liberty, logging 26 after averaging just 13.7 this season.
Before the injury, Jones had averaged 14.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. She was shooting 49.4% from the field and 38.8% from 3-point range.
The loss dropped New York to 22-15 on the season and sixth in the WNBA standings. The Liberty holds a six-game lead over No. 9 Portland, though seeding between second and eighth place remains tight. They'll next face the Indiana Fever at home on Saturday at 7 PM ET on Prime.