WNBA Recap | July 8, 2026
Three games on Wednesday's slate, and the biggest story might be the standings themselves. Golden State's win over Toronto extended their winning streak to seven and pushed them to third in the league, just half a game back of the top two spots held by Minnesota and Las Vegas. Minnesota survived a back-and-forth battle with Connecticut to stay perfect atop the league. And Los Angeles put on their most complete offensive performance of the season, torching Indiana for 106 points behind a balanced attack that saw six players score in double figures. Here's how it all went down.
Valkyries Extend Win Streak to Seven With Balanced Attack
Golden State Valkyries 83, Toronto Tempo 75
Toronto led after the first quarter, and the game stayed within a possession through most of the first half. Then Golden State's bench took over. The Valkyries outscored the Tempo 30-14 in the second quarter, a stretch fueled almost entirely by reserves, and never let Toronto get back within single digits after that. Final: 83-75, Golden State's seventh straight win.
Janelle Salaun was sensational, going 7-of-10 from the field (5-of-6 from three) for 26 points at 93.1 percent true shooting, adding six rebounds and drawing eight fouls. Her efficiency score of 33 was the best of the game by a wide margin. Kaitlyn Chen provided a huge scoring boost off the bench, going 8-of-12 for 16 points at 66.7 percent true shooting, and Kayla Thornton added 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting (3-of-5 from three) with nine rebounds. Golden State's bench outscored Toronto's reserves 52-20, an enormous depth advantage that was the single biggest factor in the win. The Valkyries' 11 three-pointers on 36.7 percent shooting from deep, combined with 20 points off Toronto's turnovers, gave them more than enough cushion.
Toronto had a strong offensive night individually but could not overcome Golden State's depth. Isabelle Harrison led all scorers with 24 points on 10-of-17 shooting (58.8 percent), adding eight rebounds, though four turnovers were costly. Julie Allemand contributed nine points and seven assists on a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio. Marina Mabrey struggled from the field, going just 2-of-9 for 11 points, though she drew seven fouls and went 7-of-8 from the line. Toronto's 20 total turnovers, converted into 20 Golden State points, reflected a team that could not match the Valkyries' ball security across 40 minutes.
GSV 83 · TOR 75
McBride's Efficient Night Lifts Lynx Past Sun
Minnesota Lynx 86, Connecticut Sun 80
This game went back and forth for three quarters before Minnesota finally pulled away. Connecticut led after the first, and the two teams traded the lead multiple times through the third quarter before the Lynx closed with a 26-15 fourth that settled things. Final: 86-80, Minnesota stays perfect atop the league standings.
Kayla McBride was outstanding, going 6-of-10 from the field (2-of-2 from three) for 23 points at 82.4 percent true shooting, drawing nine fouls and going a perfect 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Her efficiency score of 36 was the best of the game. Natasha Howard added a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Dorka Juhasz provided a spark off the bench, going 4-of-7 from three-point range for 12 points at 85.7 percent true shooting. Courtney Williams contributed 12 points and seven assists despite five turnovers. Minnesota's 45.5 percent three-point shooting as a team was the difference-maker in a game where both teams struggled at times to find consistency inside.
Connecticut fought hard throughout. Leila Lacan led the Sun with 15 points on 5-of-9 shooting (55.6 percent) with six assists, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 14 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting. Diamond Miller went to the free throw line often, hitting all nine of her attempts for 13 points. Connecticut's 81.5 percent free throw shooting as a team kept them within striking distance, but 18 turnovers that Minnesota converted into 16 points ultimately made the difference in a game decided in the fourth quarter.
MIN 86 · CON 80
Sparks Explode for 106 in Balanced Rout of Fever
Indiana Fever 92, Los Angeles Sparks 106
Indiana actually led after the first quarter, but Los Angeles took over from there, outscoring the Fever in every remaining frame. The Sparks shot 50.6 percent from the field, generated 27 fast-break points, and got contributions from every corner of their roster in one of their most complete offensive performances of the season. Final: 106-92, Los Angeles.
Nneka Ogwumike led the way with 24 points on 9-of-19 shooting (2-of-4 from three), adding eight rebounds and five assists against just one turnover. Rae Burrell was nearly as effective, going 9-of-15 for 22 points at 67.4 percent true shooting with four assists. Dearica Hamby added 21 points and nine rebounds with four steals, and Erica Wheeler dished six assists to go with 12 points. Six Los Angeles players scored in double figures, and the team's 25 assists on 40 made field goals reflected a complete offensive performance that Indiana simply had no answer for.
Indiana had individual bright spots but could not slow down Los Angeles's attack. Kelsey Mitchell led all scorers with 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting (5-of-9 from three) at 70.3 percent true shooting, going a perfect 6-of-6 from the line. Lexie Hull added 14 points, and Monique Billings grabbed 12 rebounds. But Caitlin Clark had a quiet night by her standards, going 4-of-12 for nine points with four turnovers, and Indiana's defense allowed 27 fast-break points, a number that reflected how often the Fever's own turnovers and missed shots turned into easy Los Angeles baskets in transition.
LAS 106 · IND 92
GSV, MIN, & LAS Wins.
Wednesday's slate reinforced the shape of the league standings heading into the second half of the season. Minnesota remains the class of the WNBA at 16-6, with Las Vegas close behind. Golden State's seventh consecutive win, now at 16-7, has them firmly in the conversation as one of the league's best teams, a remarkable turnaround built on bench depth and three-point shooting. And Los Angeles's offensive explosion against Indiana shows a Sparks team capable of scoring in bunches when their ball movement clicks across the roster.
Star of the Night: Janelle Salaun, Golden State Valkyries
26 points | 7-of-10 FG | 5-of-6 from three | 93.1% true shooting | 6 rebounds | 8 fouls drawn | Efficiency score 33
Salaun's shooting was nearly perfect in a game that extended Golden State's winning streak to seven. Her 93.1 percent true shooting on double-digit field goal attempts is one of the most efficient scoring nights of the week, and she was the driving force behind a Valkyries offense that pulled away in the second quarter and never let up.
Dud of the Night: Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever
9 points | 4-of-12 FG | 4 turnovers | 33.3% field goal percentage | minus-16
Clark's shooting struggles and turnovers came at the worst time, in a game Indiana's offense needed every bit of production to keep pace with a red-hot Los Angeles team. Four turnovers and a 33.3 percent shooting night from the Fever's primary offensive engine reflected a performance that couldn't provide the spark Indiana needed against a Sparks team playing its best basketball of the season.
