Three games on Thursday's slate, and each had a different rhythm to it. Atlanta pulled away from Seattle in the first half and never let the Storm get closer than single digits down the stretch. Las Vegas relied on another dominant A'ja Wilson performance to hold off a Portland team that made it interesting in the fourth quarter. And Indiana and Phoenix traded body blows all night before the Fever's balanced scoring attack proved just enough to escape with a three-point win. Here's how it all went down.

Seattle Storm 78, Atlanta Dream 89

Atlanta set the tone immediately, building a 17-point halftime lead and never allowing Seattle back within single digits for good. The Dream's 14 steals and 28 points off Seattle's 23 turnovers were the story of the night, a defensive performance that turned a competitive matchup into a comfortable win. Final: 89-78, Atlanta.

Allisha Gray led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-13 shooting (58 percent true shooting) with five assists and a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Jordin Canada was nearly as impactful, posting 14 points with nine rebounds, eight assists, and three steals, controlling the tempo throughout. Rhyne Howard added 19 points on 6-of-14 shooting (4-of-11 from three) with four steals of her own, and Angel Reese recorded a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Atlanta's balanced attack, with four players scoring in double figures, was too much for Seattle's defense to slow down.

Seattle got individual scoring but couldn't generate enough stops to stay in the game. Natisha Hiedeman led the Storm with 20 points on 7-of-17 shooting, and Dominique Malonga added 15 points with nine rebounds. Flau'jae Johnson contributed 14 points and five assists. But Seattle's 23 turnovers, converted into 28 Atlanta points, were simply too costly against a Dream team that thrives in transition. Seattle shot just 15 percent from three (3-of-20), and their inability to find consistent perimeter offense left them chasing the game for most of the second half.

ATL 89 · SEA 78

Indiana Fever 92, Phoenix Mercury 89

This game had the feel of a heavyweight fight from start to finish. Indiana led after the first quarter, Phoenix answered with a big second, and the two teams traded blows through the second half before the Fever's balance down the stretch proved decisive. Final: 92-89, Indiana.

Kelsey Mitchell was brilliant, going 10-of-22 from the field (3-of-6 from three) for 29 points at 58.8 percent true shooting, adding eight assists and three steals while drawing seven fouls. Aliyah Boston complemented her with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting (3-of-5 from three) and nine rebounds. Tyasha Harris provided a spark off the bench, going 6-of-8 from the field (3-of-4 from three) for 15 points with five assists. Lexie Hull added 10 points on an efficient 4-of-6 shooting. Indiana's balanced scoring across the roster, with four players in double figures, gave them just enough offense to survive Phoenix's late push.

Phoenix fought until the final buzzer. Alyssa Thomas was exceptional, going 10-of-18 from the field for 22 points with seven assists on a 7.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Kahleah Copper added 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting (3-of-6 from three), and Monique Akoa Makani chipped in 14 points on a perfect 3-of-3 from three. Phoenix's 40.7 percent three-point shooting as a team kept them in striking distance throughout, but 25 points allowed off their own turnovers, compared to just nine generated off Indiana's, was the difference in a three-point game that could have gone either way.

IND 92 · PHO 89

Las Vegas Aces 88, Portland Fire 80

Las Vegas controlled this game for three quarters before Portland made a serious push in the fourth, outscoring the Aces 28-19 in the final frame. It wasn't enough. Las Vegas had built too big a cushion, and A'ja Wilson's dominant all-around performance made sure the lead held. Final: 88-80, Las Vegas.

Wilson was outstanding, going 10-of-19 from the field for 32 points at 64.7 percent true shooting, adding 10 rebounds for a double-double, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Jackie Young was the game's best playmaker, posting a double-double of his own with 19 points and 11 assists against just three turnovers, a remarkable 3.67 assist-to-turnover ratio. NaLyssa Smith chipped in 16 points on 7-of-12 shooting, and Chelsea Gray added eight points with seven assists. Las Vegas's 13 steals and 25 points off Portland's turnovers gave them the cushion they needed heading into a spirited Portland fourth-quarter rally.

Portland made this competitive throughout and nearly completed the comeback. Teja Oblak hit three threes for 11 points, and Carla Leite added 13 points on a tough shooting night but drew seven fouls and went 9-of-11 from the line. Emily Engstler contributed 10 points, and Megan Gustafson added 11 off the bench. Portland shot 34.4 percent from three as a team and outscored Las Vegas significantly in the fourth quarter, but the deficit built over the first three quarters, when Las Vegas's biggest lead reached 20, was simply too large to fully overcome.

LVA 88 · TOR 80

Thursday's slate delivered one comfortable win and two tight finishes that came down to the fourth quarter. Atlanta's defensive pressure against Seattle set the tone for a game that never felt close after halftime, and the Dream move to 13-9 with the win, tied with the Liberty for fifth in the East. Las Vegas needed every bit of Wilson's dominant double-double to hold off a spirited Portland fourth-quarter rally, and the Aces sit atop the Western Conference at 16-6, though Minnesota is right behind them at the same record. And Indiana and Phoenix played one of the more entertaining games of the week, with Mitchell's 29-point performance and a balanced Fever attack proving just strong enough to escape with a three-point win over a Mercury team that never stopped fighting. Indiana climbs to 13-9 and seventh in the East, while Phoenix falls to 8-15 and 12th in the West as their playoff picture continues to look increasingly difficult.

Star of the Night: A'ja Wilson, Las Vegas Aces

32 points | 10-of-19 FG | 64.7% true shooting | 10 rebounds | 3 assists | 2 steals | 2 blocks | Double-Double

Wilson's dominant two-way performance was the anchor of Las Vegas's win, and her ability to control the game on both ends made the difference when Portland made their fourth-quarter push. A double-double with steals and blocks to match, on efficient shooting, is exactly the kind of complete performance that separates the league's best players.

Dud of the Night: Sami Whitcomb, Phoenix Mercury

2 points | 0-of-5 FG | 0-of-5 from three | minus-19 | 17.0% true shooting

Whitcomb went 0-of-5 from the field, including 0-of-5 from three, and finished with the worst plus-minus of any Phoenix player in a game decided by three points. In a contest this close, an empty shooting night from a rotation player carries real weight, and Whitcomb's inability to convert from beyond the arc left Phoenix without a reliable perimeter option in crunch time.