WNBA Preview | August 23, 2026
A four-game Sunday features Dallas going for a season sweep of Seattle, Washington opening a six-game road trip that will define their playoff seeding, and Las Vegas hosting Toronto. Storm at Wings tips at 3:00, followed by Mystics at Fire, Aces at Tempo, and Fever at Sky, all at 6:00.
Storm Visit Dallas as the Wings Chase a Series Sweep
Seattle Storm @ Dallas Wings | 3:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
Dallas enters riding real confidence after Thursday's 91-85 win over Indiana, a season-high 32 points from Arike Ogunbowale and a career-best 26 from Jessica Shepard snapping the Fever's five-game streak. This is the third and final meeting between these two teams, and Dallas is looking to complete the sweep after winning the first two matchups. Azzi Fudd remains out for the season following knee surgery, and Aziaha James's status is still uncertain, but the win over Indiana came without either of them.
Seattle remains the league's worst team by a wide margin, and a Dallas roster that just beat a quality Indiana team should have little trouble closing out a series they've already controlled.
DraftKings has Dallas -8.5, with the total at 172.5. Given Dallas's recent form and complete control of this season series, the number is fair for a team that just knocked off a playoff-caliber opponent. Lean Dallas -8.5.
Seattle wins if they finally solve a Dallas team that has owned this season series, and their individual talent produces an outlier performance.
Dallas wins if Ogunbowale and Shepard continue the form that carried Thursday's win over Indiana, and the Wings complete the season sweep as expected.
PICK
DAL -8.5
O/U 172.5
Under ↓
Wings complete the sweep behind real momentum off the Indiana win.
Mystics Open a Six-Game Road Trip That Will Define Their Seeding
Washington Mystics @ Portland Fire | 6:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
KEY STAT
8-8
Washington's road record this season, a remarkable mark for a young team about to embark on a six-game trip.
Washington sits seventh at 21-15, and Sunday marks the start of a six-game road trip that runs right up against the FIBA World Cup break, a stretch that will likely determine whether the Mystics finish as high as a four or five seed or slide toward the bottom of the playoff bracket. Washington has been excellent at home (13-7) but has quietly matched that with a very respectable 8-8 mark on the road, remarkable for a team this young. Portland, ninth and outside the playoff picture at 15-21, gets a Washington team that has genuinely earned the benefit of the doubt away from home.
DraftKings has Washington -4.5, with the total at 165.5. Given Washington's road resilience and Portland's non-playoff status, the number is fair for a team beginning a stretch that will shape its entire postseason positioning. Lean Washington -4.5.
Portland wins if their home environment provides a real edge, and Washington shows any early fatigue at the start of a demanding six-game trip.
Washington wins if their strong road form continues, and the Mystics open their trip the way a team with playoff seeding on the line should.
PICK
WAS -4.5
O/U 165.5
Under ↓
Mystics win and cover to open their pivotal road trip.
Aces Host a Toronto Team Still Playing Out the String
Las Vegas Aces @ Toronto Tempo | 6:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
Las Vegas, clinched and third overall at 25-13, is a massive favorite here against a Toronto team well outside playoff contention. This is about as lopsided a matchup as the schedule offers, and the market reflects it clearly.
DraftKings has Las Vegas -13.5, with the total at 180.5. The talent gap is significant enough to support laying the points, even accounting for typical backdoor-cover risk on a number this large. Lean Las Vegas -13.5.
Toronto wins if they play loose with nothing to lose and Las Vegas shows any signs of a letdown against a clearly overmatched opponent.
Las Vegas wins if their talent gap simply proves decisive, and the Aces treat Sunday as a business-like tune-up.
PICK
LVA -13.5
O/U 180.5
Over ↑
Aces win comfortably at home.
Fever Visit Chicago Looking to Bounce Back
Indiana Fever @ Chicago Sky | 6:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
Indiana enters fifth at 24-14 after Saturday's game against New York, looking to build on their season and get back on track after Thursday's loss at Dallas snapped their five-game streak. Chicago, tenth at 15-22, has been inconsistent but has shown flashes of competitiveness against playoff-caliber teams at home this season.
DraftKings has Indiana -3.5, with the total at 187.5. Indiana's overall talent gap remains real, but Chicago's tendency to play tough at home keeps this from being an obvious blowout. Lean Indiana -3.5.
Chicago wins if their home crowd provides the edge that has made them competitive against better teams, and Indiana shows any fatigue from a demanding recent stretch.
Indiana wins if Clark and Mitchell's backcourt continues its strong recent form, and the Fever protect their playoff positioning with a business-like road win.
PICK
IND -3.5
O/U 187.5
Over ↑
Fever win and cover behind their backcourt.
What to Watch For Today.
Washington's six-game road trip, opening today in Portland, is the story with the most long-term stakes on the slate, a stretch that runs right up against the FIBA World Cup break and will likely determine whether the Mystics land as high as a four or five seed. Dallas closes out a season sweep of Seattle behind the momentum of Thursday's statement win over Indiana. And Indiana looks to bounce back from that same loss against a Chicago team that has shown real fight at home this season.

