WNBA Preview | August 9, 2026
A national ABC broadcast headlines a four-game Sunday, with Las Vegas visiting a New York team defending the final playoff spot. Aces at Liberty opens at 12:30 on ABC, followed by Mercury at Mystics, Wings at Lynx, and Valkyries at Sparks closing the night.
Aces Visit a Liberty Team Defending the Final Playoff Spot
12:30 PM ET | ABC
This is one of the league's flagged marquee broadcasts of the season, and the stakes line up with the billing. Las Vegas sits third at 22-10, while New York holds the eighth and final playoff spot at 19-13, a game that carries real weight for the Liberty's postseason positioning.
DraftKings has this close to a pick'em, Liberty -1.5 at home, with the total at 184.5. A'ja Wilson remains the best individual player on the floor, but New York defending the final playoff spot on national television is exactly the kind of game a team plays with an edge. Lean New York -1.5.
Las Vegas wins if Wilson's individual dominance carries the day on the national stage and the Aces' recent form travels well on the road.
New York wins if Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones control the interior and the Liberty's playoff urgency shows up in the fourth quarter.
PICK
NYL -1.5
O/U 184.5
Over ↑
Liberty win at home in a genuine coin-flip game with playoff stakes.
Mercury Visit a Mystics Team Built on Defense
3:00 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
Washington sits sixth at 18-12, comfortably in the playoff field, while Phoenix at 12-21 is well outside the top eight. Washington's defense and rebounding edge have been the story of their season, and Phoenix arrives as a clear underdog.
DraftKings has Washington -1.5, with the total at 168.5, one of the lowest of the day. Lean Washington -1.5 — the Mystics' defensive identity should hold up against a Phoenix offense that has struggled for consistency.
Phoenix wins if Kahleah Copper's scoring floor travels well on the road and Washington shows any letdown against a lesser opponent.
Washington wins if the Mystics' rebounding and defensive identity control the game the way it has most of the season.
PICK
WAS -1.5
O/U 168.5
Under ↓
Mystics win behind their defensive identity.
Wings Visit a Lynx Team Pulling Away at the Top
3:40 PM ET | WNBA League Pass
KEY STAT
3
Minnesota's lead over second place with 11 games to play, the largest cushion of any team in the league race.
Minnesota remains the best team in the league by a wide margin, and Dallas, seventh at 19-13, is fighting to hold its own playoff position. This is a significant talent gap on paper heading into a game the Lynx need to keep their cushion intact.
DraftKings has Minnesota -8.5, with the total at 180.5. Lean Minnesota -8.5 — the Lynx's depth and home court make this a spot to back the heavy favorite.
Dallas wins if their perimeter shooters get hot early and Minnesota shows any signs of a letdown against a lesser opponent.
Minnesota wins if the Lynx's collective depth simply overwhelms Dallas the way it has against most opponents this season.
PICK
MIN -8.5
O/U 180.5
Under ↓
Lynx win and cover behind the league's best record.
Valkyries Close the Night Against a Struggling Sparks Team
7:00 PM ET | ESPN
Golden State sits second at 22-9, one of the league's most complete rosters, while Los Angeles at 12-18 is outside the playoff picture. This closes the night on national television.
DraftKings has Golden State -5.5, with the total at 169.5. Lean Golden State -5.5 — the Valkyries' defensive identity and playoff positioning motivation make them the side here.
Los Angeles wins if their offense finds enough rhythm against a Golden State defense that has been elite most of the season.
Golden State wins if the Valkyries' defense and depth continue the form that has made them a top-two team all year.
PICK
GSV -5.5
O/U 169.5
Under ↓
Valkyries win and cover to close the night.
What to Watch For Today and Tonight.
Las Vegas at New York on ABC is the marquee game of the day, a national broadcast with real playoff stakes attached for a Liberty team defending the final spot. Minnesota's league-best 26-7 record continues to separate them from the field with roughly a dozen games left. And Golden State closing the night against a struggling Los Angeles team is worth watching as the Valkyries continue building their case as a top-two team heading into the stretch run.

