WNBA Recap | August 11, 2026
Tuesday's three-game slate delivered a marquee statement win, a grinding defensive battle, and a genuine offensive shootout. Indiana handled a New York team that came in on a four-game winning streak. Las Vegas held off a Washington rally behind another dominant A'ja Wilson performance. And Phoenix outlasted Los Angeles in a game that saw both teams shoot the ball extremely well. Here's how it all went down.
Fever Overwhelm Streaking Liberty
New York Liberty 92, Indiana Fever 106
Indiana set the tone immediately, building a 21-point lead by halftime behind a dominant first two quarters and never letting New York's four-game winning streak find any traction. Final: 106-92, Indiana improves to 21-12 and climbs to fourth in the East, while New York falls to 20-14 and stays seventh.
Kelsey Mitchell was outstanding, going 11-of-16 from the field (4-of-4 from three) for 28 points at 80.8 percent true shooting. Caitlin Clark posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 assists on 7-of-15 shooting, though four turnovers reflected a physical, contested game throughout. Aliyah Boston added 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting with seven rebounds and four assists. Indiana's 84.2 percent free throw shooting and their 22 assists on 37 made field goals reflected complete control from the opening tip against a Liberty team that had won seven of its last eight.
New York competed but never found a way back into the game. Sabrina Ionescu led the Liberty with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, and Breanna Stewart added 19 points and seven rebounds despite a rough 38.1 percent shooting night. Jonquel Jones posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. But New York's 35.7 percent second-chance conversion and their inability to generate stops in the first half put them in a hole from which their four-game momentum could not rescue them.
IND 106 · NYL 92
Wilson's Double-Double Powers Aces Past Mystics
Washington Mystics 76, Las Vegas Aces 86
Las Vegas controlled most of the game but had to hold off a real fourth-quarter push from Washington, who narrowed a comfortable cushion before the Aces closed it out at the line. Final: 86-76, Las Vegas improves to 23-11 and stays third in the West, while Washington falls to 19-13 and remains sixth in the East.
A'ja Wilson posted a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds on 55.6 percent shooting, adding four blocks and two steals. Jackie Young added 25 points on 41.2 percent shooting, going a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line with eight assists. NaLyssa Smith contributed a double-double of her own with 11 points and 11 rebounds. Las Vegas's 92.9 percent free throw shooting and their 26 points off Washington's turnovers were the numbers that mattered most in a game that stayed within reach for Washington until the closing minutes.
Washington fought hard behind a strong interior effort. Shakira Austin led the Mystics with 20 points on 38.1 percent shooting, and Kiki Iriafen posted a double-double with 15 points and 13 rebounds. Sonia Citron added 19 points on 46.7 percent shooting. But Washington's 27.8 percent three-point shooting and their 16 total turnovers, converted into 26 Las Vegas points, kept them from completing the comeback against a Las Vegas team that made just enough plays down the stretch.
LVA 86 · WAS 76
Mercury Outlast Sparks in Offensive Showcase
Los Angeles Sparks 87, Phoenix Mercury 94
Both teams shot the ball well throughout, with Los Angeles actually matching Phoenix's pace for three quarters before the Mercury pulled away in the fourth. Final: 94-87, Phoenix improves to 13-22, while Los Angeles falls to 12-20 and remains outside the playoff picture in the West.
Noemie Brochant was electric off the bench, going 10-of-13 from the field (3-of-6 from three) for 24 points at 83.8 percent true shooting with five steals and nine fast-break points. Alyssa Thomas posted a double-double with 16 points, seven rebounds, and nine assists, though five turnovers were part of an otherwise complete performance. Kahleah Copper added 18 points despite eight turnovers. Phoenix's 76.7 percent free throw shooting on 30 attempts and their 24 points off Los Angeles's turnovers were the numbers that ultimately separated two offensively productive teams.
Los Angeles kept pace for most of the night. Dearica Hamby was perfect from the field, going 8-of-8 for 19 points, and Nneka Ogwumike posted a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds, adding eight assists. Rae Burrell added 19 points despite a difficult 28.6 percent shooting night. But Los Angeles's 21.9 percent three-point shooting and their 17 turnovers, converted into 24 Phoenix points, left them just short in a game that came down to the fourth quarter.
PHX 94 · LAS 87
IND, LVA, & PHX Wins.
Tuesday's slate reinforced the playoff picture heading into the season's final stretch. Indiana's dominant handling of a streaking New York team is a real statement, moving the Fever into the East's fourth seed. Las Vegas continues to lean on Wilson's sustained dominance to hold its ground in a crowded Western Conference. And Phoenix's win over Los Angeles, built on efficient shooting and a strong finish, is exactly the kind of result a team fighting for positioning needs down the stretch.
Star of the Night: Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever
28 points | 11-of-16 FG | 4-of-4 from three | 80.8% true shooting
Mitchell's efficiency stood above a night full of strong performances. Shooting 68.8 percent from the field with a perfect night from three in a dominant win over a streaking New York team reflects complete offensive control. Wilson's 26-13 double-double and Brochant's 24-point explosion off the bench both made strong cases, but Mitchell's volume and efficiency in the day's most lopsided result give her the top spot.
Dud of the Night: Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
18 points | 8 turnovers | minus performance in ball security
Copper scored efficiently but her eight turnovers were the most costly number for any player across Tuesday's three games. In a game decided by a handful of possessions, that level of giveaways compounded the difficulty of an otherwise back-and-forth affair, and Phoenix survived in spite of it rather than because of it.
How We Did: Checking the Preview Predictions
Tuesday's picks went 1-for-3 on sides, with the marquee Indiana-New York pick the clear highlight.
New York @ Indiana: The preview leaned Indiana -4.5 with the over at 191.5, expecting the Fever's pace and offensive firepower to carry the day at home against a Liberty team missing two key perimeter defenders. Indiana won by 14, comfortably covering, and the total came in at 198, over the number. A clean sweep and the pick of the night.
Washington @ Las Vegas: The preview leaned Washington +7.5 with the under at 167.5, expecting the Mystics to keep it close behind their own hot stretch. Las Vegas won by 10, meaning Washington did not cover, but the total came in at 162, comfortably under the number. The side missed, but the under call held up.
Los Angeles @ Phoenix: The preview leaned Los Angeles -1.5 with the under at 179.5, expecting the Sparks to win at home off real recent momentum. Phoenix won outright, meaning Los Angeles did not come close to covering, and the total came in at 181, just over the number. Both calls missed as Phoenix's fourth-quarter push flipped a game the Sparks had been favored to win.
The headline takeaway: the Indiana pick was as clean as they come, but the two closer lines both broke against the preview, with home underdogs Washington and Los Angeles both failing to deliver on what looked like reasonable recent-form leans.
Season Predictions Record
Tracking every graded pick against the spread and total from the preview articles this season, updated through August 11:
Spread / Side: 27-19
Total (Over/Under): 19-30
Forty-six games graded so far across sixteen preview articles. The side calls sit at 59 percent, while the totals remain below break-even at 39 percent. We'll keep this tally updated with every recap going forward.