WNBA Recap | August 27, 2026
Thursday's two-game slate delivered a genuine statement win and a rematch that played out exactly as the recent form suggested. Golden State snapped out of its shooting slump on the second night of a back-to-back to blow out a banged-up New York team, a result that reshuffled the East's standings. And Washington backed up Tuesday's road win over Phoenix with another victory in the rematch. Here's how it all went down, plus a look at how the preview predictions and season-to-date record held up, and where the playoff seeding picture stands.
Valkyries Snap Shooting Slump in Blowout Win Over Banged-Up Liberty
New York Liberty 60, Golden State Valkyries 79
Golden State's six-game stretch of going under the total ended emphatically, and so did any notion that the second night of a back-to-back would slow the Valkyries down. Golden State built a 19-point lead through three quarters and closed the door in the fourth. Final: 79-60, Golden State improves to 29-11 and extends its lead over Las Vegas for the West's second seed to three games with fewer games remaining, while New York falls to 23-17 and drops to eighth in the East.
Veronica Burton was exceptional, dishing 13 assists against just one turnover for a 13.0 assist-to-turnover ratio, adding eight points. Cecilia Zandalasini led the way with 20 points on 47.1% shooting (4-of-10 from three). Gabby Williams added 16 points on 50% three-point shooting. Golden State's 39.4% three-point shooting and their 23 assists on 30 made field goals reflected exactly the offensive snap-out the preview flagged as necessary for the Valkyries to end their cold stretch, and it arrived at the best possible time.
New York, missing Elizabeth Balogun, Anneli Maley, and Satou Sabally, never found any offensive rhythm. Jonquel Jones led the Liberty with 18 points on 54.5% shooting (4-of-6 from three), and Breanna Stewart added 16 points but shot just 40%. Sabrina Ionescu struggled badly, going 2-of-12 from the field for seven points. New York's 30.2% shooting as a team and their inability to generate any offense against Golden State's defense reflected exactly the depleted roster the preview identified heading in.
NYL 60 · GSV 79
Mystics Back Up Road Win With Rematch Victory Over Mercury
Phoenix Mercury 73, Washington Mystics 80
Washington's momentum off Tuesday's 94-84 road win carried directly into the rematch, and the short turnaround favored the Mystics exactly as the preview anticipated. Phoenix actually led for much of the first three quarters before Washington's 27-16 fourth quarter flipped the result. Final: 80-73, Washington improves to 24-15 and climbs to sixth in the East, while Phoenix, missing Shay Ciezki, Kara Dunn, and Marta Suarez, falls to 13-26 and stays 12th in the West.
Georgia Amoore was outstanding, going 9-of-16 from the field (6-of-11 from three) for 25 points at 76% true shooting with four assists. Kiki Iriafen posted a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds on 52.9% shooting. Shakira Austin added 11 points with seven rebounds. Washington's fourth-quarter surge and their 20 assists reflected the same shooting confidence from Tuesday's outburst carrying over, even if the overall numbers came back down closer to earth as the preview anticipated.
Phoenix got one of the best individual scoring performances of the season and still lost. Kahleah Copper exploded for 35 points on 13-of-22 shooting (59.1% shooting) with seven free throw makes on nine attempts. Natasha Mack added 10 points and nine rebounds. But Phoenix's 16 total turnovers, converted into 21 Washington points, and Alyssa Thomas's four-point night on 20% shooting reflected a supporting cast that could not match Copper's brilliance, and the Mercury's compounding absences proved too much to overcome in the fourth quarter.
WAS 80 · PHX 73
GSV & WAS Wins.
Thursday reshuffled the East's standings in a real way. New York's blowout loss, coming while missing three rotation pieces, drops the Liberty to eighth, while Washington's rematch win over Phoenix moves the Mystics up to sixth. Golden State's win is the bigger story overall, extending their hold on the West's second seed to three full games over Las Vegas with the season's final stretch well underway.
Star of the Night: Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
35 points | 13-of-22 FG | 59.1% FG% | 7-of-9 FT
In a losing effort, Copper delivered one of the best individual scoring performances of the season, carrying an undermanned Phoenix roster nearly by herself. Burton's 13-assist, 1-turnover night for Golden State made a strong case, but Copper's volume and efficiency against a quality Washington defense stands above the rest of the slate.
Dud of the Night: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
7 points | 2-of-12 FG | 16.7% FG% | minus-17
Ionescu's shooting struggles reflected a night where nothing worked for New York's backcourt against Golden State's defense. Two made field goals on 12 attempts, in a game the Liberty needed offense from every healthy rotation piece given their absences, made her the most visible individual factor in a blowout loss that dropped New York to eighth.
How We Did: Checking the Preview Predictions
Thursday's picks went 1-for-2 on sides, with both totals hitting.
Golden State @ New York: The preview leaned New York -1.5 with the under at 162.5, citing New York's home defensive form against a Golden State team on a back-to-back. Golden State won by 19, meaning New York did not come close to covering, and the total came in at 139, well under the number. The side missed badly, but the under call on two cold-shooting teams was exactly right.
Washington @ Phoenix: The preview leaned Washington -2.5 with the under at 166.5, citing Tuesday's momentum and Phoenix's compounding absences. Washington won by seven, comfortably covering, and the total came in at 153, under the number. A clean sweep on the rematch.
The headline takeaway: Golden State's offensive snap-out was more emphatic than either side of the market anticipated, while Washington's rematch win over Phoenix played out almost exactly as scripted.
Season Predictions Record
Tracking every graded pick against the spread and total from the preview articles this season, updated through August 27:
Spread / Side: 48-41
Total (Over/Under): 46-49
Eighty-nine games graded so far across thirty-two preview articles. The side calls sit at 54%, while the totals have climbed to 48%. We'll keep this tally updated with every recap going forward.
The Playoff Seeding Picture
All eight playoff spots remain filled: Minnesota, Golden State, Las Vegas, Indiana, Atlanta, Dallas, New York, and Washington. Thursday's results shifted the East considerably. New York's blowout loss to Golden State, coming while missing three rotation pieces, drops the Liberty to eighth in the conference, while Washington's rematch win over Phoenix moves the Mystics up to sixth. Indiana and Atlanta remain closely bunched near the top of the East.
In the West, Golden State's win extends its lead over Las Vegas for the conference's second seed to three full games, with the Valkyries now playing with fewer games remaining than the Aces. That cushion is close to decisive with the season's final stretch well underway. Minnesota remains comfortably atop the West. With most teams now down to somewhere between 4 and 6 games remaining, these seeding battles will resolve quickly from here.