Atlanta Dream 89, Minnesota Lynx 81

Atlanta answered Friday's worst defensive night of the season in the best way possible, building an early lead and holding on through a Minnesota fourth-quarter push. Final: 89-81, Atlanta improves to 26-14 and jumps ahead of Indiana into fourth place in the East, while Minnesota falls to 31-9 but remains the best team in the league by a wide margin.

Allisha Gray was outstanding, going 8-of-16 from the field (6-of-11 from three) for 23 points at 70% true shooting with a double-double of 11 rebounds, adding three steals. Jordin Canada posted a double-double of her own with 16 points and 10 assists on 50% shooting. Rhyne Howard added 16 points, and Angel Reese contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds despite five turnovers. Atlanta's 21 assists and their 66.7% shooting at the rim reflected exactly the frontcourt-and-crowd bounce-back response the preview flagged as Atlanta's path to a statement win.

Minnesota, five days rested off Monday's loss to Golden State, could not find enough consistency to complete the sweep of a difficult week. Olivia Miles led the Lynx with 21 points on 50% shooting, though seven fouls drawn came alongside just five rebounds. Napheesa Collier added 17 points but shot just 33.3% from the field. Courtney Williams and Kayla McBride each scored in double figures. Minnesota's 18 total turnovers, converted into 13 Atlanta points, and their inability to solve Atlanta's defense down the stretch reflected a rare off night for the league's top team, even with the extended rest the preview flagged as a potential advantage.

MIN 81 · ATL 89

Los Angeles Sparks 90, Seattle Storm 74

Los Angeles came out firing behind Friday's upset win over Washington, building a 14-point first-quarter lead and cruising from there. Final: 90-74, Los Angeles improves to 15-25, while Seattle falls to 8-32 and remains last in the league heading into the break.

Nneka Ogwumike was dominant, going 9-of-17 from the field (4-of-7 from three) for 23 points at 65.9% true shooting with a double-double of 12 rebounds, adding three assists and two steals. Rae Burrell added 22 points on 38.9% shooting, getting to the line eight times and converting all eight attempts. Erica Wheeler and Chance Gray both shot efficiently from three off the bench. Los Angeles's 23 assists on 32 made field goals and their 19 fast-break points reflected exactly the momentum the preview flagged carrying over from Friday's signature win.

Seattle competed hard in a game between two teams playing out the string, but could not sustain it. Dominique Malonga posted a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds, seven offensive, despite 38.1% shooting. Flau'jae Johnson added 19 points on 38.9% shooting but committed five turnovers. Zia Cooke chipped in 14 points. Seattle's 16 total turnovers, converted into 21 Los Angeles points, and their inability to match the Sparks' three-point shooting reflected exactly the coin-flip-that-broke-one-way dynamic the preview identified heading in.

LAS 90 · SEA 74

Golden State Valkyries 86, Portland Fire 69

Golden State's league-best defense, which had held three straight opponents in the 60s heading in, made it four in a row. The Valkyries built a 26-point lead through three quarters and cruised into the break. Final: 86-69, Golden State improves to 29-11 and, with Minnesota's loss earlier in the day, closes the gap atop the West to just two games with four to play, while Portland falls to 16-24.

Kayla Thornton was electric, going 5-of-8 from the field (3-of-5 from three) for 17 points at 87.1% true shooting. Tiffany Hayes added 18 points on 58.3% shooting with six rebounds, and Kaitlyn Chen contributed 15 points on 62.5% shooting. Veronica Burton dished six assists against a single turnover. Golden State's 90.5% free throw shooting and their 20 assists on 29 made field goals reflected exactly the trip-long defensive identity and offensive execution the preview flagged as the Valkyries' path to keeping the seed chase alive heading into the layoff.

Portland, which had hung 101 on Atlanta just two days earlier, ran into a defense unlike anything they had seen recently. Emily Engstler shot 4-of-6 for 12 points, and Megan DiLeo added 12 points on 60% shooting. But Portland's 25.6% three-point shooting and their inability to generate the same offensive rhythm that carried them past Atlanta reflected exactly the gap the preview identified between the Fire's recent shot-making and a defense that had held three straight opponents in the 60s.

PDX 69 · GSV 86

Connecticut Sun 71, Dallas Wings 97

Dallas, rested off four days since Tuesday's win over Portland, delivered exactly the blowout the preview's spread anticipated, building a 32-point first quarter and never looking back. Final: 97-71, Dallas improves to 24-16 and stays tied in the East's crowded seventh-and-eighth logjam, while Connecticut closes its season on the road at 10-30.

Jessica Shepard posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds on 66.7% shooting, going 9-of-11 from the free throw line. Arike Ogunbowale added 18 points on 50% shooting, and Paige Bueckers contributed 15 points with six assists against a single turnover, a 6.0 assist-to-turnover ratio. Dallas's 76.7% free throw shooting on 30 attempts and their 63.6% true shooting as a team reflected exactly the rested, seeding-motivated performance the preview flagged as Dallas's path to a comfortable cover.

Connecticut, closing its road schedule before the break, competed with the loose, nothing-to-lose energy the preview anticipated but could not keep pace. Aaliyah Edwards was excellent in a losing effort, going 8-of-16 from the field for 26 points at 65.1% true shooting with six rebounds. Charlisse Leger-Walker added 17 points on 5-of-9 from three. But Connecticut's 32.9% shooting as a team and their 12 offensive rebounds that generated just four second-chance points reflected a Sun team that fought hard without the firepower to threaten a rested, motivated Dallas roster.

CON 71 · DAL 97