WNBA Recap | August 5, 2026
Wednesday's four-game slate hit nearly every corner of the playoff race, and the results reshaped several storylines heading into the stretch run. Atlanta shut down Phoenix's newly formed Copper-Plum backcourt. New York held off a feisty Seattle team to protect the seventh seed. Washington's defense and Shakira Austin's 27-point night kept the Mystics above the cut line against Dallas. And Chicago's fourth-quarter explosion overcame a Los Angeles team that had been finding its footing since trading away Kelsey Plum. Here's how it all went down, plus a look at how the preview predictions and season-to-date record held up.
Dream Shut Down Mercury's New Backcourt
Phoenix Mercury 82, Atlanta Dream 96
Atlanta jumped out 33-24 in the first quarter and never let Phoenix's newly formed Copper-Plum backcourt find any real rhythm, building a lead as large as 20. Final: 96-82, Atlanta improves to 19-11 and stays fourth in the East, while Phoenix falls to 12-20 and remains 11th in the West.
Rhyne Howard was excellent, going 6-of-13 from the field (5-of-9 from three) for 23 points at 73.5 percent true shooting with eight assists and two steals. Allisha Gray added 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, and Angel Reese posted a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Atlanta shot 42.4 percent from three as a team and their six blocks reflected an interior defense that made Phoenix's new backcourt work for every point, exactly as the preview's "Atlanta wins if" scenario described.
Phoenix's second game with Kelsey Plum was quieter than her debut. Plum scored 19 points on 6-of-10 shooting with four assists, and Alyssa Thomas added 17 points and seven assists. But Kahleah Copper struggled badly, going just 5-of-16 for 14 points, and Phoenix's 29.2 percent three-point shooting reflected a Mercury offense that never found the rhythm their Monday win in Chicago suggested was building.
ATL 96 · PHX 82
Liberty Hold Off Storm to Protect Seventh Seed
Seattle Storm 86, New York Liberty 92
New York built an early cushion behind a 27-16 first quarter, but Seattle answered with a 27-20 second to make it a genuine fight, exactly the kind of competitive push the preview flagged given New York's recent defensive struggles. Final: 92-86, New York improves to 19-13 and holds the seventh seed, while Seattle falls to 6-27, still last in the league despite the fight.
Breanna Stewart led the way with 28 points on 12-of-22 shooting, and Jonquel Jones posted a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds, adding seven assists. Pauline Astier came off the bench to shoot a perfect 4-of-4 for 11 points. New York's 25 assists on 33 made field goals and 16 fast-break points reflected an offense that found enough answers, but the Liberty's defense, which had missed the cover in nine of their last ten games heading in, again allowed Seattle to hang around deep into the fourth quarter.
Seattle's fight fell just short despite a monster individual performance. Dominique Malonga was sensational, going 14-of-20 from the field for 31 points at 74.2 percent true shooting with 10 rebounds for a double-double, exactly the kind of outlier scoring night the preview anticipated from her. Jade Melbourne added 13 points and seven assists. But Seattle's bench, despite 22 points, and their inability to generate stops down the stretch reflected a team that competed hard but came up just short against a Liberty roster with more overall talent.
NYL 92 · SEA 86
Austin's 27 Points Lead Mystics Past Wings in Playoff-Stakes Battle
Dallas Wings 92, Washington Mystics 96
This lived up to its billing as a direct playoff-stakes matchup. Dallas actually led after the first quarter and built a 20-point cushion in the first half, but Washington's defense, second in the league in points allowed, clawed all the way back, outscoring the Wings 28-16 in the third quarter and 24-12 in the fourth to complete the comeback. Final: 96-92, Washington improves to 17-12 and holds the final playoff spot, while Dallas falls to 19-12 but stays fourth in the West.
Shakira Austin was dominant down the stretch, going 9-of-15 from the field for 27 points at 71.2 percent true shooting with 13 rebounds for a double-double. Cotie McMahon added 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting, and Georgia Amoore hit four of six three-point attempts for 12 points. Washington's 84.6 percent free throw shooting as a team and their ability to completely flip the game's momentum in the second half reflected exactly the playoff urgency the preview anticipated from a bubble team defending its position.
Dallas had control for a half and let it slip away. Jessica Shepard was nearly perfect, going 11-of-13 from the field for 22 points with 11 rebounds and seven assists for a double-double. Alanna Smith added a double-double of her own with 21 points and 11 rebounds, and Paige Bueckers chipped in 17 points. But Dallas's 18 fast-break points weren't enough to offset a second half where Washington's defense completely took over, and the Wings' inability to close out a 20-point lead will sting heading into a crowded playoff race.
WAS 96 · DAL 92
Sky's Fourth-Quarter Surge Overcomes Sparks' Redistributed Offense
Los Angeles Sparks 88, Chicago Sky 95
Chicago opened with a dominant 33-19 first quarter, but Los Angeles's offense, redistributed since trading Kelsey Plum to Phoenix, clawed back to trail by just three entering the fourth. Chicago's defense rebounded from Monday's loss to Phoenix exactly when it needed to, closing the game with a 34-26 fourth quarter. Final: 95-88, Chicago improves to 12-19, while Los Angeles falls to 11-18, both teams effectively playing elimination basketball with roughly 15 games left.
Natasha Cloud was the engine, going 6-of-10 from the field for 15 points at 71.8 percent true shooting with nine assists. Jacy Sheldon added 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting, and Aicha Coulibaly shot a perfect 4-of-5 for 13 points off the bench. Chicago's 28 assists on 35 made field goals and their six blocks reflected the kind of defensive rebound the preview flagged as necessary for a home win.
Los Angeles's post-Plum offense showed real signs of life even in defeat, exactly as the preview anticipated. Dearica Hamby posted a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting, and Erica Wheeler added 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Nneka Ogwumike contributed 10 points and seven rebounds despite a quieter shooting night. But Los Angeles's 16 turnovers, converted into 18 Chicago points, and their inability to sustain the third-quarter momentum into the fourth were the numbers that ultimately decided a close, meaningful game for both sides.
CHI 95 · LAS 88
ATL, NYL, WAS, & CHI Wins.
Wednesday's slate touched nearly every part of the playoff picture, and the results tightened the race considerably. Washington's comeback win over Dallas, coming from 20 down, is the kind of statement a bubble team needs to make while defending the final spot. New York survived a scare from a Seattle team that has quietly been one of the better spread teams in the league despite its record, a warning sign for a Liberty defense that has struggled for weeks. Atlanta's shutdown of Phoenix's new backcourt showed real defensive discipline against a genuine new threat. And Chicago's fourth-quarter response against a resurgent Los Angeles offense kept their own playoff hopes alive in a crowded field.
Star of the Night: Dominique Malonga, Seattle Storm
31 points | 14-of-20 FG | 74.2% true shooting | 10 rebounds | Double-Double
In a losing effort, Malonga delivered the exact kind of outlier scoring night the preview flagged as Seattle's best path to an upset. Her 74.2 percent true shooting on 20 attempts with a double-double in a game her team came within six of stealing gives her the top spot over Austin's 27-13 comeback-fueling performance and Shepard's near-perfect 22-point night.
Dud of the Night: Kahleah Copper, Phoenix Mercury
14 points | 5-of-16 FG | 31.3% field goal percentage | minus-9
Copper's follow-up to her 31-point performance two nights earlier was a significant step back, and in a game where Phoenix's newly formed backcourt needed to prove it could produce consistently, her inefficient shooting night was the clearest individual reason the Mercury never threatened Atlanta.
How We Did: Checking the Preview Predictions
Wednesday's picks went 2-for-4 on sides, but 0-for-4 on totals, a rough night for the over/under calls specifically.
Phoenix @ Atlanta: The preview leaned Phoenix +5.5 with the over at 180.5, expecting the newly formed Copper-Plum backcourt to keep things competitive. Atlanta won by 14, meaning Phoenix did not cover, and the total came in at 178, just under the number. Both calls missed as Atlanta's defense completely smothered Phoenix's new pairing.
Seattle @ New York: The preview leaned Seattle +8.5 with the over at 183.5, citing New York's alarming defensive slide. New York won by six, meaning Seattle covered comfortably, but the total came in at 178, just under the number. The side hit, but the total missed by a narrow margin.
Dallas @ Washington: The preview leaned Washington +2.5 with the under at 165.5, expecting the Mystics' defense and playoff urgency to carry the day. Washington won outright by four, comfortably covering, but the total blew past the number at 188, more than 20 over. The side hit clean, but the under missed badly as both offenses found more efficiency than expected.
Los Angeles @ Chicago: The preview leaned LA +2.5 with the over at 189.5, expecting the Sparks' redistributed offense to keep the game close. Chicago won by seven, meaning Los Angeles did not cover, and the total came in at 183, under the number. Both calls missed as Chicago's fourth-quarter defensive response was sharper than either team's recent form suggested.
The headline takeaway: two correct sides out of four is a solid night, but zero correct totals across the entire slate is the story, with three of the four games landing under a total that the previews had leaning over. Offensive efficiency was harder to find across the board than the recent form of these teams suggested heading in.
Season Predictions Record
Tracking every graded pick against the spread and total from the preview articles this season, updated through August 5:
Spread / Side: 15-12
Total (Over/Under): 12-15
Twenty-seven games graded so far across ten preview articles. The side calls sit at 56 percent, while the totals have fallen below break-even at 44 percent after a difficult stretch. We'll keep this tally updated with every recap going forward.