Las Vegas Aces 71, New York Liberty 111

What was billed as a genuine coin-flip game turned into one of the most lopsided results of the season. New York built a 40-point lead and never let Las Vegas, playing without A'ja Wilson, find any offensive rhythm. Final: 111-71, New York improves to 20-13 and moves up to the seventh playoff spot, while Las Vegas falls to 22-11 and stays third in the West (but Indiana is on their heels).

Marine Johannes was nearly unconscious, going 9-of-14 from the field (7-of-12 from three) for 27 points at 90.7 percent true shooting. Jonquel Jones added 15 points on 5-of-8 shooting, and Rebecca Allen contributed 13 points at 87.4 percent true shooting with eight rebounds. New York's 58 bench points and their 25 assists on 40 made field goals reflected exactly the playoff urgency and interior control the preview flagged as the Liberty's path to victory, delivered on the biggest stage of the week.

Las Vegas never found any footing without their best player. Ta'Niya Latson led the Aces with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and Mai Yamamoto added 16 points on 6-of-11 shooting (4-of-8 from three). But Las Vegas's 39.7 percent shooting as a team and their inability to generate any offensive rhythm without Wilson in the lineup reflected a roster that had no answer once New York's playoff desperation took over from the opening tip.

NYL 111 · LVA 71

Phoenix Mercury 75, Washington Mystics 95

Washington's defensive identity, exactly the storyline the preview flagged, showed up in full force after a tight first quarter. The Mystics outscored Phoenix 29-17 in the second and never let the Mercury back into the game. Final: 95-75, Washington improves to 19-12 and stays sixth in the East, while Phoenix falls to 12-22 and remains 12th in the West.

Sonia Citron was outstanding, going 7-of-9 from the field (5-of-6 from three) for 19 points at a staggering 105.6 percent true shooting, adding six assists and two steals. Shakira Austin posted a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds on 50 percent shooting. Washington's 11 steals and 24 assists on 3.0 assist-to-turnover ratio reflected exactly the rebounding and defensive control the preview identified as the Mystics' season-long identity.

Phoenix had individual bright spots but never found any offensive rhythm. Alyssa Thomas posted a double-double with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and six assists, but 33.3 percent shooting reflected a difficult night. Kahleah Copper added 15 points on 30.8 percent shooting, and Noemie Brochant came off the bench to shoot a perfect 71.4 percent for 13 points. But Phoenix's 16 total turnovers and their inability to generate stops against Washington's 76 percent shooting at the rim reflected exactly the letdown-against-a-lesser-opponent scenario the preview warned Washington needed to avoid, and the Mystics avoided it comfortably.

WAS 95 · PHX 75

Dallas Wings 90, Minnesota Lynx 103

Dallas actually led after the first quarter and stayed within a possession for most of the first half, but Minnesota's collective depth, exactly the storyline the preview anticipated, took over from there, anchored by one of the most efficient scoring performances of the WNBA season. Final: 103-90, Minnesota improves to 27-7 and remains the league's best team by a wide margin, while Dallas falls to 19-14 and stays seventh in the West.

Kayla McBride was nearly unstoppable, going 16-of-21 from the field (10-of-14 from three) for 43 points at a true shooting percentage over 100. Her 76.2 percent field goal rate and 71.4 percent three-point shooting on massive volume made this one of the most efficient high-volume scoring nights any player has produced all season. Olivia Miles added a double-double with 20 points and 13 assists, and Napheesa Collier contributed 17 points at 85 percent true shooting with four steals. Minnesota's 46.2 percent three-point shooting as a team and their 29 assists on 40 made field goals reflected exactly the depth advantage the preview flagged as Minnesota's path to victory.

Dallas competed hard and had real individual performances to show for it. Paige Bueckers posted 23 points on 66.7 percent shooting with eight assists, though six turnovers were costly. Aziaha James added 19 points on 70 percent shooting, and Odyssey Sims contributed 17 points. But Dallas's 19 total turnovers, converted into 26 Minnesota points, and their inability to match Minnesota's perimeter shooting reflected a talent gap that the preview correctly identified as too large to overcome.

MIN 103 · DAL 90

Golden State Valkyries 84, Los Angeles Sparks 78

Golden State built a commanding 19-point lead in the first quarter, but Los Angeles clawed back with a spirited 31-20 fourth quarter that made the final minutes genuinely tense before the Valkyries closed it out. Final: 84-78, Golden State improves to 23-9 and stays second in the West, while Los Angeles falls to 12-19 and remains outside the playoff picture.

Cecilia Zandalasini was perfect from three, going 5-of-5 from beyond the arc for 15 points at 93.8 percent true shooting. Tiffany Hayes added 14 points on 62.5 percent shooting, and Veronica Burton dished seven assists against just one turnover. Golden State's 35 bench points and their defensive identity, exactly the storyline the preview flagged as the Valkyries' path to victory, held up despite a real fourth-quarter scare from a Los Angeles team that refused to go away quietly.

Los Angeles made this competitive throughout and nearly completed a genuine comeback. Nneka Ogwumike led the Sparks with 16 points and seven rebounds, though 38.9 percent shooting reflected an inefficient night. Erica Wheeler added 15 points on 50 percent shooting, and Dearica Hamby contributed 12 points. Los Angeles's 21 second-chance points on 11 offensive rebounds kept them within striking distance the entire game, but their inability to find any offense in the first quarter, when Golden State built its cushion, ultimately proved too much to overcome.

GSV 84 · LAS 78