WNBA Recap & Results | September 21, 2026
Monday's two-game slate delivered the first half of a tiebreaker-deciding series and a shocking end to Dallas's franchise-record winning streak. Atlanta took Game 1 of its season-series decider against New York behind an efficient DeWanna Bonner return. And Phoenix, with nothing left to play for, snapped the Wings' six-game streak in a nail-biter. 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 as the season winds down.
Dream Take Game 1 of Tiebreaker Series Behind Bonner's Efficient Return
Atlanta Dream 95, New York Liberty 84
Atlanta took the first of two straight meetings that will decide the season series and tiebreaker between these teams, building the lead with a dominant 32-24 third quarter. Final: 95-84, Atlanta improves to 30-14 and closes out its regular season, while New York falls to 26-18 and also finishes its slate, heading into Wednesday's rematch trailing 1-0 in the decider.
Jordin Canada was inefficient but solid, going 5-of-14 from the field for 19 points at 54.2% true shooting with nine assists and just one turnover. DeWanna Bonner, back in the fold, was nearly perfect, going 5-of-6 from the field (a perfect 2-of-2 from three) for 17 points at 98.4% true shooting. Allisha Gray added 14 points on 62.5% shooting, and Angel Reese posted a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Atlanta's 76.7% free throw shooting on 30 attempts and their 14 steals converted into 14 points off New York's turnovers reflected exactly the tight, high-scoring battle between two playoff-motivated teams the preview anticipated, with Atlanta's execution proving decisive.
New York got a strong individual night from its star duo but couldn't overcome the deficit. Breanna Stewart posted a double-double with 27 points and 14 rebounds on 57.9% shooting, though a technical foul was part of a frustrating night. Sabrina Ionescu struggled with her shot but drew four fouls, finishing with 15 points on a perfect 7-of-7 from the free throw line. Jonquel Jones added a double-double of her own with 18 points and 12 rebounds. But New York's 24.1% three-point shooting and their inability to match Atlanta's third-quarter surge left the Liberty needing a win in Wednesday's rematch just to even the tiebreaker.
ATL 95 · NYL 84
Mercury Snap Dallas's Franchise-Record Streak in Nail-Biter
Phoenix Mercury 87, Dallas Wings 86
Dallas came in on a franchise-record six-game winning streak chasing its first regular-season sweep of Phoenix since 2023, but the Mercury, with nothing left to play for, had other plans. Dallas led after every quarter but the fourth before Phoenix's 26-18 final frame completed the upset. Final: 87-86, Phoenix improves to 16-27 with one game left, while Dallas falls to 26-17 and sees its winning streak snapped at six heading into the regular-season finale in Seattle.
Kahleah Copper was outstanding, going 10-of-17 from the field for 31 points at 68.2% true shooting with nine trips to the free throw line. Alyssa Thomas delivered a genuine triple-double, going 7-of-12 from the field for 15 points with 11 rebounds and 12 assists against just three turnovers. Natasha Mack added 12 points on 66.7% shooting. Phoenix's 86.7% free throw shooting on 30 attempts and their 22 assists reflected exactly the another-gear performance from Copper and Thomas the preview flagged as Phoenix's best path to spoiling the sweep.
Dallas got a huge individual night from Paige Bueckers that wasn't quite enough. Bueckers went 12-of-22 from the field (4-of-5 from three) for 30 points at 65.6% true shooting with seven assists against just one turnover. Jessica Shepard posted a double-double with 17 points and 19 rebounds despite 33.3% shooting. But Dallas's stingy defense, which had allowed just 84.2 points a game over its last 10, allowed 87, and the Wings' 43.5% shooting allowed to Phoenix as a team reflected exactly the letdown-against-an-eliminated-opponent scenario the preview's own framing warned against.
PHX 87 · DAL 86
ATL & PHX Wins.
Monday delivered a statement in the East's tiebreaker race and a genuine upset. Atlanta's Game 1 win puts real pressure on New York heading into Wednesday's decisive rematch, with both teams now having completed the rest of their regular seasons. And Phoenix, playing purely for pride, snapped Dallas's franchise-record six-game winning streak in a game that came down to the final frame, a reminder that "nothing to play for" doesn't always mean an easy result for a team chasing history.
Star of the Night: Alyssa Thomas, Phoenix Mercury
15 points | 7-of-12 FG | 11 rebounds | 12 assists | 3 turnovers | Triple-Double
Thomas delivered a genuine triple-double in the biggest upset of the night, controlling the game from every statistical column to help snap Dallas's franchise-record streak. Copper's 31-point night and Bueckers's 30-point effort in defeat both made strong cases, but a complete triple-double in a game decided in the final frame gives Thomas the top spot.
Dud of the Night: Sabrina Ionescu, New York Liberty
15 points | 2-of-12 FG | 16.7% field goal percentage
Ionescu needed 12 free throw trips to reach 15 points, going just 2-of-12 from the field in a game New York needed to win outright to take the early edge in the tiebreaker series. In a game decided by 11, her inefficient shooting night left the Liberty facing a must-win rematch Wednesday.
How We Did: Checking the Preview Predictions
Monday's picks went 1-for-2 on sides, with the totals splitting as well.
Atlanta @ New York: The preview leaned Atlanta -1.5 with the over at 178.5, citing two teams playing their best basketball of the year with a tiebreaker on the line. Atlanta won by 11, comfortably covering, and the total came in at 179, just over the number. A clean sweep on the marquee tiebreaker opener.
Dallas @ Phoenix: The preview leaned Dallas -5.5 with the under at 171.5, citing a stingy Dallas defense chasing a sweep with nothing left to prevent it. Phoenix won outright, meaning Dallas missed badly, and the total came in at 173, over the number. Both calls missed as Phoenix, precisely the scenario the preview's own alternate outcome flagged, found another gear at exactly the wrong time for Dallas.
The headline takeaway: the tiebreaker opener played out exactly as scripted, while Dallas's franchise-record streak ran into an eliminated Phoenix team that had nothing to lose and everything to prove, a reminder that "nothing to play for" cuts both ways in the season's final stretch.
Season Predictions Record
Tracking every graded pick against the spread and total from the preview articles this season, updated through September 21:
Spread / Side: 63-56
Total (Over/Under): 62-62
One hundred nineteen games graded so far across forty preview articles. The side calls sit at 53%, while the totals have settled at exactly 50%. We'll keep this tally updated through the final days of the regular season.
The Playoff Seeding Picture
The playoff field remains fully locked at eight teams: Minnesota, Golden State, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Indiana, New York, Washington, and Dallas. Atlanta and New York have both completed their full 44-game regular seasons, with the Dream taking a 1-0 lead in the tiebreaker series that will be settled Wednesday. Dallas, with its franchise-record six-game streak now snapped, has just one game left, a regular-season finale in Seattle, to shore up its position.
Nearly every remaining team is down to just one or two games left as the regular season closes out this Thursday, September 24. Every remaining result carries direct seeding stakes for the eight qualified teams in the season's final hours.