Who Ran The WNBA This Week: Records Fall As Playoff Race Reaches Final Days

After pausing for more than two weeks during the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, the WNBA returned with no time for anybody to ease back into the action. Team USA handled its business overseas, defeating 97-79 on September 13 to win its fifth consecutive World Cup championship and 12th overall, before the focus shifted back to the final stretch of the WNBA season.

Every team returned from the break with just four regular season games remaining, making nearly every matchup meaningful for playoff positioning. Minnesota and Golden State are still battling for the top seed, while Las Vegas, Atlanta, Indiana, New York, Washington and Dallas are trying to put themselves in the best possible position before the postseason.

That urgency produced an eventful weekend. Three of the league’s biggest stars made history, the Valkyries and Aces extended lengthy winning streaks and the Wings continued looking like a team nobody should be excited to face in the playoffs.

TEAMS & PLAYERS TO HIGHLIGHT THIS WEEK

Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries picked up where they left off, extending their winning streak to six games and improving to 31-11. That leaves Golden State only one game behind the league-leading Minnesota Lynx with two games remaining. Minnesota owns the head-to-head tiebreaker, but the Valkyries have still allowed themselves to put pressure on the Lynx during the season’s final days.

Las Vegas Aces

The Aces have won five consecutive games and appear to be heating up at exactly the right time. A’ja Wilson returned from the break by adding another historic accomplishment to her résumé, while Jackie Young supplied a major scoring spark in the backcourt. Las Vegas has championship experience throughout its roster, and this late surge is another reminder of how dangerous the Aces can be once the playoffs begin.

Dallas Wings

The Dallas Wings have now won six straight games, with Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale giving them one of the league’s most dangerous backcourts. Bueckers scored 26 points against Phoenix — including 20 in the first half — while Ogunbowale added 22 points and six assists. Dallas has found its rhythm at the ideal time and could become a difficult postseason matchup if its guards continue playing at this level.

Kelsey Mitchell

Kelsey Mitchell officially owns the most prolific scoring season in WNBA history. Mitchell scored 33 points and knocked down seven 3-pointers during Indiana’s 103-85 win over Toronto, raising her season total to 1,034 points and surpassing the previous record of 1,021 set by A’ja Wilson in 2024. She also extended her streak of games with at least 20 points to 25, further strengthening what has become a historic individual season.

A’ja Wilson

Wilson reached 1,000 points for the second time in her career during Las Vegas’ win over Seattle, becoming the first player in league history to record multiple 1,000-point seasons. Her first came in 2024, when she finished with a then-record 1,021 points. Mitchell may have taken away the single-season total points record, but Wilson remains on pace to capture her third consecutive scoring title because that honor is determined by points per game.

Angel Reese

Angel Reese returned from helping Team USA win gold and immediately resumed rewriting the record book. She recorded 30 points and 10 rebounds against Connecticut to become the first player in WNBA history with 30 double-doubles in one season. Reese followed that with 23 points and 10 rebounds against Chicago, extending her record to 31 double-doubles and becoming the first WNBA player ever to collect 500 rebounds in a season.

STORYLINES OF THE WEEK

Congress Sends Another Letter To Cathy Engelbert & The WNBA

The political pressure surrounding the WNBA continued when five Republican members of Congress sent Commissioner Cathy Engelbert a follow-up letter dated September 17. The lawmakers said Engelbert’s response to their original concerns outlined a respectable player-safety framework but argued that the league’s subsequent actions had not matched those assurances. The letter questioned how the WNBA handled separate incidents involving DiJonai Carrington and Natasha Cloud, while also asking the league to explain its eligibility standards and formally define “women” under its collective bargaining agreement. Congress requested answers by October 16, meaning the issue will continue beyond the conclusion of the regular season and into the playoffs.

The Regular Season Ends Thursday — Then The Playoffs Begin

Thursday, September 24, is the final day of the regular season, and the playoffs begin Sunday, Sept. 27. Minnesota and Golden State are still battling for the No. 1 seed, while several teams beneath for the No. 1 seed, while several teams beneath them remain separated by narrow margins. With home-court advantage and first-round matchups still in play, the final few games should carry postseason-level intensity before the postseason officially arrives.

BEST GAMES OF THE LAST WEEK

Phoenix Mercury 94, Portland Fire 91 — September 17

Phoenix and Portland returned from the break without several key players due to injuries and their recent World Cup participation, but the teams still delivered one of the week’s most competitive games. Rookie Shay Ciezki came off the Mercury bench and scored 22 points in only 21 minutes, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 9-of-9 from the free throw line. Emily Engstler led Portland with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists while connecting on five 3-pointers, but Phoenix closed out the three-point win.

Dallas Wings 87, Phoenix Mercury 82 — September 19

Dallas extended its winning streak to six behind another big performance from its star-studded backcourt. Bueckers scored 20 of her 26 points before halftime, while Ogunbowale finished with 22 points and six assists. Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas recorded 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for her fourth triple-double of the season and the 23rd of her career, but Dallas made the necessary plays late to preserve the victory.

GAMES TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS WEEK

Atlanta Dream at New York Liberty — September 21

Atlanta and New York enter the final week fighting for postseason positioning, making the first half of their home-and-home series especially important. Angel Reese and Breanna Stewart give the matchup plenty of star power, but the result could also help determine which team earns the more favorable first-round path.

Minnesota Lynx at Indiana Fever — September 22

Minnesota can secure the No. 1 seed with one victory in its final two games, while Indiana is trying to recover from a disappointing loss to Washington and improve its playoff position. The matchup also features Napheesa Collier and Kelsey Mitchell, two stars who could play major roles in the MVP and All-WNBA conversations.

New York Liberty at Atlanta Dream — September 23

The second meeting between Atlanta and New York could carry even more weight depending on what happens Monday. Back-to-back games against the same opponent give both teams an early taste of the adjustments and intensity they will face in a postseason series.

Indiana Fever at Minnesota Lynx — September 24

The regular-season finale could determine Minnesota’s place atop the standings, Indiana’s first-round seed or both. Playing each other twice in three days will also make this feel more like a playoff series than an ordinary regular-season matchup. If the standings remain tight through Thursday, this could be one of the most important games on the league’s final night.

SEE ALSO:

A Postseason On The Brink: How The WNBA Officiating Crisis Threatens To Ruin The Playoffs [Op-Ed]

Why Unrivaled Shouldn’t Add Caitlin Clark To Its Roster [Op-Ed]