WNBA Roundup: Aces Roll, Liberty Stay Hot and Mercury Win Plum’s Debut
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
The WNBA delivered three Monday-night finals featuring a triple-double, a strong performance from New York’s championship core and an immediate impact from one of the league’s biggest trade-deadline acquisitions.
The schedule continues tonight with Toronto visiting Golden State, followed by several important matchups involving Las Vegas, Minnesota, Indiana and New York later this week.
All upcoming game times below are listed in Central Time.
Monday’s WNBA Final Scores
Las Vegas Aces 109, Atlanta Dream 87
Jackie Young produced the night’s biggest individual performance, recording 28 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for the third triple-double of her WNBA career.
A’ja Wilson added 23 points, six rebounds and four assists, while NaLyssa Smith scored 18 and Chelsea Gray contributed 17 points and six assists. Las Vegas improved to 21-9 with the convincing road victory.
The Aces separated themselves during the middle quarters, outscoring Atlanta 64-38 across the second and third periods. After trailing 24-22 at the end of the first quarter, Las Vegas turned the game into a runway and never looked back.
Final: Las Vegas 109, Atlanta 87
New York Liberty 95, Seattle Storm 83
Breanna Stewart scored 24 points and Jonquel Jones added 20 as the Liberty defeated Seattle for their fifth victory in six games.
Sabrina Ionescu finished with 18 points, giving New York 62 combined points from its three biggest stars. The Liberty also used a critical 15-0 bench-led run to take control of the game.
The result moved New York to 18-13 while Seattle fell to 6-26 with its ninth consecutive defeat. The teams will remain in Brooklyn for an immediate rematch Wednesday evening.
Final: New York 95, Seattle 83
Phoenix Mercury 106, Chicago Sky 101
Kahleah Copper scored 31 points, including 20 in the second half, as Phoenix escaped Chicago with a five-point victory.
Kelsey Plum made an immediate impression in her Mercury debut, scoring 20 points in 20 minutes off the bench. Her corner three-pointer with approximately 53 seconds remaining gave Phoenix a 103-101 lead and became the defining shot of the game.
Plum joined Phoenix shortly before the trade deadline after the Mercury acquired the five-time All-Star from the Los Angeles Sparks. Phoenix sent Monique Akoa Makani and two future draft selections to Los Angeles in the deal.
Final: Phoenix 106, Chicago 101
Upcoming WNBA Games
Tuesday, August 4
Toronto Tempo at Golden State Valkyries
Time: 9:00 p.m. Central
Location: Chase Center, San Francisco
Broadcast: WNBA League Pass, with regional coverage
This is the only WNBA game scheduled for Tuesday. Golden State defeated Toronto 96-79 on Sunday and enters the rematch with one of the league’s strongest defensive units.
Wednesday, August 5
Seattle Storm at New York Liberty
Time: 6:00 p.m. Central
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn
Broadcast: USA Network
Seattle gets another opportunity against New York only two nights after Stewart, Jones and Ionescu controlled Monday’s meeting. For the Liberty, this is a chance to continue building momentum before the final stretch of the regular season.
Los Angeles Sparks at Chicago Sky
Time: 8:00 p.m. Central
Location: Wintrust Arena, Chicago
Broadcast: USA Network and CNBC
Los Angeles begins a new chapter following the Plum trade, while Chicago attempts to recover quickly after allowing 106 points against Phoenix.
Thursday, August 6
Las Vegas Aces at Indiana Fever
Time: 6:00 p.m. Central
Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
The Aces will bring their high-powered offense to Indiana after scoring 109 points against Atlanta. This will be Las Vegas’ only regular-season trip to Indianapolis in 2026.
Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx
Time: 8:00 p.m. Central
Location: Target Center, Minneapolis
Minnesota enters the week at the top of the league and recently extended its winning streak to 10 games with a 108-100 victory over Indiana. Los Angeles will face a severe test against one of the WNBA’s most balanced teams.
Toronto Tempo at Portland Fire
Time: 9:00 p.m. Central
Location: Moda Center, Portland
Toronto continues its West Coast trip against the expansion Fire after completing back-to-back games against Golden State.
Friday, August 7
Phoenix Mercury at Connecticut Sun
Time: 6:30 p.m. Central
Phoenix will try to build chemistry around its new Copper-Plum scoring combination after both players reached 20 points against Chicago.
Atlanta Dream at Washington Mystics
Time: 6:30 p.m. Central
Atlanta will attempt to respond after its five-game winning streak was stopped decisively by Las Vegas.
Golden State Valkyries at Dallas Wings
Time: 8:30 p.m. Central
Golden State’s defense will be tested by a Dallas team attempting to remain in the playoff conversation as the regular season enters its closing stretch.
Saturday, August 8
Las Vegas Aces at Minnesota Lynx
Time: Noon Central
This is the marquee game of the upcoming schedule. The league-leading Lynx will meet an Aces team that appears to be finding another gear, with Jackie Young, A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray all contributing at a high level.
Indiana Fever at Chicago Sky
Time: 2:30 p.m. Central
The latest chapter between Indiana and Chicago arrives during a demanding stretch for both teams. Indiana will be playing two days after hosting Las Vegas, while Chicago will be coming off its Wednesday meeting with Los Angeles.
Seattle Storm at Portland Fire
Time: 7:30 p.m. Central
Seattle travels to Portland searching for a breakthrough after a difficult stretch that included nine consecutive losses entering the week.
What to Watch
Jackie Young and the Aces are heating up
Young’s triple-double against Atlanta was not an isolated scoring explosion. Her ability to create shots, rebound and control the offense gives Las Vegas another dimension alongside Wilson and Gray.
The Aces now face two revealing tests: Indiana on Thursday and league-leading Minnesota on Saturday.
Can New York build real momentum?
The Liberty have won five of their past six games, but consistency has been difficult to maintain throughout the season. Their immediate rematch against Seattle offers an opportunity to strengthen their playoff position without allowing Monday’s comfortable victory to create complacency.
Phoenix’s new backcourt makes an instant statement
Copper and Plum combined for 51 points against Chicago. One game does not guarantee that the trade will transform Phoenix’s season, but it showed how dangerous the Mercury can become when both guards are attacking simultaneously.
Plum’s late three was especially important. New systems usually require an adjustment period. She skipped the orientation and walked directly into the closing scene.
Refocused Sports Perspective
The strongest teams are beginning to reveal more than talent. They are showing identity.
Las Vegas overwhelmed Atlanta with star power and ball movement. New York leaned on its established core. Phoenix introduced a new weapon and trusted her with the game on the line.
The standings matter, but the deeper question is which teams know exactly who they are when the fourth quarter gets loud. August basketball has a way of exposing uncertainty. It also has a way of turning chemistry into momentum.
The playoff race is entering the pressure chamber. Every possession is beginning to carry a little more gravity.
Sources and Full Links
Official WNBA Schedule
https://www.wnba.com/schedule
Las Vegas Aces vs. Atlanta Dream, official game page
https://www.wnba.com/game/lva-vs-atl-1022600222
Las Vegas Aces: Jackie Young’s triple-double
https://aces.wnba.com/news/gallery-aces-dream-8-3-2026
ESPN: Aces 109, Dream 87
https://www.espn.com/wnba/game/_/gameId/401857111/aces-dream
Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty, official game page
https://www.wnba.com/game/sea-vs-nyl-1022600223
ESPN: Liberty 95, Storm 83
https://www.espn.com/wnba/game/_/gameId/401857112/storm-liberty
Phoenix Mercury vs. Chicago Sky, official game page
https://www.wnba.com/game/phx-vs-chi-1022600224
CBS Sports: Mercury 106, Sky 101
https://www.cbssports.com/wnba/gametracker/recap/WNBA_20260803_PHO%40CHI/
Reuters: Phoenix acquires Kelsey Plum
https://www.reuters.com/sports/report-sparks-trade-5-time-all-star-kelsey-plum-mercury--flm-2026-08-02/
Toronto Tempo vs. Golden State Valkyries, August 4
https://www.wnba.com/game/tor-vs-gsv-1022600225
Seattle Storm vs. New York Liberty, August 5
https://www.wnba.com/game/sea-vs-nyl-1022600227
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Chicago Sky, August 5
https://www.wnba.com/game/las-vs-chi-1022600229
Las Vegas Aces vs. Indiana Fever, August 6
https://www.wnba.com/game/lva-vs-ind-1022600230
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Minnesota Lynx, August 6
https://www.wnba.com/game/las-vs-min-1022600231
Toronto Tempo vs. Portland Fire, August 6
https://www.wnba.com/game/tor-vs-pdx-1022600232
Phoenix Mercury vs. Connecticut Sun, August 7
https://www.wnba.com/game/phx-vs-con-1022600233
Atlanta Dream vs. Washington Mystics, August 7
https://www.wnba.com/game/atl-vs-was-1022600234
Golden State Valkyries vs. Dallas Wings, August 7
https://www.wnba.com/game/gsv-vs-dal-1022600235
Las Vegas Aces vs. Minnesota Lynx, August 8
https://www.wnba.com/game/lva-vs-min-1022600236
Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky, August 8
https://www.wnba.com/game/ind-vs-chi-1022600237
Seattle Storm vs. Portland Fire, August 8
https://www.wnba.com/game/sea-vs-pdx-1022600238