The single most consequential story coming out of Monday night is Breanna Stewart reminding everyone she is still the best player in the world, in overtime, against a Dallas team that was without Paige Bueckers. Hold that thought, because the Bueckers update matters for Wednesday.
Breanna Stewart, New York Liberty vs. Chicago Sky (Wed, Jul 22, 7:00 PM ET)
Stewart's line against Dallas: 33 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 threes, 2 blocks. Her eighth double-double of the season. That is not a good game, that is a franchise player putting the team on her back in overtime while a key Dallas piece sat in street clothes. Meanwhile, Jonquel Jones added 14 points and 10 boards, passing Alyssa Thomas for 7th all-time in WNBA double-doubles in the same win. New York is 14-12 overall and 8-3 in the Eastern Conference. They are playing at home Wednesday against a Chicago Sky team that is 9-17 and 1-8 in the East.
The gap between these rosters is real. Chicago is one of the worst records in the conference. New York just played overtime basketball and has two of the better forwards in the game logging heavy minutes. Worth watching how the line sets on a short-turnaround spot for New York, because the Liberty have every reason to be a little flat and every reason not to be, given who they are at home.
No qualifying play cleared my number this morning. But that Liberty-Sky matchup is the conversation worth having Wednesday.
Paige Bueckers: No Concussion, Still Sat
The best news out of Monday night, full stop. Bueckers took a scary collision Sunday against the Sparks, did not play in Dallas's 99-98 overtime loss to New York, but the Wings confirmed no concussion. Dallas is 17-9 and plays at Portland on Wednesday. Getting her back healthy matters more than the L.
Dallas lost by one in overtime without her. That is both a credit to their depth and a signal that Bueckers is the engine. Mind the gap on her status before Wednesday's Wings-Portland number settles.
Minnesota Lynx at Seattle Storm (Wed, Jul 22, 3:10 PM ET)
Kayla McBride: 33 points, 6 threes, seventh straight game with 20 or more points. Tied her season-high from three. Rookie Olivia Miles matched her almost point for point: 32 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, her third 30-point game. Courtney Williams added 21. Minnesota won 105-102, six straight, and is 21-6 overall with a 14-1 conference record. That 14-1 mark is not a typo.
Seattle is 6-22 and 1-13 in the West. Minnesota won by three in a game that was tied at 101 with 52 seconds left. checked the almanac: even the best teams in WNBA history have had nights where Seattle fights them to the wire. The Lynx won, and they keep winning, but three points on the road against the league's worst team is the kind of margin that will drive you crazy if you're laying a big number Wednesday.
| Matchup | Road Team Record | Home Team Record | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| MN Lynx @ SEA Storm | 21-6 (14-1 Conf) | 6-22 (1-13 Conf) | Lynx W6 straight |
| CHI Sky @ NY Liberty | 9-17 (1-8 Conf) | 14-12 (8-3 Conf) | Liberty W (OT) |
| LV Aces @ WSH Mystics | 18-7 (12-4 Conf) | 13-12 (8-5 Conf) | Mystics snapped 9-game Valkyries streak |
| PHX Mercury @ LA Sparks | 9-18 (5-10 Conf) | 10-15 (5-8 Wildcard) | Bonner 21 pts Monday |
| CT Sun @ IND Fever | 7-19 (2-8 Conf) | 16-10 (6-4 Conf) | Mitchell 33 pts Monday |
| DAL Wings @ POR Fire | 17-9 (7-6 Conf) | 11-15 (3-7 Conf) | Wings lost OT without Bueckers |
The Rest of Monday Night
Las Vegas beat the Golden State Tempo 109-83. A'ja Wilson: 26 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks, 3 threes. That 3-pointer total ties her career-high. Jackie Young: 24 points, 12 rebounds, 4 threes. Wilson's 18th 20-point performance this season ties the league lead. Becky Hammon reached 135 career coaching wins, passing Richie Adubato and Pokey Chatman into 13th all-time. The Aces are 18-7 and visit Washington on Wednesday, and the Mystics just snapped a nine-game Golden State winning streak. Kiki Iriafen had 23 points and 12 boards for Washington, her 11th double-double of the season. That Aces-Mystics line is going to be interesting.
Connecticut visits Indiana Wednesday after Leila Mitchell dropped 33 points in Monday's game. The Sun are 7-19. The Fever are 16-10. That one sets up clean on paper.
What I'm Watching Wednesday
Bueckers' status before the Wings-Portland number locks in. The Liberty line against Chicago on a short rest. And whether the Aces number accounts for a Washington team that just showed it can beat a nine-game winner on the road.
Nothing cleared my number this morning. The board for Wednesday is worth a close look when it firms up. You know where to find me.
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