WNBA: Aces’ bid for 9-straight wins highlights Thursday night action

It’s an unusually active, and consequential, Thursday night in the WNBA, with the top-five teams in the standings all in action.

Here’s a look at what’s at stake as the Minnesota Lynx, New York Liberty, Atlanta Dream, Phoenix Mercury and Las Vegas Aces take the court:

Chicago Sky (8-26) vs. New York Liberty (22-13)

The Liberty, finally, defeated the Lynx, biding their rivals “night, night” in Barclays via a dagger 3-pointer from Sabrina Ionescu. Overall, however, it was another inefficient scoring night from Ionescu, with Jonquel Jones instead providing the Liberty’s offensive punch, and reminding the Lynx was she is the reigning Finals MVP.

A visit from the Chicago Sky profiles as favorable matchup for New York (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video). But, Angel Reese is back, instantly making the Sky a more competitive outfit in her return from her extended back injury. The Liberty will look for another strong night from Jones to maintain their hold on the No. 2 spot in the standings.

Still, a victory won’t prove that Liberty are poised for a repeat run, but a loss would raise further questions about whether or not the defending champs are ready to compete for a second-straight title.

Minnesota Lynx (28-6) vs. Atlanta Dream (22-13)

Win or lose, the Lynx’s status as the league’s top team is secure. Rather, Minnesota’s most pressing concern is the status of Napheesa Collier and her injured ankle. She has been upgraded to questionable on the Lynx’s injury report. If she returns, it will be the first time Minnesota has their full squad since the acquisition of DiJonai Carrington. It will also be an opportunity for Phee to add to her ceiling-raising MVP case.

On the other side, the Dream are back in Atlanta for first time since August 3, having completing their six-game road trip with a 4-2 mark. They may be back at home, but they are not yet whole, as Jordin Canada remains sidelined with a hamstring injury. Her absence places more responsibility on Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. With another triple-filled scoring outburst, Gray can continue to prove that she is more than the “dark horse” MVP candidate.

The teams have split their season series thus far, with Minnesota grabbing a four-point overtime win in Atlanta in late June and the Dream handing the Lynx their only regular-season defeat on their home floor with a four-point win in late July. Even if they cannot catch the Lynx in the standings, taking the season series off the league leaders would be quite the confidence-boosting feat for the Dream, while also keeping them neck and neck with the Liberty for the No. 2 seed.

Phoenix Mercury (21-13) vs. Las Vegas Aces (22-14)

This one is the game of the night, as the Mercury travel to Vegas for their fourth and final matchup with the Aces (10 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Last Friday night, in their most recent matchup, the Aces escaped Phoenix with a three-point win.

With a win, Phoenix not only would split the season series, which is crucial to maintaining the No. 4 seed, and homecourt advantage in the first round of the playoffs, but also snap the Aces’ eight-game winning streak. For Vegas, it’s the reverse, they would jump to No. 4 in the standings, be in position for homecourt advantage and extend their streak to nine games, matching the Lynx and Liberty for the longest winning streaks of the 2025 WNBA season.

MVP resume building will also happen. A’ja Wilson has been polishing off her credentials, showing off her floor-raising super powers with near-routine 30-point doubles-doubles. She treated the Mercury to a 30-point and 16-board double-double in Vegas’ win last Friday. Alyssa Thomas’ speciality, of course, is triple-doubles. She’s the do-it-all Engine who fills up the box score like no other player in league history. AT does not, however, have a regular-season triple-double against the Aces, although she completed the feat twice in the 2022 WNBA Finals as member of the Connecticut Sun.