Lisa Meehan

Below are the key dates for the 2015 WNBA season.
April 5 &amp; 7: NCAA Women’s Final Four 
April 16: WNBA Draft presented by State Farm
May 10: Mother’s Day 
May 17: Training camps open 
May 22 – June 2: WNBA Preseason 
May 25: Memorial Day 
May 29 – June 4: WNBA Cares Week
June 5: WNBA Tip-Off presented by Boost Mobile 
June 14: ESPN2 Tip-Off doubleheader 
June: Team School Days 
June: WNBA Pride 
June 30: ESPN2 Pride game 
June 15 – 21: WNBA Dads &amp; Daughters 
June 21: Father’s Day / Summer Solstice
July 4: Independence Day / WNBA Hoops for Troops 
July 7: ESPN2 Hoops for Troops game 
July 25: Boost Mobile WNBA All-Star on ABC 
July &amp; August: Team Camp Days| 
 
August 4- August 9: WNBA Breast Health Awareness 
August 4 &amp; 9: ESPN2 Breast Health Awareness games
September 7: Labor Day 
September 13: End of regular season 
September 17: WNBA Playoffs presented by Boost Mobile begin 
September 24: 2016 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm 
September 28: WNBA Inspiring Women Luncheon
October 4: WNBA Finals presented by Boost Mobile begin
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The WNBA playoff race is heating up, and this weekend’s slate is loaded with betting value on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Minnesota Lynx are fighting to hold the top spot, the red-hot Las Vegas Aces are pushing to extend their late-season surge, and the New York Liberty are desperate to break out of a slump. Plus, the WNBA Champion odds at DraftKings Sportsbook have seen some notable movement.
Let’s take a look at the latest <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA odds</a> for WNBA Champion, give a weekend preview, and I’ll share my WNBA best bets for Friday and Saturday’s games on DraftKings Sportsbook. You can also find more WNBA previews, picks, and daily content on <a href="https://dknetwork.com/?source=WNBAArticlebyMeghan">DraftKings Network.</a>
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<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=team-futures&amp;subcategory=champion">2025 WNBA Champion Odds</a>
The Favorite: MIN Lynx (+155)
It’s been a back-and-forth battle between the Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty in the WNBA futures market. Earlier this month, Minnesota (+180) opened August as the Finals favorite, only for New York (+170) to take over on August 8. Now, a week later, the odds have swung again — Minnesota sits atop the board at +155 to win it all on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The defending champs have hit a wall, losing six of their last 10 and sliding from the No. 2 seed after spending most of the season there. Injuries, most notably to Breanna Stewart, have played a role, but inconsistency and sloppy execution have been just as costly, dropping New York behind Atlanta in the standings.
Meanwhile, Minnesota has been rolling, winning nine of their last 10 despite being without MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier. Their surge comes from a disciplined defense, balanced scoring, and a next-player-up mentality, with Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams delivering night after night. At this pace, the Lynx locking up the No. 1 seed feels inevitable.
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WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview
Seattle Storm at Atlanta Dream — Friday, August 15, 10:00 PM ET
If there’s a team peaking at the right time, it’s the Atlanta Dream. Winners of eight of their last 10 and riding a six-game streak, Atlanta has jumped the defending champs for the No. 2 seed. Allisha Gray is playing at an MVP level, posting career highs of 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. She set the tone in the first of back-to-back matchups with Seattle, dropping 21 points and 11 boards in an 85-75 win that handed the Storm their sixth straight loss. Rhyne Howard also lit it up with 25 points, giving Atlanta serious momentum for Friday’s rematch.
Seattle, meanwhile, has spiraled since trading for Brittney Sykes at the deadline, losing eight of their last 10 and clinging to the final playoff spot. Nneka Ogwumike remains a bright spot, averaging 19 points and 7.4 rebounds over her last five, including a 29-point performance last game. But Skylar Diggins has cooled off, leaving the Storm without their second scoring punch. With the Dream rolling and Seattle reeling, I’m backing Atlanta to extend their win streak to seven and keep their grip on that No. 2 seed.
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/sea-storm-%40-atl-dream/32641579">PICK: ATL Dream -2.5 (-112)</a>
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New York Liberty at Minnesota Lynx — Saturday, August 16, 2:00 PM ET
Nothing beats a Finals rematch — unless you’re New York this season. The Liberty have dropped both meetings with Minnesota, losing by a combined 19 points. While both teams are still missing their stars, the Finals favorite Lynx have shown they can thrive without MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier. Tight rotations, timely turnovers, and efficient role-player production have let them dictate pace and finish strong against elite opponents.
For the defending champs, Breanna Stewart’s absence has created a glaring two-way gap. Rebounding issues and an uptick in turnovers have stalled the offense, making it tough to keep pace.
Kayla McBride has stepped up big in Collier’s absence, averaging 18.2 points over her last five, including eight threes in Minnesota’s record-setting 53-point road win over the Aces. Pair her consistency with Alanna Smith’s rim protection and Courtney Williams’ playmaking, and it’s tough to bet against the Lynx continuing their dominance in this matchup.
Strong Lean: MIN ML
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=player-points&amp;subcategory=points-o%2Fu">PICK: Kayla McBride Over 15.5 Points (-105)</a>
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All season long, I’ll be tracking the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA Odds</a> for MVP, Finals Winner and more right here!
All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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21+ (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Physically present in AZ/CO/DC/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/KY/LA(select parishes)/MA/MD/ME/MI/NC/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/VT/WV/WY only. Void in ONT. Eligibility restrictions apply. See terms at <a href="http://draftkings.com/sportsbook">draftkings.com/sportsbook</a>. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino &amp; Resort (KS).

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WNBA Best Bets for August 15: Weekend Preview and WNBA Champion Odds

Get ready for 2025 WNBA Canada Game.
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When and where is the 2025 WNBA Canada Game?
The game will take place Friday, August 15, 2025 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C. It will be the first regular-season WNBA game ever played outside the United States.
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Which teams are playing?
The Atlanta Dream will face the Seattle Storm.
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201698" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-44.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-44.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-44-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-44-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-44-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-44-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-44-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
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How can I watch the game?
<ul>
<li>Canada: Live on TSN</li>
<li>US: Live on ION to local audiences and nationally via select TV and streaming providers (<a class="c-link" href="https://www.ionwnba.com/?lid=0l0enflkrekw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.ionwnba.com/?lid=0l0enflkrekw" data-sk="tooltip_parent">How to Watch on ION</a>); Live nationally on WNBA League Pass</li>
<li>International (Excluding Canada): Live in more than 200 countries and territories on WNBA League Pass</li>
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Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets start at $32 CAD and are available now at <a title="https://www.ticketmaster.ca/" href="https://www.ticketmaster.ca/" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ticketmaster.ca</a>.
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Is this the first WNBA game in Canada?
No — it’s the third WNBA Canada Game and the fifth WNBA game outside the U.S. Previous Canada Games were:
<ul>
<li>2023 – Toronto, Ontario (sold out)</li>
<li>2024 – Edmonton, Alberta (sold out)</li>
<li>Other international WNBA games: England (2011) and Mexico (2004)</li>
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<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201699" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-46.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-46.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-46-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-46-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-46-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-46-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-46-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
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Which partners are involved in the 2025 game?
Fifteen official Canadian marketing and retail partners will activate at the game, including:
<ul>
<li>Air Canada – Flying Team Addy, a U-17 girls’ team, to Vancouver for the game &amp; a private clinic.</li>
<li>Bell – Hosting a community clinic and “Shoot Your Shot!” skills game for prizes.</li>
<li>Campbell’s Goldfish – Inflatable tunnel experience &amp; sampling.</li>
<li>Canadian Cancer Society – 50/50 raffle proceeds supporting wig bank program; concourse activation with messages for patients.</li>
<li>Canadian Tire Corporation / Sport Chek – Girls’ clinic, giveaways, sign-making station, and ticket contests.</li>
<li>DoorDash – Clinic for New Heights Basketball Academy athletes.</li>
<li>Gatorade – Official Sports Drink Partner.</li>
<li>GoodLife Fitness – Trip giveaway winners attending the game.</li>
<li>Endy – Pillow toss, claw machine, lounge, and giveaways.</li>
<li>Maybelline New York – “Brave Booth” for mental health awareness, player makeup services, and product sampling.</li>
<li>OLLY – Pregame wellness panel on women’s health.</li>
<li>Peace Collective – Exclusive merchandise line for the game.</li>
<li>Peau de Loup – Vancouver-celebration t-shirt and team-branded apparel.</li>
<li>Sun Life – Annual WNBA Fantasy Camp with basketball clinic.</li>
<li>Tangerine Bank – Presenting Partner; pregame “Tangerine Layup” contest and ticket giveaways.</li>
</ul>
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Will there be fan experiences?
Yes — fans can expect interactive games, giveaways, photo ops, clinics, merchandise, and community programming from all 15 partners before and during the game.
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Who is the presenting partner?
Tangerine Bank is the Presenting Partner and the first Foundational Partner of the WNBA in Canada.

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2025 WNBA Canada Game: FAQ and Things to Know

The 2025 WNBA regular season ends on Sept. 11. That’s exactly one month from today, which means the final sprint to the finish line begins now.
Here’s where the postseason races stand with a month to play:
In The Driver’s Seat: With a 6.5-game lead on the rest of the field, the Lynx’s path to the No. 1 overall seed is clear. With 12 games to play and an 11.5-game advantage on the 9-seed, the Lynx will likely have a chance to clinch a playoff berth this week.
Race For Home Court: Five teams – the Liberty, Dream, Mercury, Fever and Aces – enter the week at least four games over .500 and are separated by just 2.5 games in a race for the 2-4 seeds that earn home-court in the first round of the playoffs.
Race For The Playoffs: Four teams – the Valkyries, Storm, Sparks and Mystics – all hovering around .500 and separated by just 1.5 games are battling to secure a top eight finish.
Running Out Of Time: Three teams – the Sky, Wings and Sun – are each at least 7.5 games back of the current 8-seed. While no teams have been eliminated from playoff contention yet, these are the first three teams in danger.
1. Minnesota Lynx (27-5)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201634" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-41-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 1 ↔️
This Week: Sat. vs. NYL
Despite the loss of league-leading scorer (and May, June and July Western Conference Player of the Month) Napheesa Collier to an ankle sprain on Aug. 2, the Lynx have kept rolling. Minnesota went 3-0 on the week to push their win streak to five straight, capped off by their second Finals rematch win over New York on Sunday behind Kayla McBride’s 18 points and four triples.
2. Atlanta Dream (20-11)
Last Week: 2 ↔️
This Week: Wed. at SEA, Fri. vs. SEA, Sun. at GSV
The Dream match the Lynx for the longest active win streak in the league at five in a row as they continue to climb the standings, pulling into a tie with the Liberty for the second-best record in the W. Atlanta also joins Minnesota as the only two teams with double-digit road wins, winning five straight outside of the A. The Dream will try to push both of their streaks (overall and road) to six when they visit the Storm on Wednesday, but may be without Jordin Canada, who left Sunday’s win with a right leg injury.
3. New York Liberty (20-11)
Last Week: 3 ↔️
This Week: Tue. at LAS, Wed. at LVA, Sat. at MIN
The Liberty have held the No. 2 spot in the standings every day since July 16, but their grip on that spot is in danger of slipping. New York is fending off Atlanta – both are 20-11 to open the week – via the head-to-head tiebreaker, while Phoenix is only a game back. After sweeping a home-and-home with the Wings, the Liberty fell to the Lynx at home in the second of four Finals rematches in a three-week span. Their next chance is Saturday in Minnesota, but the Liberty will still be without Breanna Stewart, who is targeting a return from a knee injury by the end of August.
4. Phoenix Mercury (19-12)
Last Week: 5 ⬆️
This Week: Fri. vs. LVA, Sun. at SEA
Sunday’s loss to Atlanta snapped a three-game win streak for Phoenix. In the game, the Mercury shot just 6-of-23 from 3-point range (they are 8-10 when hitting fewer than 10 3s, and 11-2 when making 10 or more) and scored just 66 points (they are 4-9 when scoring under 80, 13-5 when they score 80+). Already a top-tier defense (Phoenix’s 98.8 defensive rating ranks second in the W), finding consistency on offense will be key for the Mercury down the stretch.
5. Las Vegas Aces (18-14)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201633" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-40-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 7 ⬆️
This Week: Wed. vs. NYL, Fri. at PHX, Sun. vs. DAL
A’ja Wilson made history on Sunday – posting the first 30/20 game in WNBA history as she finished with 32 points, 20 rebounds and 5 assists in Vegas’ win over Connecticut. It marked the Aces’ fourth straight win for their longest win streak of the 2025 season. Las Vegas’ hot streak will be challenged quickly as four of the Aces’ next five games come against opponents at least seven games over .500 entering this week – the Liberty, Mercury, Dream and Mercury (again).
6. Indiana Fever (18-14)
Last Week: 4 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. vs. DAL, Fri. vs. WAS, Sun. at CON
After putting together a season-long five-game win streak, the Fever dropped two straight before righting the ship on Sunday with a win over the Sky in the opening game of WNBA Rivals Week. Unfortunately, Indiana’s run of losing guards to injury continues as both Sydney Colson (ACL) and Aari McDonald (broken foot) have been ruled out for the season – along with the ongoing absence of Caitlin Clark. Indy signed veteran guard Odyssey Sims to a hardship contract to help fill the void.
7. Los Angeles Sparks (15-16)
Last Week: 9 ⬆️
This Week: Tue. vs. NYL, Fri. at DAL, Sun. at WAS
The busiest team in the league last week, the Sparks went 3-1 to improve to 9-2 over their last 11 games following their 6-14 start to the season through 20 games. During this 11-game stretch, the Sparks have been led by former Vegas teammates Kelsey Plum (19.5 ppg, 6.5 apg, 2.5 3pm) and Dearica Hamby (19.2 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 62.6% FG). Meanwhile, Cameron Brink has made an impact in her first six games back from last year&#8217;s torn ACL, averaging 7.0 points, 2.2 blocks and 46.7% 3P% in limited minutes (14.2 mpg).
8. Golden State Valkyries (15-15)
Last Week: 8 ↔️
This Week: Mon. vs. CON, Wed. at WAS, Fri. at CHI, Sun. vs. ATL
Saturday’s win over the Sparks helped the Valkyries avoid a three-game skid and get back to .500 ball in their inaugural season. Golden State is set to be the busiest team this week with four games on the schedule – including the first three against opponents under .500 as the Valkyries attempt to gain some separation in the jam-packed middle of the playoff race.
9. Seattle Storm (16-16)
Last Week: 6 ⬇️
This Week: Wed. vs. ATL, Fri. at ATL, Sun. vs. PHX
So far, August has not been kind to the Storm, who have dropped their first five games of the month – all by four points or less. No team has played in more clutch games – score within five points in the final five minutes – than the Storm with 22, but Seattle is just 10-12 in those games. While the wins have not gone in Seattle’s favor, this month has been a breakout for rookie Dominique Malonga. The 6-6 center from France is averaging 14.4 ppg on 64.6% shooting with 7.8 rpg in just 22.3 minutes in August, while becoming the youngest player in WNBA history (19 years old) to post back-to-back 20+ point games.
10. Washington Mystics (14-17)
Last Week: 10 ↔️
This Week: Wed. vs. GSV, Fri. at IND, Sun vs. LAS
Rookie All-Stars Kiki Iriafen (career-high 23 points, 10 reb) and Sonia Citron (18 pts, 6 ast) shined on Sunday as the Mystics defeated the Wings to snap a four-game losing streak. It was Washington’s first win since trading All-Star Brittney Sykes to the Storm in exchange for three-time WNBA champ Alysha Clark, young guard Zia Cooke and a 2026 first-round draft pick.
11. Chicago Sky (8-23)
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201635" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42.png" alt="" width="2560" height="1440" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42.png 2560w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-300x169.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-1024x576.png 1024w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-768x432.png 768w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-1536x864.png 1536w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Thumbnail-42-2048x1152.png 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px" />
Last Week: 12 ⬆️
This Week: Wed. at CON, Fri. vs. GSV
The Sky’s win over the Mystics on Tuesday was Chicago’s only win over the past 11 games. All-Star Angel Reese has only appeared in three of those 11 games due to a back injury that has kept Chicago’s leading scorer (14.2 ppg) and the league’s leading rebounder (12.6 rpg) out of the Sky lineup.
12. Dallas Wings (8-24)
Last Week: 11 ⬇️
This Week: Tue. at IND, Fri. vs. LAS, Sun. at LVA
Dallas enters the week looking to snap one streak while extending another. The Wings will look to end a five-game losing streak on Tuesday when they visit the Fever. During that game, rookie Paige Bueckers will look to score 10+ points for the 26th straight game to begin her WNBA career, which would break a tie with Ruthie Bolton for the fourth longest such streak in league history. The only players with more are Cynthia Cooper (92), A&#8217;ja Wilson (37) and Candace Parker (32) – a trio of legends that each won multiple MVPs and championships.
13. Connecticut Sun (5-25)
Last Week: 13 ↔️
This Week: Mon. at GSV, Wed. vs. CHI, Sun. vs. IND
The Sun close out a four-game road trip tonight against the Valkyries in San Francisco, looking to snap a pair of losing streaks – four straight overall and 12 straight on the road as the Sun’s only road win of the season came back on May 30. Tonight’s game will be the second in a Sun uniform for Aaliyah Edwards, who Connecticut acquired at the trade deadline. The former UConn standout was the sixth overall pick in the 2024 Draft.

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2025 WNBA Power Rankings: Week 10

Before the first-ever WNBA Rivals Week tips off on Saturday, we’ll break down one must-see nationally-televised matchup over the next ten days.
Sky at Fever | Saturday, Aug. 9 | 8 ET, CBS
Rivals Week begins in Indiana with the Fever hosting the Sky in a matchup that would usually feature the college-to-pro rivalry between Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. However, with those two All-Stars currently out due to injury, let’s focus on the matchup in the middle between Indiana’s Aliyah Boston (No. 1 pick in 2023) and Chicago’s Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3 pick in 2024) – who are both ranked in the top five in double-doubles this season.
Indiana is 3-0 against Chicago this season and has won four straight games overall in the rivalry. After dropping two straight to end their West Coast road trip, can the Fever get back on track at home? Or can Chicago – which is 3-2 in its last five games with Ariel Aktins in the lineup – pull off the road win?
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Dream at Mercury | Sunday, Aug. 10 | 6 ET, NBA TV
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201536" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
The Dream and Mercury enter their final regular-season matchup tied in the standings at 19-11, with Atlanta holding the head-to-head tiebreaker for third place in the W. The Dream enter Sunday having won six of their last seven games – with two of those wins coming against the Mercury – with All-Star Allisha Gray leading the way (20.0 ppg, 50% FG, 51.3% 3P). 
Meanwhile, Phoenix’s Alyssa Thomas just became the first player in WNBA history to record three straight triple-doubles and can extend that record streak on Sunday against one of the three teams she has yet to post a triple-double against (ATL, GSV, WAS).
This game marks the potential second game for former Mercury star Brittney Griner back in Phoenix. Griner is listed as day-to-day after missing Thursday’s game due to a neck injury. She had 17 points and eight rebounds in her first visiting game in the Valley on July 23.
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Liberty at Sparks | Tuesday, Aug. 12 | 10 ET, NBA TV
In a moment where the WNBA is growing at an exciting pace – set to reach 16 teams by 2030 – we can’t forget where it all started. On June 21, 1997 in Los Angeles, the first-ever WNBA game tipped off between the Liberty and Sparks. Now, 28 years later, these two OG franchises meet in the league’s first-ever Rivals Week.
How close has this matchup been historically? The Liberty hold a 34-33 lead in regular season games. But, if we include the postseason, the advantage flips to the Sparks – who swept NY in the 2002 WNBA Finals – for a 35-34 edge in all head-to-head matchups.
The 2025 edition of this rivalry features the league’s top two scoring guards – LA’s Kelsey Plum (20.4 ppg, 3rd in WNBA) and NY’s Sabrina Ionescu (20.0 ppg, 4th in WNBA) – meeting for the final time this regular season after splitting their first two games. Over their careers, Plum and Ionescu are 7-7 against each other in regular season meetings and 4-4 in playoff meetings. Who will get the edge on Tuesday?
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Liberty at Aces | Wednesday, Aug. 13 | 9:30 ET, ESPN
Many of the top rivalries in sports are forged in the playoffs – when players and teams face each other with the stakes at their highest. For these two teams – the winners of the past three WNBA titles – their paths have crossed on the way to the mountaintop.
They met in the 2023 WNBA Finals, when the Aces defeated the Liberty in four games to become the first WNBA team in over two decades to win back-to-back titles. They met again in the 2024 Semifinals, when the Liberty got their revenge by defeating the Aces in four games to return to the Finals for the sixth time in franchise history, while also ending Las Vegas’ bid for a three-peat. After ousting the Aces, the Liberty defeated the Lynx in five games to win their first WNBA title.
While Breanna Stewart will miss this Rivals Week meeting (bone bruise in knee), the past two WNBA Finals MVPs – A’ja Wilson and Jonquel Jones – will take center stage.
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Storm at Dream | Friday, Aug. 15 | 10 ET, ION
The WNBA’s first regular-season in Canada comes in the middle of Rivals Week and features two teams that have a historic connection as well as a current back-and-forth.
Back in 2010, a Storm team led by Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson swept the upstart Dream in the WNBA Finals after Atlanta reached the championship series in only its third year of existence.
Fast forward to today, and these two teams have traded wins for 10 straight games – dating back to July 2022 – including each of the past four games decided by seven points or less. This will be the fourth and final meeting of the regular season between these teams, who are separated by just three games in the standings, as both eye a return to the playoffs.
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Liberty at Lynx | Saturday, Aug. 16 | 2 ET, CBS
<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-201538" src="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2.png" alt="" width="960" height="640" srcset="https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2.png 960w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2-300x200.png 300w, https://cdn.wnba.com/sites/4/2025/08/Article_Images-Recovered-2-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" />
Rivals Week wouldn’t be complete without a rematch of last year’s WNBA Finals between Minnesota and New York – who enter this week ranked 1st and 2nd in the league standings, respectively. 
After New York defeated Minnesota in a classic five-game Finals last October, the Lynx won the first rematch on July 30 at home. Powered by Napheesa Collier’s 30 points and Kayla McBride’s 24 points and five 3s, the Lynx overcame Sabrina Ionescu’s game-high 31 points in a 100-93 win.
NY was without Breanna Stewart in that game and will be once again as she recovers from a bone bruise in her knee. Minnesota will be without Collier, who suffered an ankle injury last week. The Lynx are 3-1 this season without the league’s leading scorer, while the Liberty are 2-3 without Stewart.
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Wings at Aces | Sunday, Aug. 17 | 3:30 ET, ABC
We close out the first Rivals Week with the first pick in the most recent WNBA Draft – Dallas’ Paige Bueckers, who is just beginning to establish rivals in her debut WNBA season. This matchup with Las Vegas sees Bueckers have to face three other former No. 1 picks – Jewell Loyd (2015), A’ja Wilson (2018) and Jackie Young (2019) – for the fourth and final time this season.
While the Wings are still looking for their first win over the Aces this season, the two games that Bueckers played came down to clutch time, with Vegas prevailing by four points each time. Bueckers is averaging team highs of 18.0 points and 6.5 assists against the Aces this season, while Wilson has paced Vegas at 25.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists.
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Longtime WNBA reporter Brian Martin writes articles on WNBA.com throughout the season. The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the WNBA or its clubs.

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Key Games to Watch: WNBA Rivals Week Presented by Ally

Get ready for the inaugural WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally.
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What is WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally?
WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally is a time when the league’s superstars and rising stars are in the spotlight, when teams compete for statement wins and playoff positioning, and fans rally for bragging rights. WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally will highlight both classic and emerging rivalries between teams and players, as some of the league’s superstars will go head-to-head in marquee matchups that define the intensity and passion of the league.
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When is WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally?
WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally is slated for August 9 through August 17, 2025.
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What are the matchups for WNBA Rivals Week presented by Ally?
All times eastern
Saturday, August 9
Chicago Sky vs. Indiana Fever (8 pm, CBS) 
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Golden State Valkyries (8:30 pm, League Pass)
Sunday, August 10
Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty (12:30 pm, ABC) 
Washington Mystics vs. Dallas Wings (4 pm, CBS Sports Network) 
Atlanta Dream vs. Phoenix Mercury (6 pm, NBA TV) 
Seattle Storm vs. Los Angels Sparks (8 pm, League Pass) 
Connecticut Sun vs. Las Vegas Aces (9 pm, NBA TV) 

Monday, August 11
Connecticut Sun vs. Golden State Valkyries (10 pm, League Pass)
Tuesday, August 12
Dallas Wings vs.  Indiana Fever (7:30 pm, ESPN) 
New York Liberty vs. Los Angeles Sparks (10 pm, NBA TV)
Wednesday, August 13
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun (7 pm, League Pass) 
Golden State Valkyries vs. Washington Mystics (7:30 pm, League Pass) 
New York Liberty vs. Las Vegas Aces (9:30 pm, ESPN) 
Atlanta Dream vs. Seattle Storm (10 pm, League Pass)
Friday, August 15
Washington Mystics vs. Indiana Fever (7:30 pm, ION) 
Golden State Valkyries vs. Chicago Sky (7:30 pm, ION) 
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Dallas Wings (7:30 pm, ION) 
Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream (10 pm, ION) 
Las Vegas Aces vs. Phoenix Mercury (10 pm, ION)
Saturday, August 16
New York Liberty vs. Minnesota Lynx (2 pm, CBS)
Sunday, August 17
Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun (1 pm, NBA TV) 
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Washington Mystics (3 pm, League Pass) 
Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces (3:30 pm, ABC) 
Phoenix Mercury vs.  Seattle Storm (6 pm, League Pass) 
Atlanta Dream vs. Golden State Valkyries (8:30 pm, NBA TV)
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WNBA Rivals Week Presented by Ally: FAQ and Things to Know

We’re a day removed from the WNBA trade deadline, and the moves mattered — contenders leveled up! The league-best Lynx bolstered their roster with DiJonai Carrington, last year’s Most Improved Player, while Seattle grabbed Brittney Sykes to tighten up a playoff-bound rotation. With just over a month left in the regular season, August’s where things get real — for teams chasing seeding, players grinding for postseason form, and fans (and bettors) locking in. Also, there’s been some shakeup on the WNBA Champion Odds at DraftKings Sportsbook!
Let’s take a look at the latest <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA odds</a> for WNBA Champion, give a weekend preview, and I’ll share my WNBA best bets for Friday&#8217;s games on DraftKings Sportsbook. You can also find more WNBA previews, picks, and daily content on <a href="https://dknetwork.com/?source=WNBAArticlebyMeghan">DraftKings Network.</a>
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<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba?category=team-futures&amp;subcategory=champion">2025 WNBA Champion Odds</a>
The Favorite: NY Liberty (+170)
I&#8217;ll say it again: we have movement, people! Just a week ago, the Minnesota Lynx were holding steady as the favorites to win the 2025 WNBA Championship at +180, with the Liberty close behind at +190. Fast forward to August 8th, and it’s the reigning champs who’ve jumped ahead — New York is now sitting at +170 to go back-to-back. If you&#8217;re just box score watching, that might not make much sense. Minnesota leads the league with 25 wins, while New York is 5.5 games back at 19. And yeah, the Lynx will be without MVP frontrunner Napheesa Collier for a couple weeks (ankle sprain), but the Liberty aren’t exactly healthy either. They dropped four straight before picking up back-to-back wins — so what’s driving this odds shift?
Well, even without Breanna Stewart, who’s missed five games with a bone bruise, New York’s been illustrating their depth. Sabrina Ionescu took over for a stretch, dropping 31 in a Finals rematch vs. Minnesota and 36 against Connecticut, and when she cooled off Tuesday (just 9 points), the rest of the squad stepped up. Leonie Fiebich, Jonquel Jones, Natasha Cloud, and new-comer Emma Meesseman all put up 12+ to power another win. It&#8217;s worth noting, Meesseman isn’t just another depth piece — she’s a former Finals MVP, and her late-season addition gives New York a boost on both ends of the floor. This team’s bench showed up in a big way this week, but we probably won’t see full championship form until Stewie is back in the mix.
 
WNBA Best Bets and Weekend Preview
New York Liberty at Dallas Wings — Friday, August 8, 7:30 PM ET
These two teams square off again after New York’s 85-76 home win on Tuesday, a balanced showing from a squad that’s navigating games without their second-leading points scorer. In that game, Paige Bueckers did Paige Bueckers things — 21 points, 8 rebounds — but struggled from deep (1-5) and reportedly tweaked her back. She’s considered day-to-day, though she’s expected to play on Friday. On the bright side, Dallas did get Maddy Siegrist back after an 18-game absence (knee). She came off the bench and dropped 13 points in Tuesday’s loss — solid return.
With New York in control from tip to buzzer last time out and building a bit of momentum, I’m leaning toward a similar outcome tonight. But to keep things spicy, I’m eyeing the under. Neither team has cracked 90+ in their last three games, and both are dealing with key injuries — Stewart for the Liberty, and a possibly limited Bueckers for the Wings. Under 172 is the play.
Lean: NY -8.5
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/ny-liberty-%40-dal-wings/32617721?category=odds&amp;subcategory=popular">PICK: Total Under 172 (-110)</a>
 
Seattle Storm at Las Vegas Aces — Friday, August 8, 10:00 PM ET
The Storm enter Friday’s matchup fresh off a trade deadline pickup, acquiring guard Brittney Sykes from the Mystics. It’s a move that won’t fix their middling three-point shooting (currently 7th in the league at 33.4%), but it does give Seattle a proven two-way contributor. Sykes is averaging 15.4 PPG and brings elite defensive presence, adding to a Storm squad that already ranks 2nd in defensive rating (98.5). With Sykes and Gabby Williams sharing the floor, Seattle now boasts two All-Defensive-caliber perimeter stoppers.
Meanwhile, the Aces are heating up, winning 7 of their last 10. They beat Golden State 78-72 on Wednesday behind A’ja Wilson’s 27-point performance, and she added two blocks to become just the 10th player in WNBA history to hit 500 career blocks.
Seattle’s dropped three straight and just slipped behind the Fever in the standings, making this feel like a must-win. The Aces have the league’s top shot blocker in Wilson (2.3 BPG), but Seattle holds the defensive edge overall — 2nd in defensive rating, 4th in opponent PPG, and loaded with disruptors: Gabby Williams leads the WNBA in steals (2.6), and Ezi Magbegor is second in blocks (2.2), just behind Wilson. The issue? Offense. The Storm have dipped to 9th in points per possession and 9th in offensive rating (101.6). That said, this game should be tight, and Sykes could be the X-factor to spark a Seattle squad that needs momentum.
<a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/event/sea-storm-%40-lv-aces/32617723">PICK: SEA Storm +1</a>
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All season long, I’ll be tracking the <a href="https://sportsbook.draftkings.com/leagues/basketball/wnba">WNBA Odds</a> for MVP, Finals Winner and more right here!
All odds and lines provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and are subject to change.
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