WNBA Dimes

## July 25 WNBA Slate Overview
Friday’s WNBA action featured two marquee matchups. In the Western Conference, the league-leading Minnesota Lynx (22-4) welcomed the defending champion Las Vegas Aces (12-13) to Target Center, their 14-0 haven this season ([sportskeeda.com](https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-las-vegas-aces-vs-minnesota-lynx-game-player-stats-box-score-july-25-2025-wnba-season?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [startribune.com](https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-lynx-las-vegas-aces-napheesa-collier-courtney-williams-studbudz-wnba/601336923?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Meanwhile, in the East, the surging New York Liberty (17-6) hosted the Phoenix Mercury (15-9) in a top-three clash at Barclays Center ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401736266), [netsdaily.com](https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/7/25/24474686/liberty-vs-mercury-89-76-sabrina-ionescu-jonquel-jones-alyssa-thomas)). Both contests carried significant playoff implications, with the Lynx aiming to maintain their perfect home mark and the Liberty looking to extend their season-best five-game win streak.

## Las Vegas Aces at Minnesota Lynx
Minnesota dominated from the outset, rolling to a 109-78 victory to improve to 23-4 and extend their home unbeaten run to 15 games ([sportskeeda.com](https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-las-vegas-aces-vs-minnesota-lynx-game-player-stats-box-score-july-25-2025-wnba-season?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [startribune.com](https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-lynx-las-vegas-aces-napheesa-collier-courtney-williams-studbudz-wnba/601336923?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). The Lynx set a season-high in scoring, punctuating a 15-4 opening-quarter run that put Las Vegas in an early 27-18 hole they never escaped. Napheesa Collier, the WNBA’s leading scorer, poured in 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds ([startribune.com](https://www.startribune.com/minnesota-lynx-las-vegas-aces-napheesa-collier-courtney-williams-studbudz-wnba/601336923?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Courtney Williams added 23 points and five assists, hitting 10-of-12 shots, while Bridget Carleton chipped in 14 points and six boards ([sportskeeda.com](https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-las-vegas-aces-vs-minnesota-lynx-game-player-stats-box-score-july-25-2025-wnba-season?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Off the bench, Kayla McBride contributed 13 points and Jessica Shepard posted a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

On the other side, A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 15 points and seven rebounds, extending her streak of consecutive double-digit scoring games to 41—the longest active run in the league ([aces.wnba.com](https://aces.wnba.com/news/game-recap-aces-second-half-comeback-falls-short-in-87-74-loss-to-minnesota?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). Jackie Young added 14 points and five assists, but no other Ace reached double figures. After falling behind by 20 at halftime, coach Becky Hammon lamented, “We couldn’t get any stops. The defense was atrocious,” underscoring the team’s struggles in their second straight loss ([reviewjournal.com](https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/aces/aces-blown-out-by-lynx-in-back-to-back-stretch-of-road-trip-3403538/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). The blowout marks the worst defeat of the season for Las Vegas, who now face a critical stretch to regain form before the playoff push.

## Phoenix Mercury at New York Liberty
In Brooklyn, Sabrina Ionescu exploded for 29 points, five rebounds and eight assists on 11-of-21 shooting, and Jonquel Jones added 20 points with 11 boards to power the Liberty to an 89-76 win, their fifth in a row ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401736266), [netsdaily.com](https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/7/25/24474686/liberty-vs-mercury-89-76-sabrina-ionescu-jonquel-jones-alyssa-thomas)). New York trailed 54-49 early in the third quarter before an 18-5 run—capped by Jones’s buzzer-beater—to seize a 67-59 lead. From there, the Liberty never looked back, opening the fourth with a 10-2 spurt that ballooned the margin to 82-64.

Phoenix star Alyssa Thomas flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 20 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists, but the Mercury couldn’t overcome the balanced attack of New York ([espn.com](https://www.espn.com/wnba/recap/_/gameId/401736266)). Leonie Fiebich provided a timely spark off the bench, drilling three 3-pointers en route to 13 points. Coach Sandy Brondello praised her emergence, noting, “I don’t even know if I’d call [Fiebich]…a role player, because for us she’s a huge player…now she better be on everyone’s scouting report” ([netsdaily.com](https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/7/25/24474686/liberty-vs-mercury-89-76-sabrina-ionescu-jonquel-jones-alyssa-thomas)). The victory cements the Liberty’s grip on second place in the Eastern Conference and sends a statement to the rest of the league: the path to the Finals may run through Barclays Center.

## WNBA General News
• Kayla Thornton, forward for the Golden State Valkyries, was ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in Friday’s practice. The team announced the setback ahead of their Friday night game against the Dallas Wings ([abcnews.go.com](https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/kayla-thornton-season-knee-injury-124083562?utm_source=chatgpt.com)).

• As the league approaches its second half, Bleacher Report highlights three key storylines: Caitlin Clark’s ongoing rehabilitation from a groin injury, Angel Reese’s breakout campaign with the Chicago Sky, and which contenders will emerge as title favorites in the stretch run ([bleacherreport.com](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25229253-caitlin-clarks-health-angel-reeses-rise-and-wnbas-biggest-2nd-half-storylines?utm_source=chatgpt.com)). These narratives will shape WNBA discourse as teams jockey for positioning before the playoff race heats up.