Who Ran The WNBA This Week: Week 12
Who Ran The WNBA This Week: Indiana Fever Surge, A’ja Wilson Makes History & The Aces Clinch
The playoff picture is starting to come into focus, and Week 12 brought plenty of movement around the WNBA. The Aces officially punched their ticket to the postseason, the Sun became the second team eliminated, and teams like the Fever and Valkyries continued to make their cases as the regular season heads toward the finish line.
There was plenty happening beyond the standings too. A’ja Wilson climbed another spot on the league’s all-time scoring list, while some of the most important figures in women’s basketball history were celebrated in Springfield. With the official Week 12 Power Rankings providing the latest look at where every team stands, here’s who ran the WNBA this week.
TEAMS & PLAYERS TO HIGHLIGHT
Golden State Valkyries
Golden State is quietly putting together another impressive run. The Valkyries have won five straight heading into Monday’s matchup with Dallas, keeping themselves firmly in the No. 2 spot and within striking distance of Minnesota. With the WNBA playoffs approaching, Golden State is showing that last year’s surprise run was no fluke — this team is becoming a legitimate championship contender.
Caitlin Clark & Indiana Fever
The Fever are quickly becoming one of the biggest stories of the second half of the season. Indiana has won nine of its last 11 games and moved into fourth place at 23-12, while Caitlin Clark has been on an absolute tear. Over her last 11 games, Clark is averaging 26.3 points, 9.4 assists and 3.5 rebounds, giving the Fever one of the most dangerous offensive engines in the league heading into the playoff push. She followed that stretch with 26 points and nine assists in Sunday’s overtime win over Atlanta, helping the Fever win its fourth. Kelsey Mitchell’s historic scoring streak (consecutive 20-point games) now sits at 19, which is another reason Indiana’s offense has remained so effective. In addition, Aliyah Boston has recorded three double-doubles in her last four games.
Portland Fire
Don’t look now, but Portland is still alive. The Fire went 2-1 in their three games this week, including back-to-back wins over Seattle and Phoenix, and have now won four of their last five. They’re still outside the playoff field, but Portland has made the final stretch much more interesting than it looked a few weeks ago.
STORYLINES OF THE WEEK
A Historic Hall of Fame Weekend
It was a huge weekend for women’s basketball history, with Candace Parker, Elena Delle Donne, Chamique Holdsclaw and the 1996 United States Women’s National Team all being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Each represented a different chapter of the sport’s growth. Parker became one of the most accomplished players ever; Delle Donne dominated across multiple eras; Holdsclaw helped put women’s basketball on an even bigger stage in the late 1990s; and the 1996 Olympic team helped lay the foundation for the WNBA’s launch later that year.
A’ja Wilson Passes Candace Parker
A’ja Wilson added another major milestone to her already historic career this week (August 15), passing Candace Parker for 11th place on the WNBA’s all-time scoring list. The timing made it even more special, with Parker being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame the same weekend. Wilson is now officially climbing the same record books that Parker helped define, and considering how much of her career is still ahead of her, she has a chance to move much higher on the list.
The Aces Are In
Las Vegas officially punched its ticket to the postseason this week, becoming the second team to clinch a playoff berth behind the Minnesota Lynx. The Aces may have lost to Minnesota on Saturday, but getting back into the postseason keeps A’ja and company in position to make another championship run. Now the focus shifts from simply making the playoffs to where Las Vegas will finish in the standings — and whether anyone can knock Minnesota off the top.
The Sun Are Done
The Connecticut Sun became the second team officially eliminated from playoff contention this season, ending their postseason hopes after a difficult year. Connecticut had made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons from 2017 through 2024, making the fall from perennial contender to eliminated team especially notable. The Sun now turns its attention to the future, with the franchise also preparing for its upcoming relocation. Seattle was previously eliminated, while the other teams near the bottom are trying to avoid joining it.
BEST GAMES OF LAST WEEK
Lynx 85, Fire 81 — August 12
Minnesota nearly let this one slip away. The Lynx built a 29-point lead before Portland mounted a furious comeback, but Minnesota ultimately led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds as the Lynx continued their dominant run.
Liberty 85, Sparks 81 — August 13
The Liberty looked like they were cruising before Los Angeles made things interesting. New York led by as many as 28 points, but the Sparks erupted for 40 fourth quarter points and nearly completed the comeback. Rae Burrell scored 28 for Los Angeles, while Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 20.
Fire 84, Storm 82 — August 14
Portland followed up its near comeback against Minnesota by getting the job done against Seattle. The Fire escaped with an 84-82 victory in another close game, keeping their playoff hopes alive. Portland has now won four of its last five and continues to make things interesting down the stretch.
Lynx 92, Aces 87 — August 15
The league’s top team took down one of its biggest challengers in a matchup that felt like a playoff preview. Minnesota beat Las Vegas to win the season series, despite 32 points from A’ja Wilson. The Aces still had reason to celebrate after officially clinching a playoff berth.
Sky 82, Storm 80 — August 16
Chicago finally snapped its six-game road losing streak by holding off Seattle in another two-point thriller. Kamilla Cardoso came up big with 22 points and 12 rebounds, helping the Sky secure a much-needed victory. Meanwhile, Seattle continues to look toward the future after being eliminated from playoff contention.
Fever 95, Dream 91 (OT) — August 16
This was one of the biggest games of the week from a playoff perspective. Indiana erased a fourth-quarter deficit before taking control in overtime, with Makayla Timpson scoring 20 points and knocking down Indiana’s first three field goals of the extra period. Indiana’s big three: Clark (26 points, 9 assists), Mitchell (20 points) and Boston (18 points, 14 rebounds) did just enough to outlast a career-high tying night from Allisha Gray (32 points). The win moved the Fever to 23-12 and strengthened their hold on fourth place.
Fire 88, Mercury 85 — August 16
Portland just refuses to go away. The Fire rallied past Phoenix 88-85 to pick up their fourth win in five games and remain alive in the playoff race. Carla Leite led Portland with 23 points, while the victory spoiled an emotional night in Phoenix as the Mercury celebrated Diana Taurasi’s jersey retirement.
GAMES TO LOOK FORWARD TO THIS WEEK
Wings vs. Valkyries — August 17
Golden State can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Dallas, while the Wings are trying to strengthen their own postseason position. The Valkyries already beat Dallas 94-76 earlier this month, giving the Wings an opportunity to get some revenge.
Dream vs. Aces — August 18
Atlanta needs to bounce back after Sunday’s overtime loss to Indiana, while Las Vegas is looking to build on its playoff-clinching week. The Dream are fighting for a top-four seed, making this another important matchup for the standings.
Lynx vs. Valkyries — August 19
The top two teams in the WNBA will face off in what could be an early preview of the postseason. Minnesota is still sitting comfortably atop the league, while Golden State is trying to close the gap and protect its No. 2 position.
Fever vs. Wings — August 20
Indiana’s push up the standings continues against a Dallas team trying to hold onto its playoff position. The Fever have won nine of their last 11, so the Wings will have their hands full trying to slow down one of the league’s hottest teams.
Lynx vs. Mystics — August 21
Minnesota will look to keep rolling against a Washington team battling to maintain its place in the playoff picture. The Lynx have been nearly unbeatable lately, but the Mystics have plenty at stake as the postseason race enters its final stretch.
Fever vs. Liberty — August 22
This could be one of the most intriguing matchups of the week, with Indiana continuing its climb and New York trying to stay near the top of the standings in their own right. The Fever have already shown they can compete with the league’s best, which makes this potential playoff matchup even more enticing.
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The WNBA’s Uneven Whistle Continues To Put Black Women In Danger [Op-Ed]
