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last mo.

Valkyries Close In on Playoffs as Sparks Rally Tightens WNBA Race

Lengthy clock delays plus Caitlin Clark’s continued absence shaped a pivotal stretch in the late-season scramble.

Aug 31, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; LA Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) reacts against the Washington Mystics in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • Golden State beat Indiana 75-63 to complete a season sweep, with Iliana Rupert scoring a career-high 21 points on five 3-pointers as the Valkyries cut their magic number to three.
  • Repeated shot-clock failures tied to a Chase Center power outage caused long first-half stoppages, but Golden State’s defense still held the Fever to 33.3% shooting and limited Aliyah Boston to four points.
  • Los Angeles edged Washington 81-78 behind Dearica Hamby’s 20 points and 12 rebounds, and she recorded the 100th block of her WNBA career.
  • The Sparks then stunned Seattle 91-85 with an 11-0 closing run, led by Hamby’s 27 points and 11 boards and Rickea Jackson’s 23, pulling within 1.5 games of the Storm and Fever for the final two playoff spots.
  • Four teams have clinched berths (Lynx, Aces, Dream, Mercury) as tiebreakers loom large, with Golden State owning the head-to-head over Los Angeles and key games still ahead this week.