Full Breakdown
Lynx Defeat Aces to Extend League-Leading Record
8/9/2026, 11:27:58 AM
Game Summary
The Minnesota Lynx beat the Las Vegas Aces 98-87 on Saturday at the Target Center, improving their WNBA-best record to 26-7. Rookie point guard Olivia Miles led Minnesota with 26 points, while forward Napheesa Collier added 22. The Lynx built a four-point halftime edge and pulled away in the third quarter after reserve Dorka Juhász hit back-to-back three-pointers. A late flagrant foul on Jewell Loyd sparked a five-point swing that sealed the victory.
Background & Context
Minnesota entered the matchup atop the league, having already secured the No. 1 seed for the 2025 season and reaching the 2024 Finals. The team’s success this year has been driven by Miles, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA draft, who entered the game averaging 19.8 points, 5.8 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals per contest. Collier, returning after missing the first 26 games with ankle surgery, had appeared in only six games before the contest.
Data & Statistics
- Final score: Lynx 98, Aces 87.
- Scoring leaders: Miles 26 (7 AST, 4 REB), Collier 22 (5 REB, 3 AST), Jackie Young 23 for Las Vegas.
- Shooting: Lynx made 15 of 27 three-point attempts (?56 %); Aces made 10 of 27 (?37 %).
- Turnovers: Aces committed 16 turnovers, 10 of which were converted into 22 Lynx points.
- Defensive impact: Aces’ A’ja Wilson finished with 16 points on 5-for-17 shooting and was the second player in WNBA history to reach 6,500 points, 2,500 rebounds, 500 assists, 500 blocks and 300 steals, joining Candace Parker.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I had too many (turnovers) on my part,” — Jackie Young
- “I thought we had a pretty clear and basic game plan, and this was probably one of our poorest execution games,” — Becky Hammon, aces head coach
- “I kind of had to take on a little bit more of a load without her on the court,” — Olivia Miles
- “Effort, IQ, consistency, knowledge of the game, experience. I mean, I could go on and on.” — Napheesa Collier
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Two outlets reported that the victory clinched a playoff berth for Minnesota. The discrepancy highlights the league’s pending tiebreaker calculations.
What’s Next
The Aces travel to Brooklyn for a Sunday game against the New York Liberty at Barclays Center, marking the final stop of their five-game road trip. Minnesota’s schedule following the win was not detailed in the available sources.
