Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd vs. Kia Nurse
Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and Kia Nurse played in front of a WNBA regular-season record crowd of 20,966 at the Bell Centre, home of the Montreal Canadiens, in Montreal on Friday night. The Canadians, and basketball fans in general, were treated to a dazzling performance by Bueckers as she scored a season-high 34 points on 13-of-22 shooting, including 2-of-5 from three and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. She also added six rebounds, six assists (with just one turnover) and two steals in 38 minutes. Fudd finished with 13 points, knocking down three triples while adding two assists and a steal. Azzi has now made at least three three-pointers in the same game six times this season.
Despite recording double-digits in two of her last three games, Nurse struggled to find her shot, going scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting, including 0-for-5 from beyond the arc.
After Paige scored 11 third-quarter points, the Wings still trailed 85-84 heading into the fourth quarter. Bueckers started the final frame with two straight assists that led to Alysha Clark three-pointers to put Dallas ahead, 90-87 with 7:42 to play. Nearly a minute later, the two-time WNBA All-Star came off a Jessica Shepard screen and hit a tough jumper in the paint between two Tempo defenders while drawing the foul. She would go on to make the free throw. On the next Wings possession, Bueckers turned to a familiar sequence that has given defenders trouble this season:
The behind-the-back crossover dribble into the step-back jumper from the left elbow is starting to emerge as one of the most recognizable parts of her offensive arsenal. Husky fans might remember a similar move that Paige pulled off at the PeoplesBank Arena against the Connecticut Sun back on July 2nd.
Back to Friday, as Bueckers picked up her third assist of the fourth quarter after Arike Ogunbowale knocked down a three-pointer to extend the Wings’ lead to 100-93. All three of Paige’s assists in the final quarter led to Wings’ triples. Bueckers made two free throws with 2:17 left to put Dallas up by double-digits, 106-95, and put the game out of reach. The Wings outscored the Tempo 24-10 in the final quarter. Bueckers accounted for 16 of those 24 points.
Azura Stevens vs. Paige Bueckers/Azzi Fudd
There was a ton of Husky firepower on Sunday in Dallas as both Azura Stevens and Paige Bueckers recorded double-doubles. While Azzi Fudd scored 16 points and made numerous impactful defensive plays as the Wings held off the Chicago Sky 96-91.
Bueckers posted a game-high 22 points with 11 assists, earning her second double-double of the season. Stevens scored 18 points and grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the year.
Bueckers recorded five assists in the first quarter, including three before scoring her first basket. Her third assist found Fudd in transition, who got off a quick-release three-pointer to cut the deficit to 12–10 Sky. Nearly 90 seconds later, it was Paige’s turn from behind the arc:
Moving to the second quarter, the Sky trailed by two until Stevens banked in a three-pointer to restore Chicago’s lead 31-30. Later, Fudd connected on a pull jumper and was fouled. She would go on to make the free throw. With under two minutes to go in the first half, Bueckers pumped faked to set herself up for a wide-open jumper and a 43-40 Wings lead.
Stevens was the first former Husky to score in the third quarter after she made her second three-pointer of the game to give the Sky a 52-48 lead. Later, she extended Chicago’s lead to seven after receiving the ball in the post and then driving around Li Yueru for the basket and the foul. Stevens would convert the old fashion three point play.
The Wings trailed by as many as eight points in the fourth quarter, but just like the Wings have done so many times this season, they started chipping away at their deficit. Fudd came off two screens, took a pass from Bueckers and drilled a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five, 82-77. Nearly two minutes later, Bueckers found Arike Ogunbowale for a jumper to bring Dallas within three, 84-81. After a Sky miss, Bueckers took a bounce pass from Jessica Shepard, turned and drove along the baseline for a layup that made it 84–83 with 4:17 to play.
Natasha Cloud converted two free throws to give the Sky a three-point lead again, 86-83. But then Azzi showed why she was worthy of the first overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft:
The three-pointer tied the game at 86, and Fudd with the airtight defense on fellow rookie Sydney Taylor. Shepard banked in a layup to give the Wings a 99-86 lead, their first lead since leading 48-46 midway through the third quarter. Then Bueckers connected with Ogunbowale for a floater and a 90-86 lead with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter. However, the Sky did not go quietly as Stevens buried her third three-pointer of the game right in front of her own bench to cut their deficit to 90-89 with 1:28 left. But Bueckers fed Shepard at the foul line, where she hit the jumper to extend the lead back to three with 1:12 to play. The Wings
The Wings (16-8) are now on a season-high five-game winning streak. While the Sky (7-16) have dropped two in a row and four out of their last five games.
Breanna Stewart
Breanna Stewart scored 17 points while knocking down two three-pointers for the second time in three games as the New York Liberty fell to the Minnesota Lynx 90–85 on Saturday in Minnesota. Stewart's 17 points were less than half of the season-high 36 she scored against the Lynx on July 3rd. Dorka Juhaz was held scoreless in 16 minutes for the Lynx.
On Sunday, the city of Montreal was treated to another instant classic as Kia Nurse and the Toronto Tempo held off a fourth quarter comeback to take down the Liberty 93-91 inside the Bell Centre. After scoring just four points on 2-of-11 from the field in the opening two quarters, the former Husky star scored 18 points in the second half, including a layup that tied the game at 91. New York had the ball coming out of a timeout, trailing by two with 12.4 seconds remaining. Stewart received the inbounds pass and drove to the rim but was unable to tie the game as she was well defended. The Liberty (13-11), who trailed by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter, are now on a three-game losing streak and have lost five out of their last six regular season games.
Nurse scored two points in five minutes off the bench as the Tempo (10-13) snapped a four-game losing streak.
Golden State “Huskies” vs. Olivia Nelson-Ododa/Aaliyah Edwards
The Golden State Valkyries have now won a franchise record seven games in a row after taking care of the Connecticut Sun 79-64 on Friday night at the Mohegan Sun. Tiffany Hayes scored nine points on a perfect 3-of-3 from the field and 3-of-4 from the free throw line. She also recorded five assists without committing a turnover for the first time since July 25th, 2023, when she was with the Sun. Kaityln Chen posted eight points and two steals. Kiah Stokes contributed five points, four rebounds and two assists.
Gabby Williams, who exited midway through the third quarter of Wednesday's 83-75 win over the Toronto Tempo with a back injury, did not play on Friday, marking her first missed game of the season. Williams, who leads the Valkyries in points per game (15.0) and field goal percentage (41.2%), has scored just nine points on 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%) over her last two games.
As for the Sun, Olivia Nelson-Ododa keeps piling up the double-digit performances, now seven in a row, after netting 12 points with eight rebounds, four assists, one steal and one block. Aaliyah Edwards scored 11 points, including her fourth three-pointer of the season with, two rebounds and two steals.
The Valkyries (17-7) are tied with the Lynx Las Vegas Aces for the most wins in the WNBA, while the Sun (5-16) have lost three of their last four games and own the league's worst record.
Liam McNeeley
Liam McNeeley has been one of the more impressive players so far this Summer League season. On Thursday, he scored a game-high 28 points on 9-of-18 shooting, including 7-of-8 from three and 3-of-4 from the free throw line in the Charlotte Hornets 86-74 win against the Orlando Magic. The seven three-pointers are the most made by McNeeley in any professional game, surpassing his previous NBA and G League career high of four. It is even more than the five he made on February 11th, 2025 during his 38-point masterpiece in a 70-66 UConn victory at #24 Creighton.
McNeeley carried his hot shooting into Saturday's game against the New Orleans Pelicans.
McNeeley finished with 17 points, five rebounds, five assists and two blocks in 27 minutes. The Pelicans finished the game by scoring 15 of the final 17 points, securing a 95–91 win.
On Sunday, the Hornets dropped their second straight game, this time to the Boston Celtics, 87-75. McNeeley netted 20 points on 6-of-14 shooting with eight rebounds, one assist and five turnovers.
Tarris Reed Jr.
Reed Jr. recorded his second straight double-double on Thursday against the Atlanta Hawks. In a matchup against former St. John’s star Zuby Ejiofor, Tarris scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 2-of-2 from the free throw line with 10 rebounds, two assists and one steal in just 21 minutes of work as the Hawks won 93-86.
On Saturday, Reed Jr. had his toughest Summer League game as he scored five points on just 2-of-9 shooting against the New York Knicks. He still grabbed nine rebounds, but he had two assists with five turnovers in the Spurs’ 70-49 victory.
Reed Jr. did not suit up for the Spurs’ 90-80 win against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night. The Spurs' Summer League coaching staff said they are managing his workload by avoiding playing on back-to-back days after his long college season. Of course, Reed Jr. played his final collegiate game on April 6th in the national championship game.
Spurs Summer League head coach Corliss Williamson told Sports Illustrated last week, "We didn't want to play him in any back-to-backs right now…. We're just trying to monitor him and make sure he gets the proper rest."
Reed Jr. also sat out the second game of a back-to-back during the California Classic last week. The rookie is expected to have a role behind Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet in the Spurs frontcourt next season.
The Spurs return to Summer League action on Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. The team does not have any more back-to-backs on their schedule at this time.
Alex Karaban
Alex Karaban’s professional career has gotten off to a slow start. After injuring his right ankle in a practice back on July 2nd, Karaban missed all three of the Sacramento Kings California Classic Sumemr League games.
However, Karaban was ready to go in the Kings’ Vegas Summer League opener against the Clippers on Thursday. The two-time national champion did not score on six shot attempts, four from three, with two rebounds, one assist, three turnovers, and one block in 24 minutes of action. Even though Karaban could not find his rhythm, the Kings defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 91-85.
On Sunday night, Karaban scored three points, but only took three shots. He also finished with two rebounds and one turnover in 23 minutes.
No doubt, that shot felt good for Karaban! The Kings lost to the Washington Wizards, 104-85.
Tristen Newton
Tristen Newton made his 2026 Summer League debut on Friday in front of his former head coach, Dan Hurley on Friday. Hurley was on the ESPN broadcast while Newton was on the floor, and you could easily tell who he was rooting for:
Hurley also mentioned that UConn's success is not measured solely by developing NBA talent or competing for national championships, but by the program's ability to accomplish both.
Newton finished the game with 13 points on 3-of-9 shooting, 0-of-4 from three, and 4-of-7 from the free throw line with three rebounds, two assists, and three steals in 26 minutes of action. The Rockets defeated the Denver Nuggets 97-86.
On Saturday, the 2024 NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding player scored 18 points behind three triples with four rebounds. He turned it over three times without an assist and recorded two steals in 28 minutes.
Serah Williams
Serah Williams provided a huge spark off the bench as she scored a career-high 15 points in just 13 minutes to help lead the Portland Fire to a 102-92 win over the Atlanta Dream. Williams did not miss a shot as she went 6-of-6 from the field and 3-of-3 from the free throw line.
10 of those points came in the thrid quarter as three separate times Williams gave the Fire a one-point lead.
In her lone season in Storrs, Williams' UConn career high was 14 points, scored in an 84–39 Big East Tournament quarterfinal victory against Georgetown on March 7th.
Aidan Mahaney (Minnesota Timberwolves)
- Thursday: DNP (Coach’s Decision) in Timberwolves 105-92 win over the Pelicans
- Saturday: 1 rebound in 1 minute. The Timberwolves lost to the Denver Nuggets 101-82.
Azura Stevens (Chicago Sky)
- FRIDAY: 10 points (4-7 FG, 1-3 3-FG, 1-1 FT), 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block in 30 minutes. The Sky lost to the Los Angeles Sparks 102-87.
Katie Lou Samuelson (Seattle Storm)
- THURSDAY: 3 points (1-1 FG, 1-1 FT) in 12 minutes. The Storm fell to the Atlanta Dream 89-78.
- SUNDAY: 3 points (1-2 3-FG) in 12 minutes. The Storm lost to the Washington Mystics 84-79.
Stefanie Dolson (Seattle Storm)
- THURSDAY: 4 points (1-2 FG, 2-2 FT), 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block in 13 minutes. The Storm fell to the Atlanta Dream 89-78.
- SUNDAY: 3 points (1-1 3-FG), 1 steal in 14 minutes. The Storm lost to the Washington Mystics 84-79.
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