The WNBA playoffs are getting closer, and the Atlanta Dream and Dallas Wings made sure to end their regular seasons on a high, defeating the New York Liberty 83-65 and the Seattle Storm 103-91, respectively. These two curtain-drop games, however, were about considerably more than the final scores.

From an Angel Reese injury scare and Breanna Stewart’s absence to Jessica Shepard’s sixth triple-double of the season and a glimpse at what the Storm’s young core could bring in the future. Here is a closer look at everything that unfolded across these two games.

Angel Reese Suffers Injury Scare After Taking Hit to Face in Dream’s Win

There were plenty of positives to take from the Dream’s win over the Liberty. Their fifth straight victory secured the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage while also tying the franchise record for most regular-season wins at 30. But the win also came with a major concern.

Angel Reese had to exit the game early after taking a blow to the face and did not return for the remainder of the contest.

The incident occurred in the second quarter while Angel Reese was aggressively guarding Sabrina Ionescu on the wing. As Ionescu drove the ball and attempted to create space, she extended her arm backward, her elbow catching Reese directly in the face.

Reese immediately clutched her head in pain and walked back toward the locker room before briefly returning to the court to convert two awarded free throws, then heading back inside for halftime.

The Bayou Barbie ultimately finished the night with six points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals in just under 17 minutes, as she did not return for the rest of the game. In fact, she stayed in the locker room for the opening minutes of the third quarter before eventually returning to the bench.

Following the game, however, Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko confirmed that Reese had been officially cleared by the medical staff to re-enter the game, and that holding her out for the entire second half was entirely his decision. With the Dream commanding a sizable lead and the first round of the playoffs just four days away, the coaching staff simply chose to prioritize safety and rest over risking her health.

As for Sabrina Ionescu, she ended up receiving a Flagrant 1 foul for the contact. Referees initially called a standard offensive foul, but after reviewing the replay, the call was upgraded to a Flagrant 1.

The officiating crew determined that the contact included a wind-up motion and constituted a non-basketball play with potential for injury. This will be Ionescu’s first flagrant violation of the season.

But for Chris DeMarco, Sabrina’s flagrant and the loss may have been the least of his worries.

Liberty Finish as No. 8 Seed Without Breanna Stewart

The game also saw them take the court without Breanna Stewart, who was sidelined with left knee soreness.

Stewart had woken up on Wednesday feeling significant soreness, which coach Chris DeMarco attributed to a specific play from Monday’s first leg of their back-to-back against Atlanta, a game in which Stewart had played 37 minutes and produced 27 points and 14 rebounds.

With Wednesday’s game being the third in four days and the playoffs beginning just days later, the coaching staff made the straightforward decision to sit her out entirely as a precautionary measure two hours before the tip-off. 

As expected, Stewart’s absence was immediately visible in the Liberty’s performance. Without their cornerstone, they needed others to step forward. And of course, players like Marine Fauthoux provided one of the brighter individual performances with 14 points and four assists.

Jonquel Jones also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds before she too left the game in the third quarter after appearing to tweak her left ankle. 

These efforts were, however, not enough to overcome the deficit and the Dream’s dominant second quarter. And with this defeat, the New York Liberty remain locked into the No. 8 seed, which means a first-round playoff matchup against the Minnesota Lynx, the No. 1 overall seed, awaits them.

The more pressing concern heading out of Wednesday’s game, however, is the health picture. Stewart’s knee soreness and Jones’ ankle issue are now both hanging over the Liberty’s playoff preparation. 

“I’m not sure yet on the workload piece or the availability,” coach DeMarco said of Breanna Stewart after the game. “Hopefully she’ll be ready for the playoffs.”

Sabrina Ionescu, however, was more reassuring, telling reporters that “obviously, nothing serious happened” to either Stewart or Jones.

Hopefully Ionescu is right. The Liberty will desperately need both players healthy and available if they are going to have any chance of making any meaningful run in the postseason.

Jessica Shepard Records Sixth Triple-Double of Season in Wings’ Victory

While injury concerns surrounding Stewie, Jones, and Reese grabbed plenty of attention in Atlanta, Jessica Shepard was putting together another historic performance in Seattle.

The Dallas Wings forward finished with 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists to record her sixth triple-double of the season. Notably, it was also her second since returning from the World Cup break, having recorded one in her first game back against the Los Angeles Sparks.

Beyond the triple-double itself, Shepard was impressively efficient against the Storms. She knocked down nine of her 12 field goal attempts. She also played a major role in Dallas’ ability to control the game offensively, with her 12 assists helping the Wings finish with a strong 32 assists as a team. Her presence on the glass also helped Dallas repel Seattle’s attempts to claw back into the game. 

After the game, Paige Bueckers was quick to acknowledge what Shepard means to the team, describing her as a leader who, she’s so happy to be playing alongside. 

“Jess has meant so much to this team,” Bueckers said in her televised postgame interview. “She pushes the ball for us, and she’s just a leader. I’m just so happy to have her on the team.”

Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale Lead Dallas Past Seattle

Jessica Shepard may have stolen the spotlight with her triple-double, but the Dallas Wings had plenty of other contributors driving their victory. Notably, Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale provided the scoring punch the Wings needed to get past a determined Seattle side.

Bueckers finished with 25 points, five rebounds, and seven assists, continuing her impressive form heading into the playoffs. She was especially important down the stretch, knocking down a three-pointer with under a minute remaining to push Dallas back ahead after Seattle had threatened to complete a dramatic comeback.

Ogunbowale also bounced back emphatically. After struggling in Dallas’ previous game against Phoenix, she responded with 23 points and six assists against the Storm, shooting efficiently from the floor and repeatedly coming up with important baskets whenever Seattle threatened to make another run.

Shepard, Bueckers, and Ogunbowale combined for 68 points between them, powering the Wings to a win that completed one of the most remarkable turnarounds in WNBA history.

Dallas Wings Complete Historic 17-Win Turnaround

After winning just 10 games last season, Dallas finished this campaign with 27 victories, producing a 17-win improvement that sets a new WNBA record for the biggest single-season turnaround.

The result was particularly impressive considering how the game unfolded. Dallas raced out to a commanding 29-12 lead after the opening quarter and appeared firmly in control. The Seattle Storm, however, fought back in the second quarter, cutting the deficit to seven by halftime, but the Wings regained command after the break. 

And even when the Storm mounted another late comeback, cutting the deficit from 19 points to just six with a 17-4 run in the fourth quarter, the Wings still found a response, with Awak Kuier and Paige Bueckers knocking down back-to-back three-pointers to stop the momentum.

For a team that won only 10 games a year ago, ending the regular season with 27 victories and a confirmed playoff berth is a transformation that goes well beyond what anyone predicted heading into 2026.

But the story of this game wasn’t just about Dallas’ remarkable turnaround.

Seattle’s Young Core Provides Bright Spot Again Despite Loss

The final result was disappointing for Seattle, but their young core showed exactly why there is reason for genuine optimism about what is coming.

Dominique Malonga led the Storm with 29 points and eight rebounds, continuing to demonstrate her scoring ability even against a Dallas Wings team that controlled most of the night. Awa Fam also delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 22 points for a new season and career high.

And perhaps most significantly of all, Flau’jae Johnson added 21 points and six rebounds to finish her first WNBA season with 626 points. Her 626 points broke Breanna Stewart’s franchise record for most points scored by a Storm rookie, the perfect individual note on which to end her first professional season.

The performances from Malonga, Fam, and Johnson provided another compelling reminder that there is significant young talent to build around in Seattle. An exciting future lies ahead for the Storm.