WNBA Fast Break Classic | Run 8 | Day 5
Today’s Objective(s): 40 Points in the Paint & 5 Offensive Rebounds
Overview:
We’ve reached the end of the first half of this run and we’ve had two days with over 90% winners, one a hair over 50%, and one slightly above 40%. As such, we still have a high number of participants who are a perfect 4 for 4 in games this series. Today’s objectives are achievable based on the parameters outlined and there are a number of players who can get you across the line.
After Run 8, we will have two more series before the end of the WNBA Season followed by an inevitably eventful postseason. Minnesota is the clear front-runner as they’ve continued to win even without Napheesa Collier, which bodes well for their title hopes. But there are a number of clear contenders in the wings, ready to pounce on any missteps. The latest Power Rankings can be found at the end of this article.
If you’re interested, a summary of Sunday’s games are below followed by a preview of today’s five games.
WNBA Score(s): August 17th
Fever Rally Past Sun in Overtime Thriller (IND 99, CON 93)
Indiana erased a 21-point deficit to stun Connecticut 99–93 in OT, powered by Kelsey Mitchell’s career-high-tying 38 points. Aliyah Boston anchored the paint with a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double, while Lexie Hull’s clutch corner three sealed the comeback. The Fever’s resilience keeps them firmly in the playoff mix, while the Sun’s late-game execution faltered despite 27 from Marina Mabrey.
Mystics Torch Sparks with Citron’s Career Night (WAS 95, LAS 86)
Washington outpaced Los Angeles 95–86 behind Sonia Citron’s 24-point outburst and Kiki Iriafen’s 18-point, 10-rebound double-double. The Mystics shot a blistering 59.3% from the field and dominated the glass 35–15, neutralizing standout efforts from Dearica Hamby (26 pts, 7 ast) and Kelsey Plum (25 pts). The win snapped LA’s momentum and elevated Washington’s postseason hopes.
Aces Extend Streak with Offensive Clinic vs. Wings (LVA 106, DAL 87)
Las Vegas overwhelmed Dallas 106–87, notching their seventh straight win behind A’ja Wilson’s 34 points and Chelsea Gray’s 14-assist double-double. Kierstan Bell added 18, hitting six threes, as the Aces tied their season high for points and threes made. Dallas struggled defensively, allowing Vegas to shoot 52.9% from deep and dominate the tempo wire to wire.
Mercury Edge Storm Behind Thomas’ Triple-Double (PHO 85, SEA 82)
Phoenix escaped Seattle 85–82 thanks to Alyssa Thomas’ fifth triple-double of the season (19 pts, 11 ast, 10 reb). Kahleah Copper chipped in 17, and Sami Whitcomb hit key threes to keep the Mercury ahead. Seattle rallied late behind Nneka Ogwumike’s 24 points and Skylar Diggins’ 14, but Phoenix’s late-game execution proved decisive.
Dream Crush Valkyries with Second-Half Surge (ATL 79, GSV 63)
Atlanta dismantled Golden State 79–63, flipping a tied halftime score into a rout with a 30–8 run across the third and fourth quarters. Rhyne Howard led with 14 points and six assists, while Brionna Jones added 13 and nine boards. The Valkyries’ four-game win streak snapped as Iliana Rupert exited with a concussion, leaving a void in their interior defense.
Recap: Day 4
Day 4 was a middle of the road kind of day as more than 50% of Fast Break participants earned a win, but not much over that threshold (58%). As both rebounds & blocks were needed, E. Magbegor, A. Stevens, A. Boston, A. Wilson, & B. Jones were the most utilized players. Of those players, Aliyah Boston contributed the most as she gathered 13 rebounds to go with her 2 blocks. With her performance, she earned the Fast Break Star of the Day. Honorable mention goes to A’ja Wilson who had 3 blocks and 8 rebounds.
Azura Stevens saw the second highest usage, but could only muster two rebounds along with no blocks. For many, this put them in a hole that was too much to overcome. With that said, she was the biggest underperformer of the day and earned the Fast Break Dud of the Day honors.
Today’s Matchups:
Minnesota Lynx (28-5) @ New York Liberty (21-13)
The Minnesota Lynx visit the New York Liberty for their third and final regular-season meeting, with Minnesota favored after winning both prior matchups. Despite Napheesa Collier’s absence, the Lynx have leaned on Kayla McBride and Courtney Williams to maintain their defensive dominance. New York, still without Breanna Stewart, will rely on Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones to spark a response. With playoff seeding tightening, Minnesota’s cohesion and two-way efficiency make them the projected winner.
Connecticut Sun (6-27) @ Washington Mystics (16-18)
Connecticut heads to CareFirst Arena to face the Washington Mystics, who’ve taken both previous meetings this season by double digits. The Mystics are favored again, with Sonia Citron and Shakira Austin leading a squad that’s fighting to stay in the playoff mix. Tina Charles remains Connecticut’s anchor, but the Sun’s offensive struggles and lack of depth suggest Washington will likely complete the season sweep.
Seattle Storm (17-18) @ Chicago Sky (8-25)
Seattle travels to Wintrust Arena to face the Chicago Sky, with the Storm entering as the clear favorite. Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins continue to pace Seattle’s offense, while Chicago leans on Kamilla Cardoso and Rachel Banham amid a rebuilding stretch. With the Sky ranking near the bottom in defensive efficiency, Seattle is projected to control tempo and secure a much-needed road win.
Atlanta Dream (22-12) @ Las Vegas Aces (21-14)
The Atlanta Dream face a red-hot Las Vegas Aces team in what will likely be a physical, playoff-caliber battle. Vegas is slightly favored at home, with A’ja Wilson and Chelsea Gray leading a squad that’s won three of the last four meetings against Atlanta. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard will be key for the Dream, but Vegas’s interior defense and home-court edge gives them the projected advantage.
Phoenix Mercury (20-13) @ Golden State Valkyries (18-16)
Phoenix heads to Chase Center to face the Golden State Valkyries, with both teams jockeying for playoff position. The Mercury are slight favorites, riding Satou Sabally’s scoring and Alyssa Thomas’s all-around impact (and five straight triple-doubles). Golden State counters with Veronica Burton & Cecelia Zandalasini, but injuries and recent inconsistency have slowed their momentum. With Phoenix winning two of their last three road games, they’re projected to edge out a close one.
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Today’s Objective(s): Day 5
You’ll need five (5) players who will score 40.0 or more points in the paint and accumulate 5.0 or more offensive rebounds, which means each player will need to average 8.0 PITP & 1.0 OREB. With five (5) games on today’s schedule (most for the remainder of the series), your options are broader than they will be for the rest of this run, so utilize the flexibility to ensure the rest of your run is filled without detrimentally affecting today.
As points in the paint and offensive rebounds are correlated, you’ll have a number of players who can get you both. Of course, there are specialists in each area, so you can moneyball it and utilize players who excel in one objective or the other. Both objectives also have the capability of tripping you up for today.
Top Player Options:
Little of Both: A'ja Wilson, Kamilla Cardoso, Alyssa Thomas, Nneka Ogwumike, Shakira Austin
Inside Scorers: A'ja Wilson, Kamilla Cardoso, Alyssa Thomas, Nneka Ogwumike, Shakira Austin
(Offensive) Glass Crashers: Kamilla Cardoso, Kiki Iriafen, Brionna Jones, Jessica Shepard, Aneesah Morrow, Angel Reese, A'ja Wilson, Ezi Magbegor, NaLyssa Smith, Alyssa Thomas
Top Five (5) Players in Pro Lineups: T. Charles (64%) | B. Jones (55%) | A. Thomas (46%) | K. Cardoso (41%) | S. Austin (40%)
Upcoming Fast Break Objectives:
Objectives Remaining (after today):
2x: STL
1x: AST, 3PM, 3PA, FTM, FGM, PTS, REB, BLK
Next Objective (tomorrow): 15 Assists & 3 Steals (3.0 AST & 0.6 STL)
Considerations:
Minnesota & Washington has the most number of games this run (4)
Los Angeles has the least number of games this run (1)
Day 5 (today) have the most teams in action (10)
Day 6 (tomorrow) has the least teams in action (2); plan your lineups around these dates
Los Angeles’s last game is on Day 6 (tomorrow)
Phoenix’s last game is on Day 8
Statistical Approach:
Top players in points in the paint & offensive rebounds according to Rotowire & WNBA.com, which is available in the table(s) below. Overall rank is based on daily projections and season averages, which is stack ranked amongst peers for each objective. When there is a single objective, the three data points are still used to stack rank the players vs. ranking solely on projections. For tome+ members, all active player stats are available in the provided data file. Omission of certain players would be based on injuries at the time of data pull.
Classic Run Rewards:
Daily Reward: Top 200
Milestone Reward: 3, 7, & 10 Wins
Run Reward: Top 250
Additional Links & Resources:
nbatopshot.com/fastbreak - set your lineup
Flowty.io - find/rent moments for your Fast Break roster
Top Player Options for Fast Break:
The top players for today’s Fast Break objective(s). Source: Rotowire & WNBA.com, 2025.
Projected Points in the Paint
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Projected Offensive Rebounds
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Projected PITP & OREB
WNBA Fast Break Grid
It's essential to consider the opponents, recent performance, and any injury updates before finalizing your Fast Break lineup. Additionally, staying up to date on the latest news and adjusting your roster accordingly will enhance your chances of earning a win today.
WNBA Key Dates:
September 11: Regular Season Ends
September 14-October 17: WNBA Playoffs
Power Rankings (Week 12):
There is less than a month remaining in the WNBA regular season and things are getting spicy outside of the top spot where Minnesota has a stranglehold on the top seed.
Top Seed Locked: Minnesota is cruising toward the No. 1 seed and have six-game cushion ahead of the 2nd rank team
Home Court Jockeying: Atlanta, Phoenix, & New York continue battling for home court advantage in the playoffs, but Las Vegas is now in the picture due to a lengthy win streak
Middle Mayhem: Indiana, Golden State, Los Angeles, Washington, & Seattle are fighting for the three (3) remaining playoff spots
There’s Always Next Season: Dallas, Connecticut, & Chicago are parked in the lower end of the standings and aren’t escaping this season unless a miracle happens
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