WNBA Fast Break Classic | Run 10 | Day 3
Today’s Objective(s): 5 Steals & 3 Blocks
Overview:
Fast Break day two in the books and it was another 50%+ win day as 63% walked away victorious, but it was low enough where the majority of participants are not perfect on the series. It is also early enough in the run where there is space to earn the mid-tier pack, even if you’re sitting at no wins.
With a week left in the 2025 WNBA Season, we are coming down to the wire on postseason spots and every day and game has impact on the final standings. Phoenix and Las Vegas earned a win, which kept them on pace for the second seed with Atlanta as the three teams have identical records. It also means New York will likely start on the road in their title defense as they’re sitting three games behind the 4th seed with 3 games remaining on their schedule.
Golden State is catching fire at the right moment and their win against lowly Dallas secured their first postseason berth in team history. This means Seattle, Indiana, and Los Angeles will fight for the final two spots remaining. As Caitlin Clark confirmed she would be out the remainder of the year, Indiana will need Kelsey Mitchell and others to help them hold off a hot Sparks team. With three games remaining for Indiana, they control their own destiny. Fortunately, they’re playing against Chicago whereas Los Angeles is facing a tough Atlanta team.
WNBA Score(s): September 3rd
Mercury Grind Past Mystics for Sixth Straight Win (Phoenix 75, Washington 69)
Phoenix continued its late-season surge with a 75–69 win over Washington, marking its sixth consecutive victory. Kahleah Copper led the Mercury with 18 points, while Alyssa Thomas flirted with a triple-double—12 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists. Sami Whitcomb added four threes, and Satou Sabally chipped in 10 points and 6 boards. Rookie Kiki Iriafen posted her 16th double-double of the season (18 pts, 13 reb), setting a franchise record for Washington. The Mystics closed the gap with a late 7–0 run, but Phoenix’s composure sealed the result. The Mercury improved to 27–14, keeping pace with Atlanta and Las Vegas for the second seed in the playoffs.
Valkyries Hold Off Wings Behind Bueckers’ Scoring Surge (Golden State 84, Dallas 80)
Golden State secured its fifth straight win with an 84–80 victory over Dallas, holding firm in the No. 6 seed spot in the West. Paige Bueckers erupted for 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting, keeping the Wings within striking distance throughout while Haley Jones added 18 points. For Golden State, Janelle Salaun scored 19 points to pace the Valkyries, but they also saw double digit scoring contributions from Veronica Burton, Iliana Rupert, Carla Leite, & Monique Billings. Dallas would trim the lead to four in the final minute but couldn’t convert on their final possession. The Wings dropped to 9–33 while Golden State officially secured their postseason spot.
Aces Snap Lynx Streak Behind Wilson’s 31 (Las Vegas 97, Minnesota 87)
Las Vegas set a franchise record with its 13th straight win, defeating the league-leading Lynx 97–87 in a high-stakes matchup with postseason implications. A’ja Wilson poured in 31 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, tying a WNBA record with her 12th 30-point game of the season. Jackie Young added 20 points and Chelsea Gray chipped in 14, including a buzzer-beating layup to close the third quarter. The Aces shot 55.1% from the field and hit 11 threes, flipping the script after losing their last six meetings with Minnesota. Natisha Hiedeman led the Lynx with 22 points off the bench, while Courtney Williams and Napheesa Collier combined for 26. Minnesota fell to 32–10, while Vegas moved into a three-way tie for second at 27–14.
Recap: Day 2
A’ja Wilson was the most utilized player as 77% of lineups included her and she delivered as she scored 14 points in the paint and one offensive rebound. With her performance, which contributed to the big win over the top seed, she earned the Fast Break Star of the Day.
Of the four other players, none outperformed. Neither Alyssa Thomas, Shakira Austin, Napheesa Collier, nor Maddy Siegrist scored more than 8 points in the paint and all but Maddy had at least one offensive rebound. If you were one of the 63% who earned a win and had at least one of these players on your roster, you probably don’t mind. If, however, they contributed to your loss, any of the four could be your vote for Fast Break Dud of the Day.
Today’s Matchups:
Los Angeles Sparks (19-21) @ Atlanta Dream (27-14) | 7:30PM ET | 11:30PM UTC
At Gateway Center Arena, the Atlanta Dream take on the Los Angeles Sparks in a matchup that favors the home team with a 70.9% win probability. Atlanta’s top-tier defense, led by Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, will look to contain Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby, who’ve kept L.A. in the playoff conversation. With both teams battling for seeding, expect a physical contest—but Atlanta’s defensive efficiency and home-court edge make them the projected winner.
Chicago Sky (10-30) @ Indiana Fever (21-20) | 7:30PM ET | 11:30PM UTC
At Gainbridge Fieldhouse, the Indiana Fever host the Chicago Sky in their fifth and final meeting of the season. Indiana is heavily favored with an 88% win probability, having won all four previous matchups by an average margin of nearly 25 points. Kelsey Mitchell and Aliyah Boston continue to anchor the Fever’s playoff push, while Chicago will be without Angel Reese due to suspension (technical foul accumulation). With the Fever’s postseason hopes still alive and the Sky struggling to find rhythm, Indiana is projected to close out the series in dominant fashion.
New York Liberty (24-17) @ Seattle Storm (22-20) | 10:00PM ET | 2:00AM UTC
Closing out the night at Climate Pledge Arena, the Seattle Storm host the New York Liberty in a near-even matchup, with Seattle holding a slight 54% win probability. The Storm are riding momentum behind Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins, while New York counters with Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones. With both teams jockeying for playoff positioning, this one could go down to the wire—though Seattle’s recent form and home-court advantage give them the projected edge, which they’ll need to stay ahead of Indiana and Los Angeles for one of the two remaining playoff spots.
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Today’s Objective(s): Day 2
You’ll need five (5) players who will accumulate 5.0 or more steals and gather 3.0 or more blocks, which means each player will need to average 1.0 STL and 0.6 BLK. There aren’t many players who have the track record who can deliver in both areas, so many will approach the day focusing on specialists in one area or the other. Utilize the numbers to identify the strongest options for either objective to earn a win today.
Top Player Options:
Little of Both: Rhyne Howard, Breanna Stewart, Aliyah Boston
Thieves: Gabby Williams, Ariel Atkins, Jordin Canada, Rhyne Howard, Dearica Hamby
Shot Blockers: Ezi Magbegor, Aliyah Boston, Cameron Brink, Kamilla Cardoso, Elizabeth Williams, Jonquel Jones, Breanna Stewart, Brionna Jones, Rhyne Howard, Azura Stevens
Top Five (5) Players in Pro Lineups: G. Williams (81%) | B. Stewart (73%) | E. Magbegor (70%) | A. Atkins (49%) | A. Stevens (29%)
Upcoming Fast Break Objectives:
Objectives remaining (after today):
2x: PTS, REB, FGM, AST
1x: FTM, 3PM, FGA
Considerations:
Chicago & Los Angeles have the most games remaining (4)
Dallas, Seattle, & Washington have the least number of games remaining (2)
Plan around Day 6 & 8 as they only have two (2) teams in action
Day 7 has the most flexibility as there are ten (10) teams in action
No team plays a back-to-back this series
Indiana, Seattle, & Washington’s final game takes place on Day 7
Statistical Approach:
Top players in steals & blocks 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, 6, & 9 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 Steals
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Projected Blocks
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Projected STL & BLK
WNBA Fast Break Grid
*Note: there was an error in the grid as it only showed two teams in action on September 2nd when there are four.
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 14):
There is a little over a week remaining in the WNBA regular season and things are getting down to the wire and there are two clear battles happening — the first is seeding and the fight for the first round home court advantage and the other is securing a spot in the postseason. Minnesota is the only team that clearly knows their seeding for the playoffs whereas four teams are jockeying for the top three seeds.
There are also four teams pushing to land the three playoff spots with Los Angeles currently on the outside looking in. How they fare in their final five games will determine whether they’ll sneak into the postseason after such a terrible start to the season.
Playoffs Secured: Minnesota, Las Vegas, Atlanta, Phoenix, & New York have punched their ticket to the postseason
Home Court Jockeying: Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, & New York continue battling for the three (3) home court advantage opportunities
Middle Mayhem: Seattle, Golden State, Indiana, & Los Angeles are fighting for the three (3) remaining playoff spots with Los Angeles currently on the outside looking in
There’s Always Next Season: Washington, Dallas, Connecticut, & Chicago have officially been eliminated
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