A win streak, a history-making crowd, a coaching record, and a Caitlin Clark comeback that came with a catch. Here is everything that mattered in the WNBA from July 5 through July 11, 2026.
Week Snapshot
| Story | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|
| Valkyries win 7 straight | Golden State is playing like one of the league's best defensive teams |
| Record crowd of 20,996 in Montreal | The Toronto Tempo drew the largest regular-season audience in WNBA history |
| Cheryl Reeve breaks coaching wins record | The Lynx coach is now the all-time leader in WNBA regular-season wins |
| Clark returns on minutes cap | Back from injury but limited; Fever lost to the Sparks 106-92 |
| Lynx beat Liberty 90-85 | Minnesota wins a marquee Saturday matchup to stay at the top |
Golden State Valkyries: Seven Straight
The Golden State Valkyries have quietly become one of the most interesting teams in the WNBA.
They ran their win streak to seven games this week, capping it with a 79-64 win over the Connecticut Sun. Veronica Burton led the way with 17 points, and Janelle Salaun added 16 off the bench, hitting four three-pointers. The streak has been built on defense: the Valkyries are holding opponents to just 68 points per game over the run and averaging 5.6 blocks, numbers that put them among the league's best defensive teams.
This is not a team that is blowing people out with offense. They are suffocating opponents, staying disciplined, and finding enough on offense to close games. That formula tends to hold up when the schedule gets harder. The Valkyries have earned their spot at or near the top of the power rankings.
A Record Crowd in Montreal
This was the story of the week for the league as a whole.
When the expansion Toronto Tempo hosted the Dallas Wings at Bell Centre in Montreal on July 10, 20,996 fans packed the building, a new WNBA regular-season attendance record, breaking the previous mark of 20,711 set in Washington in 2024. Canada's first WNBA franchise is drawing at a level nobody expected this quickly.
The Wings won 108-95, with Paige Bueckers delivering 34 points on 13-of-22 shooting, adding six assists and six rebounds. For Toronto, Marina Mabrey had 34 points of her own, hitting 6-of-9 from three, and Laura Juskaite added 25. The game had everything: two 34-point performances, an expansion crowd roaring in a hockey barn, and a result that showed the Tempo can compete.
The attendance record is more than a number. It is proof that the WNBA's expansion into Canada is working.
Cheryl Reeve Makes History
Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve recorded her 380th regular-season victory this week, passing Mike Thibault to become the all-time wins leader in WNBA coaching history. The Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 86-80 on July 8 for the milestone.
Reeve has built one of the most consistently excellent programs in the league over more than a decade. The record is well-earned and well overdue for acknowledgment.
Caitlin Clark Returns With a Catch
Caitlin Clark was back in the lineup after missing time with a back injury, but the Fever handled her carefully on a minutes cap of 16. She finished with nine points, four rebounds, three assists, and four turnovers in a 106-92 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks.
Nneka Ogwumike had 24 points, eight rebounds, and five assists for Los Angeles. Clark looked like a player getting her legs back, not someone ready to carry a full load, and the Fever were not going to risk her health by pushing beyond the cap.
The good news is she is back. The bad news is Indiana still needs her at full strength, and this week was not that. Clark was not expected to play the next game against Phoenix as part of the recovery plan, with a possible return targeted for Sunday against Las Vegas.
Lynx 90, Liberty 85: A Saturday Statement
Minnesota capped the week with a 90-85 win over the New York Liberty on Saturday, a marquee result that reinforced their standing at the top of the league. Kayla McBride scored 14 of her 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Olivia Miles helped close it out at the line.
The Liberty remain dangerous, but they were shorthanded and could not finish the comeback after Sabrina Ionescu's big third quarter. For Minnesota, beating New York at home sends a message heading into the All-Star break.
The Bigger Picture
The All-Star Game is July 25 at Chicago's United Center, and the week heading into it is now taking shape. The Valkyries are the hottest team in the league. The Lynx are the most consistent. The Liberty took a loss to the team that may be their biggest playoff threat. And Clark is working her way back at exactly the right time.
The second half of the WNBA season is about to get very interesting.
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