July 17, 2026

Four WNBA Games Tonight on ION: Diggins Out a Fifth Straight as the Sparks Visit the Sky, and Clark's Tied-First Fever Host the Storm

A four-game Friday lands on ION, headlined by a competitive Sparks-Sky rematch in Chicago where Skylar Diggins sits a fifth straight game and Kamilla Cardoso is a game-time call. Caitlin Clark and the Fever, tied with Atlanta for the Eastern Conference lead, host the Storm; the Dream keep the other half of that race alive in Toronto; and Brittney Griner returns to Phoenix in the nightcap. Last night, the Liberty's charter plane broke down and their game in Dallas was postponed, while the Fire avenged the four-overtime epic with a 75-56 rout of the Mystics.

Los Angeles Sparks (10-13) at Chicago Sky (8-16): Diggins out a fifth straight, Cardoso a game-time call

Tipoff 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT at Wintrust Arena in Chicago. National TV: ION (also WNBA League Pass; ION is free over-the-air and on DirecTV, YouTube TV, and Tubi).

The tightest game on the board is also the one carrying the league's most durable drama. Skylar Diggins is out a fifth straight game with a right knee injury and, per multiple outlets, there is no timetable for her return, a stretch that began the same day she was benched for the first time in a decade and questioned coach Tyler Marsh's "basketball decision." Center Kamilla Cardoso, who missed her first game of the season Wednesday, is questionable with a right knee and the single biggest swing factor in the game: she had been putting up 16.1 points and 8.2 rebounds over her last ten appearances before sitting.

The Sky still beat the Storm 95-90 without either of them, with Stevens scoring 20 and undrafted rookie Sydney Taylor and veteran Natasha Cloud absorbing bigger roles. The Sparks won the first meeting 102-87 in Los Angeles on July 10 and get Cameron Brink back this time; Brink returned Wednesday in Minnesota on a minutes restriction after an eight-game absence, while Kelsey Plum remains out with a lower-leg injury. Nneka Ogwumike, who tied Lisa Leslie as the Sparks' all-time leading scorer in that loss to the Lynx, leads a front line that could feast if Cardoso sits. The market lists Chicago as just a 1.5-point favorite.

Seattle Storm (6-20) at Indiana Fever (14-10): Clark is probable, Boston is the worry, and the East lead is live

Tipoff 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. National TV: ION (also WNBA League Pass).

Indiana is tied with Atlanta at 14-10 atop the Eastern Conference, and both co-leaders play tonight, so the race moves in real time. Caitlin Clark is probable with the back injury that has limited her to 26 minutes or fewer in each of her last three outings and held her to 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting in Wednesday's 88-75 loss to Golden State. The bigger concern is Aliyah Boston, questionable with a right lower-leg injury, the same issue that sat her earlier this month on the front end of a back-to-back; if Boston rests ahead of Saturday's visit from New York, Clark could see her restriction loosened, which is what she has wanted.

The league's highest-scoring offense at 93.2 points per game should find room against a Storm team with the WNBA's worst record at 6-20 and a 2-12 road mark. Indiana beat Seattle 89-78 here on May 17 behind Clark's 21 points and 10 assists. Kelsey Mitchell (22.6 PPG) and the All-Star trio of Mitchell, Clark, and Boston anchor a group that needs to hold serve while Atlanta plays in Toronto. Seattle's Natisha Hiedeman (15.8 PPG) and All-Star Dominique Malonga (8.2 RPG) try to play spoiler. Indiana is favored by 8.5.

Atlanta Dream (14-10) at Toronto Tempo (10-14): Reese and the other half of the East race, in Toronto

Tipoff 7:30 PM ET / 4:30 PM PT at Coca-Cola Coliseum in Toronto. National TV: ION, with TSN and TSN+ in Canada (also WNBA League Pass).

The Dream share the East lead with Indiana and swept the two June meetings with Toronto, 102-77 and 94-87, but they arrive shorthanded. Allisha Gray now pilots the offense because All-Star Rhyne Howard is out for the rest of July with a left knee injury and Brionna Jones remains sidelined by her own knee issue. Angel Reese, back from the ankle injury that cost her one game, posted her WNBA-leading 16th double-double, 23 points and 13 boards, in Monday's 101-92 win over the Sparks, and Atlanta's defense, second in the Eastern Conference in rebounding and among the league's most active with 9.5 steals per game, has been the engine when the scoring thins.

Toronto is hurting more. The Tempo are still without Brittyn Sykes (left foot), Kiki Rice (left ankle), and Temi Fagbenle (concussion), and All-Star Marina Mabrey, who had been averaging 29.6 points over a seven-game surge, was held to eight in Tuesday's 79-62 loss to Washington, Toronto's lowest-scoring game of its inaugural season. Atlanta is favored by 7.5 on the road.

Connecticut Sun (6-18) at Phoenix Mercury (8-17): Griner returns to Phoenix in the nightcap

Tipoff 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix. National TV: ION (also WNBA League Pass).

Two of the league's bottom three records close the night, but the storyline sits at center court. Brittney Griner plays in Phoenix for only the second time since leaving the franchise she anchored for 11 seasons, and the Sun and Mercury will run it back Sunday too. Connecticut, in its farewell season before the Houston relocation, has quietly won four of seven after a 2-15 start, with Aaliyah Edwards scoring 21 in Tuesday's 90-87 win over Portland.

Phoenix has dropped four straight, averaging 15.5 turnovers during the skid, though it showed life in Monday's 104-100 loss at Minnesota, shooting 55.6 percent and handing out 28 assists. The Mercury are still without Mack (foot) and need Kahleah Copper and Alyssa Thomas to stop the bleeding at home, where they are just 3-8. This is the first Sun-Mercury meeting of the season. Phoenix is favored by 5.5.

Last night: the Liberty's plane broke down, and the Fire routed the Mystics

The Wings' bid for a season-best sixth straight win is on hold. The WNBA postponed New York's game at Dallas less than ten hours before tipoff after mechanical issues with the Liberty's charter flight, with rookie Pauline Astier posting that the team was "still on the tarmac" after ten hours; thunderstorms in New York and a ground stop in Dallas compounded the delay. The game moves to Monday at 8:00 PM ET in Arlington, which means the Wings now play three games in four days and the Liberty play three in five across three cities, starting with Saturday's CBS game at Indiana.

The other Thursday game went very differently from its predecessor. Portland avenged the four-overtime 124-123 heartbreak, blowing out Washington 75-56 after a 28-13 first quarter. Carla Leite scored 14 and set a Fire franchise record with her 129th made free throw, Serah Williams added 12 in her first career start, and the Mystics shot 29 percent, going 2 of 21 from three, with 19 turnovers. Shakira Austin had 19 and nine for Washington, the only Mystic in double figures, while Sonia Citron did score her 1,000th career point on a rough night. Portland, now 11-14, pulls within two games of the Mystics for the eighth and final playoff spot.