WNBA Tonight

July 29, 2026

Dream at the Wings Tonight on USA Network as Reese Returns From Her Knee Injury

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Two games on USA Network tonight: Angel Reese is expected back from her July 19 left-knee injury for a sold-out Wings-Dream showdown Paige Bueckers headlines, then the league's best defense, the Valkyries, visit Kahleah Copper and the Mercury on USA and CNBC.

The WNBA's second-half week rolls on with a two-game Wednesday slate, both nationally on USA Network, after last night's five-game return from the All-Star break produced a Caitlin Clark 32-point win, an eight-game Minnesota streak, and an Aliyah Boston injury scare in Seattle. The headliner is in Arlington: a sold-out College Park Center, two teams in the playoff mix, and the night's biggest availability question answered in Atlanta's favor.

Atlanta Dream (16-10) at Dallas Wings (18-9): Reese returns for a sold-out showdown on USA Network

Tipoff 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, a sellout per the Wings' game preview.

How to watch: USA Network nationally, with KFAA 29 (Dallas local), WANF Atlanta News First and Peachtree Sports Network (Atlanta local), and Victory+. Stream USA Network through cable authentication, fubo, Sling, YouTube TV, or DirecTV. It is not on WNBA League Pass in the U.S. (national blackout), per the WNBA game page. The Wings' broadcast schedule confirms USA for this date.

The storyline: Angel Reese is expected to play, her first real minutes since her left knee buckled on a jump stop in the July 19 win over Chicago. She logged just nine precautionary minutes in Saturday's All-Star Game (zero points, five rebounds, four assists, no setback, per Sporting News) and is not on Atlanta's injury report for tonight. She leads the WNBA in rebounding (11.5 per game) and double-doubles while scoring 15.4, and Mavs Moneyball's preview flags her as "the Wings' biggest obstacle in the paint," noting she and Dallas's Jessica Shepard are the league's top two in double-doubles all year.

Paige Bueckers (20.9 PPG, sixth in the league) meets Allisha Gray (19.1, ninth) in the marquee guard matchup. The Wings have won seven of eight, last beating Portland 101-97 on July 22 behind Shepard's fifth career triple-double (18/15/10) and 45 combined from Arike Ogunbowale and Bueckers. The Dream carry a three-game win streak, their last a 93-91 escape on Jordin Canada's buzzer-beater. Atlanta has won both meetings this season (77-72 at Dallas on May 12, 86-69 at Atlanta on May 22) and leads the all-time series 31-20, so the Wings are hunting their first win over the Dream this year. All-Star-weekend color: Dallas rookie Azzi Fudd became the first rookie ever to win the 3-point contest, and Shepard helped Team Spoon to the All-Star win while Bueckers captained Team Coop.

Injuries: Atlanta's Te-Hina Paopao is out (leg, re-evaluated in the coming weeks, estimated return around Aug. 10 per ESPN's injury report) and Indya Nivar is out (coach's decision); Reese is expected. Dallas's Alanna Smith is probable (right leg), per the game status report. Records: Dream second in the East, 1.0 game behind Indiana; Wings fourth in the West, 4.0 behind the league-best Lynx. The line is Dallas -1.5 with an over/under of 179.5, per Bleacher Nation.

Golden State Valkyries (19-8) at Phoenix Mercury (10-18): the league's best defense visits Copper on USA and CNBC

Tipoff 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

How to watch: USA Network and CNBC nationally, with KPIX+ (Bay Area, channel 44) and KMAX 31 (Sacramento) for Golden State and Arizona's Family Sports for Phoenix. Stream via USA/CNBC authentication, fubo, Sling, YouTube TV, or DirecTV; the CBS Sports app also carries it. Sports Media Watch confirms USA Network and CNBC.

The storyline: Two teams pointed in opposite directions. The Valkyries sit second in the West at 19-8, have won nine of 10, and own the league's best defense at 76.4 points allowed per game, plus the highest-scoring bench. Their franchise-record nine-game win streak ended July 20 when they blew a nine-point lead in the final 4:44 and fell 90-82 to Washington, and they have still won five straight on the road. Gabby Williams, the first All-Star starter in franchise history, shined Saturday with 18 points, four threes, six assists, and zero turnovers, and is averaging a career-high 14.8 in her first Golden State season. She is listed as a game-time decision tonight for non-injury reasons, per the ESPN game page.

Phoenix is last in the West at 10-18 with the fourth-worst record in the league, though it did win two straight before the break. Kahleah Copper, who replaced the injured Kelsey Plum on the All-Star roster, averages 20.5 (ninth in the WNBA), and Alyssa Thomas fills the stat sheet at 14.4 points, seven rebounds, and 8.3 assists. It is the Mercury's farewell season before the franchise relocates to Houston in 2027. Golden State has beaten Phoenix twice this season, most recently 87-81 on June 10, and can sweep the series tonight, per FOX Sports. The Valkyries are 5.5-point favorites with an over/under of 155.5.

Injuries: Golden State's Gabby Williams is a game-time decision and Iliana Rupert is out for the season (both non-injury designations). Phoenix has not listed any game-time decisions.

Last night: Clark drops 32, Boston leaves with a knee scare, Lynx win their eighth straight

The five games previewed here last night produced a star scoring night, a scary fall, and three more wins for the league's top teams.

That’s the reading for this issue.