🙌 Layup Lines: Finals rematch

Plus, the Valkyries pull off a huge last-minute road win over Atlanta.

Author

Everett Cook
July 30, 2025

Happy Wednesday and welcome back to Layup Lines, your quick recap of what’s going on in the WNBA.

  • If you want to go deeper on tonight’s huge rematch, ESPN and the AP have you covered.

This 431 word newsletter should take less than 2 minutes to read.

Sparks finally score under 90

Courtesy @wnba

  • Two of the hottest teams in the league returned to Earth a bit last night.

    • Coming off big wins over the Lynx and Mercury, Atlanta couldn’t get much going offensively and lost on a Cecilia Zandalasini drive with four seconds left. Huge win for a Golden State team that was looking dead in the water without Kayla Thornton.

    • The Sparks had their league-leading five-game win streak rudely snapped by the Aces, who saw A’ja Willson put up 34 points and Jackie Young finish with her first-ever triple double. Vegas has been so streaky this year but are very hard to beat when a non-Wilson Ace goes off.

  • Also returning to Earth is my picks, as we ran into a dreaded 0-3 night by completely misreading both the Aces and Valks.

Courtesy @LVAces

Today’s games

  • We’re 67-72 this season and have $395 of our initial $1,000 remaining to wager.

  • There are three games tonight — Phoenix @ Indiana (7pm ET, ESPN3), Atlanta @ Dallas (8pm, ESPN3) and New York @ Minnesota (8pm, ESPN). We’re taking all of ‘em!

    • Fever unders without Caitlin Clark have been good to us.

      • Bet: Phoenix / Indiana under 166.5, $50 to win $44.

    • Atlanta is tired on their second night of a back to back, but the Wings are still not a good defensive team.

      • Bet: Atlanta / Dallas over 167.5 total points scored, $50 to win $46.

    • I don’t love the Lynx having to cover eight points tonight, but I do love Napheesa against what has been a horrendous Liberty defense without Breanna Stewart.

      • Bet: Napheesa Collier over 21.5 total points scored, $50 to win $45.

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Quote of the day

“She made the wrong choice.”

Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve when asked about Belgian free agent Emma Meesseman committing to the Liberty, per reporter Madeline Kenney.

Photo to go

  • She only played 14 minutes last night, but Cameron Brink’s return from last season’s ACL tear still came with some reminders of why the 6-foot-4 forward can transform L.A.’s defense.

Courtesy @LASparks

Layup Lines is written 100% by a human being with visual assistance from AI tools. I very much appreciate you reading and will see you back here tomorrow.

— Everett Cook, Founder & Editor