Sparks step up in third quarter to dominate Liberty, 87-74

Check out our in-depth story and dynamic photo gallery on last night's game.

Sun, Sparks keep rolling

The two Finals spots will come down to two of the following: Lynx, Sparks or Sun. Mark my words.

Today's game results:

The Sun squeaked out a win over the Mercury, 93-92, despite 33 points from Diana Taurasi.

Courtney Vandersloot's 18 points and 10 rebounds led the Sky over the Fever, 81-70.

The Wings tied a WNBA record with 16 three-point shots in their 93-80 win over the Storm.

The Stars made it two wins in a row with a 76-74 decision over the Mystics.

The Sparks rolled past the Liberty, 87-74.

WNBA coach news:

Sky coach Amber Stocks is learning how to make the tough calls.

WNBA in video game:

What finally having WNBA teams in a video game means to real-life players.

Tomorrow's schedule:

Dream at Sky.

Storm at Stars.

As the games play.....

We've got four tight games in progress, and another later on. So in the meantime...........

WNBA team news:

The Sky will keep grinding this season, but their future is brighter.

WNBA player news:

Lindsay Whalen fractured the fifth metacarpal in her left hand last night, and had surgery to repair it today. She's out indefinitely for the Lynx.

Jonquel Jones is rebounding at record pace for the Sun.

Seimone Augustus will return to the Lynx Sunday.

WNBA visibility:

Smaller-audience sports are big stars on Twitter.

College player news:

For UConn's Napheesa Collier, the work never stops.

College coach news:

Jenni Fitzgerald has been promoted to associate head coach at Iowa.

Pat Summitt:

Michelle Marciniak recalls the difficult final days of Pat Summitt's life.

U23 team named

This morning, U23 training camp teams played the championship game, after which the team was named that will travel to Japan next week and vie for the World Cup:

Named to the team were: Ariel Atkins (Texas/Duncanville, Texas); Monique Billings (UCLA/Corona, Calif.); Kalani Brown (Baylor/Slidell, La.); Jordin Canada (UCLA/Los Angeles, Calif.); Asia Durr (Louisville/ Douglasville, Ga.); Sabrina Ionescu (Oregon/Walnut Creek, Calif.); Brittany McPhee (Stanford/Normandy Park, Wash.); Kelsey Mitchell (Ohio State/Cincinnati, Ohio); Jamie Nared (Tennessee/Portland, Ore.); Arike Ogunbowale (Notre Dame/Milwaukee, Wis.); Mercedes Russell (Tennessee/Springfield, Ore.); and A’ja Wilson (South Carolina/Hopkins, S.C.).

Four from the Pac-12 made it.

Team 4 photo gallery.

Only 31 of the 36 who tried out were eligible for the team, due to travel for their school teams.

The WNBA missed the boat on scouting this camp.

WNBA teams to make official video game debut in NBA Live 18

The big news today:

Redwood City, Calif. – August 3, 2017 – Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced that WNBA teams and players* will be playable in NBA LIVE 18, launching this fall on Xbox One and PlayStation®4. The WNBA will be available in WNBA Play Now, and teams and player skills have been specifically balanced to reflect the unique playstyle of the league and skills of its players. This is the first time the official WNBA’s roster of teams and players will appear in a video game, and will be available only in NBA LIVE 18.

Aw yeah!

Check out the WNBA's twitter feed for retweets of joyful reactions from players.

Game preview.

Preview photos.

More player reaction.

Today's game result:

The Lynx surged in the fourth quarter to beat the Dream, 69-54.

League news:

Notes from around the league.

WNBA team news:

The three women who own the Storm are changing the game.

WNBA player news:

Just like at UConn, Tiffany Hayes keeps getting better.

How Karima Christmas-Kelly and Taj McWilliams-Franklin balance grad school and the WNBA.

Rebekkah Brunson's three-point shot was there all along - she just didn't use it.

WNBA coach news:

Sky coach Amber Stocks talks about her journey through Christianity.

Tomorrow's game schedule:

Mercury at Sun

Sky at Fever

Storm at Wings

Mystics at Stars

Liberty at Sparks

Podcasts:

Sue Bird guest stars on this podcast.

The latest Around the Rim podcast.

College player news:

From homeless to hopeful: Nene Hale is shooting for her WNBA dream.

UConn players are bonding in Italy.

Kansas State transfer Anna Hammaker has landed at Lipscomb.

Former Wichita State player Hannah Mortimer is an Internet tricks star.

College coach news:

Zach Kancher is Towson's new assistant coach.

Southern's new assistant coach is Jeremy Bonin.

Dana Weiller joins Farleigh Dickinson as an assistant coach.

U23 camp will wrap up with "gold medal" game Friday

Two big semifinal games went down today.

In the end it was Team 2, coached by Western Kentucky coach Michelle Clark-Heard and Team 3, coached by UCLA coach Cori Close, winning.

The "gold medal" game will be streamed live tomorrow at 8:40 a.m. Pacific.

Get to know team 3 in this gallery.

NCAA Tournament rivals Victoria Vivians and A'ja Wilson are on the same team at camp.

CSUN's Channon Fluker is making the most of her time at camp.

Teinya Page injured her ankle at camp today.

Geno Auriemma speaks about his role at camp.

Chasing Minnesota, U23 fire

WNBA team news:

The Dream and the rest of the WNBA are still chasing the Lynx.

Minnesota is rolling, but still has more to achieve.

Lynx unleashed podcast.

Look at the three categories for these power rankings.

Catching up with ex-Microsoft exec and Storm co-owner Lisa Brummel.

WNBA player news:

Seimone Augustus hasn't been ruled out to play against the Dream tomorrow.

Crystal Langhorne's offensive consistency is one of a kind for the Storm.

The top five scorers in the league this year are posts.

Candace Parker has moved up in the MVP race since her triple-double.

Tomorrow's game schedule:

Dream at Lynx.

U23 camp:

Video and highlights.

Tournament games are providing a deeper look at the athletes.

Get to know training camp team one.

Get to know training camp team two.

Semifinal match ups are tomorrow.

College conference news:

Big 10 players have had busy summers.

College team news:

Louisville's new ticket system has angered fans.

UConn is ready to move past their Final Four loss last season.

College player news:

Meet Rutgers' new recruits, transfers as C. Vivian Stringer looks for a quick fix.

College coach news:

Ariel Braker has joined Lehigh as an assistant coach.

A broad collection of storylines

A whole lotta Kayla:

The Stars closed on a 22-4 run to beat the Liberty, 93-81. Kayla McBride had a career-high 31 points and Kayla Alexander, a career-high 19 points to lead San Antonio to their fourth win on the year.

WNBA team news:

Minnesota has already clinched a playoff spot:

The Lynx are chasing the single-season winning record.

The Sun are getting a mini-vacation this week.

WNBA player news:

Elena Delle Donne tore the ulnar collateral ligament in her left thumb Sunday and will be out two weeks. She'll have surgery tomorrow.

Seimone Augustus remains away from the Lynx for personal reasons.

There are two champions in Lindsay Whalen's marriage.

Podcast with Layshia Clarendon.

Sylvia Fowles and Tina Charles are the Western and Eastern Conference players of the month for July.

WNBA coach news:

The Sun's Curt Miller is the July coach of the month.

Former WNBA player news:

Natalie Williams is still running the show, as a high school coach.

U23 camp:

Competition was on display today as teams scrimmaged at training camp.

A bit of video from one of the games.

Lots to think about in the morning

WNBA marketing:

What do you think of this idea? Why the WNBA needs to use one of Adam Silver’s ideas for the NBA.

FIT month:

This is the WNBA's inaugural FIT Month.

WNBA team news:

Optimistic, team-first approach fueling Sun in playoff push.

WNBA player news:

Tiffany Mitchell has been a Fever dream.

Theresa Plaisance was raised on basketball.

July rookie of the month is Brittney Sykes.

College team news:

Still fighting for the restoration of the Lady Vols logo? Give up.

Iowa is focused on improving.

U23 camp:

Camp has opened, with only the best on hand.

Big trade on deadline day

Trade deadline days brings us:

Atlanta acquired Tamera Young and Imani Boyette from Chicago in exchange for Jordan Hooper and a first-round draft pick next year.

WNBA team news:

If the Storm is going to turn around the season, they need more bench production.

Why the Fever still fly commercial.

WNBA player news:

DeWanna Bonner gave birth to twin girls last week. Candice Dupree is the other parent.

Candace Parker and Tina Charles are the Western and Eastern Conference players of the week.

Tomorrow's game schedule:

Liberty at Stars.

College team news:

As Lady Vols defect, Vanderbilt builds.

College player news:

Missouri's Sophie Cunningham is focused on health.

College coach news:

Charlotte coach Cara Consuegra's contract has been extended through 2020-2021.

Coaching staff changes at Duke.

Jualeah Woods is a new assistant coach at UC Irvine.

U23 camp:

The stakes rise as camp begins tomorrow.

Olympics news:

Los Angeles will host the 2028 Olympics.