Miles, Collier power the WNBA-leading Lynx to a 92-87 win over the Aces

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Olivia Miles had 23 points and eight assists, Napheesa Collier added 19 points and the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx beat the Las Vegas Aces 92-87 on Saturday night.

Natasha Howard added 13 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota (29-7). Kayla McBride scored 13 points and Courtney Williams and Nia Coffey each had 12.

Collier's deep 3-pointer gave the Lynx a seven-point lead with a little less than seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and Minnesota led by at least five points until Jewell Loyd's 3-pointer cut it to 86-82 with under three minutes remaining.

The margin was four points once again after the Aces' A'ja Wilson made two free throws with 1:09 to go. Williams and Collier made two free throws each in the final minute to seal Minnesota's franchise-best 15th road win of the season.

Wilson scored 32 points, made 11 of 12 free throws and grabbed seven rebounds. NaLyssa Smith had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Chelsea Gray had 12 points and nine assists for the Aces (24-12).

The Aces ran off eight quick points on a banked 3-pointer by Japan's Mai Yamamoto, a fast-break layup from Wilson and a 3-pointer by Jackie Young to take a 33-31 lead four minutes into the second quarter. The score was tied seven times over the final six minutes of the half, the last tie coming on Wilson's midrange jumper with 34 seconds left for a 48-48 halftime score.

Las Vegas dominated in the paint in the first half, with Wilson scoring 19 points and Smith adding nine points and six rebounds. Combined, they made 13 of 18 shots.

Three free throws by McBride started an 8-0 run that gave the Lynx a 62-52 lead in the third quarter and they led for the remainder of the game.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Minnesota Lynx forward Natasha Howard (1) and guard Courtney Williams (10) jump in an attempt to block a shot by Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) shoots between Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams (10) and forward Napheesa Collier (24) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Minnesota Lynx forward Natasha Howard (1) and guard Courtney Williams (10) jump in an attempt to block a shot by Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young shoots against Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) blocks a shot by Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Joey Logano continued his surge toward the NASCAR Chase, winning Saturday night at Richmond Raceway with a late-race charge on fresh tires.

The three-time Cup Series champion scored his second victory in the past four races while surging from 17th to ninth in the points standings.

With 24 laps remaining, the Team Penske driver snatched the lead from Christopher Bell, who had pitted 20 laps earlier and was trying to stretch his tires to the finish on Richmond’s abrasive surface.

Logano raced to his 39th career victory and third at Richmond. He won by 0.392 seconds over Chase Briscoe, who led a race-high 171 of 400 laps but was unable to catch Logano after losing the lead just before his final pit stop.

Briscoe had a best finish of 11th in nine previous starts at Richmond, one of only three active tracks where he had yet to score a top 10. After qualifying second, he passed pole-sitter Ryan Blaney on the first lap to lead the first lap of his career on the 0.75-mile oval.

Austin Cindric finished third, followed by Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott.

In an emotional ceremony Friday morning, Richmond Raceway dedicated the grandstand seats where Denny Hamlin’s parents sat for years watching NASCAR races long before their son became a 64-time winner in the Cup Series. Hamlin’s father, Dennis, died in a house fire last December.

The track’s tribute was among the highlights of a homecoming weekend for Hamlin, who grew up about 20 minutes from the track.

“It’s really the time I get to see my brother and sister that still live up here,” said Hamlin, who lives in the Charlotte, N.C., area. “I’ve got lots of high school friends that have their own campsite here. It will be amazing if they don’t get arrested.”

In an appearance on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s podcast this week, Ty Gibbs lobbied for removing the digital rearview camera that NASCAR implemented four years ago. Gibbs joked that some Cup drivers would be out of the series without the high-tech device that makes blocking easier by anticipating an opponent’s move. He’s gotten no feedback from NASCAR but hopes a change could be made in the offseason.

“I didn’t hear anything on it, but I thought I’d recommend it,” GIbbs said. “I just think everybody probably agrees to it, too. I mean, a lot of people do, so I thought I’d say it. I think it could happen. They took windshield wipers off, and we run in the rain still, so I think it could happen.”

Richmond Raceway announced its grandstands were full for the second consecutive year, marking the 11th sellout in 24 Cup Series races this season. Many of those tracks have reduced seating capacities in the past 15 years, and Richmond is among the most notable. The track’s capacity is roughly half of its 112,000-seat peak in the mid-2000s.

The NASCAR Cup Series will make its annual stop at New Hampshire Motor Speedway with a 301-lap race Aug. 23 at the 1.058-mile oval. Ryan Blaney is the defending race winner at the track.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe (19) enters turn four during Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Richmond Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)

Team Penske driver Joey Logano (22) dives into turn one during Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Richmond Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin (11) pit crew goes over the wall during Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Richmond Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)

Team Penske driver Joey Logano (22) enters turn four during Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Richmond Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)

Team Penske driver Ryan Blaney (12) and Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe (19) battle in turn one during Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, in Richmond Va. (AP Photo/Robert Simmons)