Olivia Miles has 20 points, 7 assists before ankle injury as WNBA-best Lynx beat Valkyries 77-66

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Olivia Miles had 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds before leaving midway through the fourth quarter with a left ankle injury, and the Minnesota Lynx ran away early from the Golden State Valkyries before holding on for a 77-66 win Wednesday night in a matchup of the WNBA’s top teams.

Kayla McBride also scored 20 for the Lynx and did Stephen Curry's signature “night night” gesture after a late 3-pointer at Chase Center, home to Curry's Warriors. Napheesa Collier added 18 points and eight rebounds for the league-best Lynx.

Miles, Minnesota's standout rookie who shot 8 of 10 from the field, turned her ankle when she stepped on Collier's foot. She limped off the court and went to the locker room briefly before returning to the bench area.

Veronica Burton had 14 points and seven assists for the cold-shooting Valkyries (25-10), who have yet to beat Minnesota in seven meetings. The top-seeded Lynx swept the expansion Valkyries in the first round of the 2025 playoffs.

Janelle Salaun's 3-pointer with 9:41 left pulled the Valkyries within 54-44, and she made one free throw the next time down before a layup with 8:18 remaining that cut the lead to 54-47. But Golden State didn't get enough defensive stops in crunch time.

The Valkyries' Kaila Charles left in the fourth after she took a hit to the eye.

The Lynx (30-7) have won five straight and 15 of 16, improving to 11-1 on the road against the Western Conference.

Golden State started 5 of 27 in front of a raucous, sellout crowd. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced Tuesday that the arena and Valkyries will host the 2027 All-Star Game.

The Valkyries (25-10) had their six-game winning streak snapped with just their second loss in 17 games. They clinched a playoff berth with Monday's 78-70 win over Dallas.

Golden State shot 4 for 17 in the first quarter, missing five of its six 3-point attempts, then began 1 of 12 to start the second as Minnesota jumped to a 35-18 lead and opened the second quarter with a 7-0 burst on the way to a 41-26 halftime advantage.

The Valkyries typically find their offensive rhythm from their defense, but never got in sync on either end. They shot 2 of 14 from deep in the first half and 7 for 37 overall — 1 for 7 by leading scorer Gabby Williams, who was held to 10 points on 4-for-15 shooting.

Lynx: At Washington on Friday night.

Valkyries: Visit Chicago on Friday night.

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

Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) shoots against Golden State Valkyries guard-forward Kaila Charles (6) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Minnesota Lynx guard Courtney Williams, middle, loses the ball between Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) and guard Tiffany Hayes (15) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) runs up the court after scoring against the Minnesota Lynx during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden State Valkyries guard Kaitlyn Chen (2) reaches for the ball against Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles (5) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Minnesota Lynx guard Olivia Miles, left, drives to the basket against Golden State Valkyries guard Veronica Burton (22) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game in San Francisco, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

DENVER (AP) — Mookie Betts homered and capped a three-hit night with an RBI single in the 10th inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 6-4 on Wednesday.

Kiké Hernández also went deep and Kyle Tucker had two hits as the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep.

Mickey Moniak hit a tying two-run homer in the seventh, his 20th, and had three hits for the Rockies.

Colorado who lost starter Kyle Freeland with two outs in the fourth inning. Freeland grabbed at his back after delivering a pitch to Ben Rortvedt, who flied out on the play, and was removed after allowing four runs on six hits. The Rockies said he had neck tightness.

Teoscar Hernández led off the 10th with a single off Jimmy Herget (0-5) and Freddie Freeman's sacrifice fly scored automatic runner Andy Pages. Betts followed with a single up the middle to drive in Hernández.

Kyle Hurt (4-1) pitched the ninth and Tanner Scott got the final three outs for his 18th save.

Rookie left-hander Mark Manfredi, acquired from Milwaukee for Antonio Senzatela, relieved Freeland and made his major league debut against Shohei Ohtani. He walked the four-time MVP and gave up a single to Pages before getting out of the inning.

Manfredi pitched a clean fifth and left after striking out two in 1 1/3 innings.

Los Angeles built a 4-0 lead against Freeland on Kiké Hernández's RBI single in the second and his two-run homer in the fourth, which followed Betts' shot to lead off the inning.

Adael Amador had a two-run double in the bottom half.

Ohtani finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

Dodgers: RHP Yoshinobu Yamanoto (12-7, 2.60 ERA) will open a series against visiting Pittsburgh on Friday night.

Rockies: RHP Tanner Gordon (0-3, 5.55) faces visiting Cleveland on Friday night.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Colorado Rockies' Mickey Moniak gestures to the dugout as he heads up the first-base line after connecting for a two-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia in the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts jumps as he circles the bases after hitting a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Enrique Hernández gestures to the bullpen as he circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland, back, is escorted to the clubhouse by trainer Heath Townsend after Freeland was pulled from the mound because of injury in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Miguel Rojas, right, congratulates Mookie Betts as he crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Kyle Freeland in the fourth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)