MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kayla McBride scored 22 points on 6-for-10 shooting from 3-point range as the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx closed the regular season by cruising to an 86-66 victory Thursday night that pushed the Indiana Fever into sixth place entering the WNBA playoffs.
Natasha Howard had 21 points and Courtney Williams added nine points, seven rebounds and 10 assists for the Lynx, who played without star point guard Olivia Miles for a second straight game due to a left calf injury. The Lynx snapped back from a blowout loss to the Fever on the road two days ago.
Kelsey Mitchell had a team-leading 10 points and Caitlin Clark scored a season-low two points on 1-for-12 shooting as the Fever fell behind 25-4 late in the first quarter and never recovered.
Minnesota (33-11), which had already secured the No. 1 seed for the second consecutive year, will face New York in a best-of-three first-round matchup starting Sunday. The Liberty beat the Lynx in seven games in the WNBA Finals in 2024.
Indiana (28-16) lost the season series tiebreaker in defeat at home to Washington four days ago, and the Mystics passed the Fever for fifth by beating Chicago earlier Thursday. Indiana had to wait until the last possible hour of the regular season to find out its first-round opponent, either Golden State or Las Vegas pending their results on the West Coast.
After beating the Lynx 96-77 in Indianapolis, the Fever squandered that momentum with a lifeless performance including a season low in points and field goal percentage.
The Fever lost backup guard Ty Harris to a left ankle injury in the third quarter after she landed awkwardly after a drive to the basket. Harris grabbed her leg and was down on the floor for several minutes before being carried off the court to the locker room.
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Indiana Fever center-forward Aliyah Boston (7) argues with a referee (11) during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Minnesota Lynx, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Minnesota Lynx guard Kayla McBride (21) reacts after scoring while Indiana Fever forward Myisha Hines-Allen (2) looks on during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) passes the ballaround Minnesota Lynx forward Natasha Howard, right, during the first half of a WNBA basketball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
ATLANTA (AP) — Elly De La Cruz hit his 30th homer, Héctor Rodríguez and rookie Carlos Jorge also went deep, and the Cincinnati Reds rallied from an early deficit to beat the NL East champion Atlanta Braves 7-6 on Thursday night.
With the loss, Atlanta secured the No. 3 seed for the National League playoffs, behind Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Braves (93-66) will host a best-of-three Wild Card Series starting Tuesday.
Rodríguez's two-run homer in the sixth inning off AJ Smith-Shawver (0-3) made it 7-6. De La Cruz extended his career high with a shot to right field in the third, and he needs one stolen base for the fourth 30/30 season in Reds history.
Jorge led off the game with his first career homer.
Connor Phillips (2-0), the third of six Cincinnati pitchers, got four outs. Emilio Pagán worked the ninth for his 25th save.
Atlanta scored four runs in the bottom of the first, but Cincinnati quickly rallied against Tyler Mahle. The right-hander gave up five runs in five innings in his final start before the playoffs. It was his worst outing since joining the Braves from San Francisco at the trade deadline. He gave up two runs or fewer in each of his previous eight starts with Atlanta.
Braves star Ronald Acuña Jr. returned after missing one game with a bone bruise on his shin, racing around at full speed to score from first on a double in the first inning. He was 2 for 5 with a stolen base.
Reds starter Brady Singer lasted three innings and gave up five runs on seven hits. Austin Riley homered against him in the third.
Reds: Conclude the season with a three-game series at Toronto. LHP Nick Lodolo (3-6, 5.04 ERA) will oppose Blue Jays RHP José Soriano (12-8, 3.72) on Friday.
Braves: Have not announced a starter for Friday's series opener at Miami. RHP Eury Pérez (7-11, 4.14) starts for the Marlins.
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Cincinnati Reds' Sal Stewart (27) is caught stealing by Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brady Singer, center, flips over first baseman Sal Stewart (27) while fielding a single hit by Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies (1) during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. runs from first base to score on a double by Michael Harris II, against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Cincinnati Reds outfielders Carlos Jorge, left, Héctor Rodríguez, center, and JJ Bleday, right, celebrate after their team defeated the Atlanta Braves in a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, left, and Eugenio Suárez (28) celebrate after defeating the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)
