WNBA Tonight: Wings-Liberty Marks 30 Years on ESPN; Skylar Diggins Benched in Phoenix

A 30-year anniversary in Brooklyn, a benched star in Phoenix, and a Monday upset that pushed Cheryl Reeve's record chase to Wednesday.

Dallas Wings at New York Liberty: a 30-year milestone on ESPN

The best game of the night doubles as a broadcast milestone. Wings-Liberty tips at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and ESPN is using it to commemorate 30 years of the WNBA on the network. Robin Roberts and Geno Auriemma, who called ESPN's first WNBA game, return to the booth alongside veteran play-by-play voice Beth Mowins.

National TV: ESPN, also streaming on the ESPN app, fubo, and DIRECTV. Both teams are 13-8, so the stakes are real: a midseason win that nudges playoff positioning in both conferences.

Availability has firmed up since the weekend. New York forward Satou Sabally, in concussion protocol, has been ruled out for a fourth straight game. The defending champion Liberty enter off a 99-86 win over then-league-leading Minnesota on Friday and a Commissioner's Cup title last week, so they keep winning short-handed. Dallas counters with 2025 Rookie of the Year Paige Bueckers and Arike Ogunbowale, the franchise's all-time leading scorer.

Chicago Sky at Phoenix Mercury: Skylar Diggins is coming off the bench

The storyline is in Chicago's lineup card. Seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins, who signed with the Sky this offseason and had started all 19 games, is moving to the bench for the first time since 2016. She aired out her frustration on Instagram on Monday, posting "Now I'm coming off the bench?????? Cool," and coach Tyler Marsh called it a "coach's decision" without specifics. The likely catalyst is Courtney Vandersloot's return from a torn ACL.

It's also a return to Phoenix for Diggins, a former Mercury player. Tipoff 10:00 PM ET / 7:00 PM PT at the Mortgage Matchup Center. National stream: WNBA League Pass; in the Phoenix market, also on Arizona Family of Sports Network, CW26, and Merc+.

The Mercury are the hotter team. They've won three in a row and four of five, with Kahleah Copper scoring 20-plus in six of her last seven (20.6 PPG). The Sky are 6-14, 2-8 in their last 10, and will be without Rickea Jackson (knee, out for the season) and DiJonai Carrington. For Phoenix, Sami Whitcomb and Natasha Mack are out, Noemie Brochant probable. Phoenix beat Chicago by eight at home on May 15.

Last night: the Sun stunned the Lynx, and Cheryl Reeve's record waits again

The 5-16 Connecticut Sun walked into Target Center and beat the 15-6 Minnesota Lynx 90-89 on Monday night. Brittney Griner put up a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut, and Kennedy Burke hit two threes in the final three minutes off the bench. Kayla McBride scored 28 for Minnesota.

It was Cheryl Reeve's second straight missed attempt at the all-time regular-season wins record. She's tied with Mike Thibault at 379; New York denied her Friday, Connecticut denied her Monday. Her next chance comes Wednesday, when the Lynx travel to Connecticut for an immediate rematch against the team that just spoiled it. Circle Wednesday.

Also Monday: Seattle Storm 82, Los Angeles Sparks 64. Flau'jae Johnson scored 23, Natisha Hiedeman 15. Storm 6-17, Sparks 8-11.