The heartbreak list
Belt games decided by 3 points or less173 belt games have come down to 3 points or less. These are the teams who got closest without taking it, and the holders who survived by a whisker.
So close: challengers
Lost a belt game by 3 or less
| Phoenix Mercury | 12 |
| Dallas Wings | 11 |
| Connecticut Sun | 10 |
| Los Angeles Sparks | 8 |
| Las Vegas Aces | 7 |
| Houston Comets | 6 |
| Washington Mystics | 6 |
| New York Liberty | 5 |
| Atlanta Dream | 4 |
| Indiana Fever | 4 |
| Cleveland Rockers | 3 |
| Chicago Sky | 3 |
Lost it by a whisker
Holders beaten by 3 or less
| Minnesota Lynx | 11 |
| Los Angeles Sparks | 10 |
| Dallas Wings | 9 |
| Phoenix Mercury | 7 |
| Connecticut Sun | 7 |
| Las Vegas Aces | 6 |
| New York Liberty | 6 |
| Washington Mystics | 6 |
| Chicago Sky | 5 |
| Houston Comets | 4 |
| Seattle Storm | 4 |
| Indiana Fever | 3 |
Escape artists
Holders who defended by 3 or less
| Minnesota Lynx | 19 |
| Las Vegas Aces | 9 |
| Phoenix Mercury | 8 |
| Seattle Storm | 7 |
| Los Angeles Sparks | 6 |
| Dallas Wings | 6 |
| New York Liberty | 5 |
| Washington Mystics | 5 |
| Chicago Sky | 4 |
| Houston Comets | 3 |
| Sacramento Monarchs | 3 |
| Connecticut Sun | 3 |
Latest nail-biters
| Aug 1, 2026 | Chicago Sky beat Las Vegas Aces 84–83 | Title change |
| Jul 22, 2026 | New York Liberty beat Chicago Sky 95–94 | Defense |
| Jul 20, 2026 | New York Liberty beat Dallas Wings 99–98 | Title change |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Minnesota Lynx beat Washington Mystics 78–76 | Title change |
| Jun 13, 2026 | Las Vegas Aces beat Minnesota Lynx 100–97 | Title change |
| Jun 4, 2026 | Minnesota Lynx beat Golden State Valkyries 87–84 | Defense |
| Oct 8, 2025 | Las Vegas Aces beat Phoenix Mercury 90–88 | Defense |
| Oct 3, 2025 | Las Vegas Aces beat Phoenix Mercury 89–86 | Defense |
| Sep 18, 2025 | Las Vegas Aces beat Seattle Storm 74–73 | Title change |
| Sep 16, 2025 | Seattle Storm beat Las Vegas Aces 86–83 | Title change |
| Aug 19, 2025 | Las Vegas Aces beat Atlanta Dream 74–72 | Defense |
| Aug 15, 2025 | Las Vegas Aces beat Phoenix Mercury 86–83 | Defense |
| Jul 31, 2025 | Golden State Valkyries beat Washington Mystics 68–67 | Defense |
| Jul 29, 2025 | Golden State Valkyries beat Atlanta Dream 77–75 | Title change |
| Jul 14, 2025 | Phoenix Mercury beat Golden State Valkyries 78–77 | Defense |
| Jun 22, 2025 | Washington Mystics beat Dallas Wings 91–88 | Title change |
| Jun 20, 2025 | Dallas Wings beat Connecticut Sun 86–83 | Defense |
| May 30, 2025 | Minnesota Lynx beat Phoenix Mercury 74–71 | Defense |
| Sep 17, 2024 | Minnesota Lynx beat Connecticut Sun 78–76 | Defense |
| May 31, 2024 | Connecticut Sun beat Dallas Wings 74–72 | Title change |
| May 26, 2024 | Dallas Wings beat Los Angeles Sparks 84–83 | Defense |
| May 23, 2024 | Phoenix Mercury beat Washington Mystics 83–80 | Defense |
| Oct 18, 2023 | Las Vegas Aces beat New York Liberty 70–69 | Title change |
| Sep 29, 2023 | Las Vegas Aces beat Dallas Wings 64–61 | Defense |
| Jul 2, 2023 | Chicago Sky beat Indiana Fever 89–87 | Defense |