Sparks vs. Liberty: WNBA Odds, Expert Picks (Thursday, June 20)
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images. Pictured: Sabrina Ionescu
Sparks vs. Liberty
| Sparks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+14.5 -112 | 164 -110o / -110u | +880 |
| Liberty Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-14.5 -108 | 164 -110o / -110u | -1800 |
A pair of teams at the opposite ends of the standings will face off when the New York Liberty host the Los Angeles Sparks. It is the first of back-to-back games between the teams, both of which will be played in the Big Apple, as the Liberty hope to keep pace with the WNBA-leading Connecticut Sun.
The Liberty will be trying to bounce back from a loss on the road at the Phoenix Mercury, a defeat that snapped an eight-game winning streak. The Sparks, on the other hand, are losers of four straight games and will need to figure out how to move forward without star rookie Cameron Brink, who suffered a torn ACL four minutes into Tuesday's loss to the Sun.
Los Angeles Sparks
This was expected to be a bit of a rebuilding year for the Sparks, with the process helped by having two of the top four picks in the 2024 draft. They used those on Brink, who was chosen second overall, and Rickea Jackson, who was picked fourth.
Both have had their ups and downs, typical for rookies, but each proved capable of having a big night whenever they took the court. Brink's contributions were more on the glass, where she was second on the team in rebounds, and defense, where she blocked 2.3 shots per game, than on offense. Jackson is second on the team in scoring at 10.3 points per game.
Leading the way for the Sparks is veteran Dearica Hamby, who is averaging career-best numbers in points (18.3), rebounds (10.7), assists (3.6) and minutes per game. Her ascension from role player off the bench to starter and leader has been pretty smooth.
The question is how will the Sparks, now without Brink, replace an imposing post presence who had started all 15 games she played in? Guard Aari McDonald, who was acquired over the offseason from Atlanta, got her first start of the season against the Sun by responding with 14 points — her fifth-consecutive outing producing double digits. She also notched seven assists and is beginning to look more like the player she was in college.
Forward Stephanie Talbot saw her most minutes of the season against the Sun, chipping in nine points, four rebounds, two steals and a block, while center Li Yueru also saw more minutes than any other game this season, posting 11 points, two rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block.
As a team, the Sparks are second-to-last in the league in Offensive Rating and eighth in Defensive Rating while playing at a middling pace. Now down a starter and key player, it'll be interesting to see how they adjust.
New York Liberty
That the Liberty are one of the best teams in the league is no surprise. The runner-up in last year's WNBA Finals, they returned essentially the same roster in an effort to run it back and hopefully get over the hump. So far, so good, as they have the second-best record in the league and look every bit the contender once again.
Breanna Stewart, who won her second WNBA MVP last season, is once again playing at the top of her game, averaging 19.2 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 2.1 steals and one block per game. She is supported by one of the strongest lineups in the league, with Sabrina Ionescu, Jonquel Jones and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton all scoring in double digits. The result of it all is a league-best offensive rating at 107.1, which when combined with the fourth-best defensive rating in the WNBA really helps to paint the picture of a team that's tough to beat.
If the Liberty have one weakness, however, it is taking care of the basketball. They average nearly 14 turnovers per game, and in their three losses they've committed at least that many, with the number reaching 16 twice, including most recently in Phoenix. Keep that number low, such as the 11 in a win over Connecticut a couple weeks ago, and well you get the picture.
Storm vs Aces
Betting Pick & Prediction
On paper this should not be a close game, not with the Liberty at full strength with one of the best rosters in the league and the Sparks down a key player with one that even healthy might struggle to keep up. This is reflected in the line, which on DraftKings has the Liberty as a 14.5 point favorite.
It's a lot of points to give up, especially for a team who has only won by at least that margin just three times this season.
Then again, those victories were over Atlanta once and Indiana twice, and both of those teams are ahead of the Sparks in the standings. It's L.A.'s first game without Brink and the adjustment will be tough, and this one shouldn't be close.
Pick: Liberty -14.5
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