The Los Angeles Sparks travel to face the Indiana Fever on Wednesday, September 4. It’s the only WNBA game on the schedule, but rookie sensation Caitlin Clark’s presence should once again boost viewership.
Check out my WNBA same game parlay for this Sparks vs. Fever matchup. It’s a two-leg parlay that's basically even money.
WNBA Same Game Parlay for Sparks vs. Fever
- Kelsey Mitchell 20+ Points (-175)
- Indiana Fever Alternate Line -7.5 (-210)
Parlay Odds: +102 on DraftKings
Kelsey Mitchell 20+ Points (-175)
Let’s ride the Kelsey Mitchell wave. Over her past 10 games, she's averaged 24.9 points per game on an incredible 65.5 true shooting percentage (TS%). That’s 11.9% above league average, and for context, NBA superstar Steph Curry shot a 66.9 TS% during his record-breaking 2016 season.
Mitchell essentially can't miss at the moment, which had led her to score 20+ points in nine of her past 10 games.
Along with absurd momentum, the All-Star boasts an excellent matchup here. Los Angeles sits 11th in defensive rating. It allows the largest effective field goal percentage on jump shots and the second-most points per transition possession.
Mitchell dominates both of those categories, and the Sparks also have little chance of containing her handle. Look for Mitchell to continue her scoring run and break the 20-point barrier.
In two matchups against Los Angeles this season, the veteran only scored 15 and 18 points. However, those contests were played in May before Indiana figured out how to integrate Clark, and Mitchell opened the year ice-cold from the field.
I expect a more productive night in round three.
Indiana Fever Alternate Line -7.5 (-210)
The -12 line is a bit too much for me, but playing an alternate at -7.5 works. That's only one more bucket per quarter.
Los Angeles’ putrid defense has no answer here. The Fever lead the W in offensive rating since June 28 and love to push the pace and run the floor.
They should therefore shred a Sparks unit that struggles mightily to defend in transition.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ guards are ill-equipped to limit Clark and Mitchell off the dribble. The duo will get to their spots at will and manipulate the defense into any geometrical structure that Indiana desires.
Because the Fever rank third in 3-point percentage, they can burn any attempt to trap or blitz ball screens.
On the other end, the Sparks are 11th in offensive rating. Their offense is third in rim attempt frequency, but they check in at ninth in 3-point percentage.
Unfortunately for Los Angeles, Indiana’s weak defense actually protects the basket at a decent level. Opponents have scorched the Fever from 3-point territory, yet the Sparks lack the shooters to capitalize.
In other words, Los Angeles’ offense doesn't have the tools to exploit the Fever’s defensive weaknesses.
I expect the red-hot Fever to win this contest by eight-plus points against a limping, ineffective Sparks squad.
These markets are also correlated. If Indiana is going to comfortably win, then it'll likely include an excellent scoring night from Mitchell.
