The Los Angeles Sparks and Chicago Sky are in the process of figuring things out. And with uncertainty comes losing.
After a victory over the Valkyries, the Sparks started the season off 1-0. They have since lost three in a row. Kelsey Plum is getting buckets, and Dearica Hamby continues to cook, but the roster struggles to find shape. The absence of Cameron Brink has limited their defense, and the Plum-Hamby duo cannot carry the offense by themselves.
Struggle would be a generous word for the Chicago Sky. They’ve been blown out twice to begin the year, and their net rating of -35.8 is 20 points worse than second place. The shift to running the offense through Angel Reese has been tough, as the second-year big is shooting just 23% from the field. They do have lots of moving parts and new additions to sort out, but things may get worse for Chicago before they get better.
The Sparks are four-point favorites at home and are -198 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 159.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Prediction for Sparks vs. Sky
There’s no doubt this Sparks team has problems. Los Angeles needs to figure out how to supplement its stars and will soon have to reincorporate Brink into the mix. It won’t get fixed overnight, but after an adjustment period, this team has a bright future ahead of them.
The time at the bottom of the curve will be longer for the Sky. The Reese and Kamilla Cardoso frontcourt is taking a while to gel. Ariel Atkins is having a rough landing in Chicago. Courtney Vandersloot is a legend in her own right, but can’t paper over this team’s flaws at 36 years old. It could be a long night in Chicago once again.
Pick for Sparks vs. Sky
Los Angeles Sparks -4 (-115)
The Sky lost their first two games by a combined 60 points. I doubt they’ll keep getting obliterated in every game, but it doesn’t project to get better soon. A road matchup with Los Angeles isn’t a get-right kind of game.
I’m unsure who on the Sky can stop Plum and Hamby from getting theirs. Azura Stevens can also do well at stopping Reese or Cardoso from getting buckets in the paint. Not that any matchup bodes well for the Sky, but this one isn’t looking up for Chi Town. I’m backing the Sparks to cover the spread, and then some.
