The WNBA All-Star break is over and festivities have ended, meaning it’s time to get back to the grind. Things are coming in fast now; there’s a little over two weeks until the WNBA trade deadline. Every team will be crucial in deciding who buys and who sells come August, so the Washington Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks have a lot on the line with the deadline looming.
At 11-11, Washington is right in the playoff mix as the seventh seed. Seeds six through nine are separated by just a game and a half. A good or bad week can save or sink you, so these next few games will be crucial in deciding where the front office wants to go. Los Angeles’ direction is all but decided since at 8-14, they’re three games behind in the playoff race. With six games between now and the deadline, L.A. needs to rack up some wins, or nobody will be safe.
The Mystics are three-point favorites at home at -162 on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 167.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this contest.
Mystics vs. Sparks Prediction
Besides the season-long injuries of Cameron Brink and Georgia Amoore, both the Sparks and Mystics come into this contest with a clean bill of health. It’s all lined up for a rematch of their last game before the All-Star break, when Los Angeles defeated Washington 99-80.
Washington’s strength this season has been its defense, so seeing them get taken to the woodshed by a subpar offense was a significant surprise. Lightning won’t strike twice in this contest. The Mystics defense will dial in and their star trio of Brittney Sykes, Kiki Iriafen and Sonia Citron will get theirs on offense. All signs point to the Mystics going back over .500.
Mystics vs. Sparks Pick
Washington Mystics -3 (-115)
The line is moving quickly towards -3.5. Washington is the better team, and I don’t hold much weight in the Sparks’ victory before the break. Get on this Mystics line before it shifts further in their favor.
