With only a handful of games remaining in the WNBA regular season, it’s all on the line for playoff seeding. The Atlanta Dream, tops in the Eastern Conference, are tied for the second overall seed for the WNBA playoffs. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Sparks are fighting for their lives; they’re tied in the loss column with the Seattle Storm but three back in the win column. Wednesday’s game will go a long way towards settling the final WNBA playoff picture.
The Dream are 6.5-point favorites at home and hold -298 odds on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 168.5 points. Let’s examine the best bets and predictions for this Sparks–Dream matchup.
Sparks vs. Dream prediction, pick
The Dream are looking to put a bow on an awe-inspiring second half. At one point, they were 15-11, certainly a playoff team but not one people expected to contend. They’ve rattled off an 11-3 record since then, shutting things down defensively while getting offensive contributions from all over the lineup. That streak has included some impressive wins against the teams they’re trying to beat out for the No. 2 seed. Rhyne Howard, in particular, is putting on an impressive show in the last couple of weeks.
Atlanta has returned to health and is hitting its stride as it enters the home stretch. They’re in control of their own fate as the No. 2 seed and will play motivated basketball for the next four games.
It was always going to take a perfect stretch run for the Sparks to make the playoffs. After a rough start, they ripped off eight wins in nine games to get back into the race. Unfortunately, they’ve gone 5-5 since, and now find themselves with a near-impossible task of making it back in. Anything other than winning out over the last five games likely leaves Los Angeles out of the race.
I hate to spoil a party, but this may be where the Sparks go out. Atlanta is playing a cohesive brand of ball that is difficult to stop. Sorry, LA, no more parties.
