How about a little showdown in the desert to close Saturday’s WNBA slate? The Las Vegas Aces, looking to add a fourth championship to their trophy case, are off to a hot start and own the best record in the WNBA. Meanwhile, the Sparks have stumbled out of the gate as they look to get back to the playoffs. Will Los Angeles pull off the upset? Or will the defending champs continue to roll?
Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Aces are 8.5-point home favorites with -395 moneyline odds on DraftKings Sportsbook. A Sparks upset is priced at +310. The game total is set at O/U 182.5 points.
Let’s get into a pick and prediction for this Sparks vs. Aces game.
Sparks vs. Aces Preview
So far, so good for the Las Vegas Aces. After suffering a crushing 99-66 defeat to the Phoenix Mercury on opening night, the Aces have ripped off four wins in a row. Of course, A’ja Wilson has been the bellwether of the team, racking up 25 PPG on 59.5% shooting while dominating on the defensive end. Chelsea Gray has been uber-efficient as well, contributing as a scorer, defender, and playmaker. Jackie Young and Jewell Loyd are off to tough starts, but that has been overshadowed by their unexpected X-factor: Chennedy Carter.
After being out of the league in 2025, Carter was a flier of a signing by Becky Hammon. Talent hasn’t been a question; it’s the fit off the court. But so far, so good; Carter is putting up 19.4 PPG on 67.2% shooting in only 21.4 minutes per night. Her drives have been electric, and it seems like nobody can stop Carter when she gets a head of steam. If she keeps this run of play up, the Aces might find a new gear we haven’t seen before. That’s a scary thought.
After falling just short of the playoffs last season, the Sparks hoped that some key upgrades would get them into the postseason picture. So far, they need to do a lot more work. They had an elite offense last year with a very rough defense, and that imbalance ultimately ruined a promising second half. This year, the offense has taken a step back, and the defense has completely bottomed out; Los Angeles is dead last in defensive rating.
It’s a surprise given the addition of Nneka Ogwumike, who is still a two-way force at 35. Kelsey Plum is still one of the best drivers in the league, and Dearica Hamby is a certified bucket, but this defense is too rough to ignore. Cameron Brink hasn’t made the kind of impact on that end that the Sparks hoped for. Ariel Atkins isn’t making a difference at the point of attack, arguably the worst part of their defense. They’re going to have to figure out answers sooner rather than later.
Now we have a good idea what to expect from these teams. Who is going to come out the winner?
Sparks vs. Aces Pick, Best Bet
It’s really difficult to see how the Sparks survive the onslaught out of Las Vegas’ backcourt. Chennedy Carter, Jackie Young, Jewell Loyd, and Chelsea Gray are a difficult quartet for any team to contain. When your point-of-attack defense is virtually nonexistent, things are going to get ugly. This will be a comfortable win for the defending champs.
