Jul 13, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts during the second half of a WNBA game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
- The WNBA returns from its Olympic hiatus on Thursday, August 15
- The league-leading New York Liberty are heavy road favorites over the struggling LA Sparks
- See the New York Liberty vs Los Angeles Sparks odds, predictions, and picks for Aug. 15
The WNBA’s nearly month-long Olympic hiatus comes to an end on Thursday with a trio of games. The nightcap sees the league-leading New York Liberty (21-4, 9-3 away, 12-13 ATS) visiting the Los Angeles Sparks (6-18, 4-8 home, 11-12-1 ATS) at crypto.com Arena at 6:00 pm PT/9:00 pm ET.
Los Angeles is having a season to forget, and Thursday’s Liberty vs Sparks odds suggest its going to get worse before it gets better. The visitors are double-digit favorites against the spread.
New York Liberty vs Los Angeles Sparks Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Liberty | -11 (-110) | -625 | O 164.5 (-108) |
| LA Sparks | +11 (-110) | +455 | U 164.5 (-112) |
New York is currently an 11-point road favorite and -625 on the moneyline. The Sparks come back as +455 home underdogs. The over/under is sitting at 164.5. The Liberty are 13-12 over/under on the season, while LA is just 10-14 O/U.
Odds as of August 14 at DraftKings. Lock in one of the DraftKings promos before betting on Liberty vs Sparks.
Despite their impressive 21-4 record, which is 2.5 games clear of the Connecticut Sun, the Liberty remain the second-favorite in the WNBA championship odds behind two-time defending-champion Las Vegas.
Liberty Hope to Pick Up Where They Left Off
New York entered the break on a four-game win streak, which included a pair of wins over the Sun, who own the second-best win/loss record so far this season. All the more impressive, their last two wins came without center Breanna Stewart, the two-time and reigning WNBA MVP.
Stewart was full-go during Team USA’s gold-medal run at the Paris Olympics and should be fully fit for Thursday’s game.
New York guard Sabrina Ionescu has continued her ascent to superstardom this season. She currently leads the Liberty in scoring (19.8 PPG) and assists (6.1 APG) while adding 4.4 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. She’s hitting at a respectable 35.7% from three on 8.3 attempts per game. Only Dallas’ Arike Ogunbowale takes more (8.7).
The previous two meetings against the Sparks this season, both in New York, ended in 13 and 10-point Liberty wins.
Sparks Were Competitive Enter All-Star Break
Los Angeles only won two of its last five games before the hiatus, but they also kept the deficit to single digits in three of their last four setbacks. The growing pains were to be expected with the team’s top-two scorers from last season departing: Nneka Ogwumike (Seattle) and Jordin Canada (Atlanta).
With more of the ball to go around, ninth-year forward Dearica Hamby is having a career season, averaging a team-high 19.2 PPG and 10.0 RPG. The Wake Forest product had never averaged more than 13 points or 7.6 rebounds in any of her first eight seasons in the league.
NY Liberty vs LA Sparks Player Props
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Three-Pointers Made |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aari McDonald (LA) | 9.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | OFF | 4.5 (Ov +130 | Un -166) | OFF |
| Azura Stevens (LA) | 12.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 6.5 (Ov +105 | Un -135) | OFF | OFF |
| Breanna Stewart (NY) | 20.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | 9.5 (Ov +120 | Un -154) | 3.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) | 1.5 (Ov +120 | Un -160) |
| Dearica Hamby (LA) | 18.5 (Ov -115 | Un -115) | 9.5 (Ov -100 | Un -130) | OFF | OFF |
| Jonquel Jones (NY) | 15.5 (Ov -105 | Un -125) | 8.5 (Ov -164 | Un +110) | OFF | 1.5 (Ov +150 | Un -210) |
| Rickea Jackson (LA)) | 11.5 (Ov -130 | Un -100) | 4.5 (Ov -110 | Un -120) | OFF | OFF |
| Sabrina Ionescu (NY) | 20.5 (Ov -120 | Un -110) | 4.5 (Ov -125 | Un -105) | 5.5 (Ov -140 | Un +110) | 2.5 (Ov -190 | Un +140) |
The Liberty vs Sparks player props list Stewart and Ionescu with game-high point totals of 20.5 while Hamby leads the LA players at 18.5. Stewart and Hamby also have the highest rebound totals at 9.5 O/U.
New York Liberty vs Los Angeles Sparks Predictions
I love the makeup of the Liberty and, all due respect to Aja Wilson, see New York as the WNBA title favorites at this point. But 11 points is a big number to cover on the road in the first game back against a hard-working, if not ultra-talented, team.
The Sparks are 3-4 straight-up in their last seven home games, including two wins over Las Vegas, and only one of those four losses was by double-digits.
NYL vs LAS picks:
- Sparks +11 (-110)
- Ionescu under 20.5 points (-110)
Sascha has been working in the sports-betting industry since 2014, and quickly paired his strong writing skills with a burgeoning knowledge of probability and statistics. He holds an undergraduate degree in linguistics and a Juris Doctor from the University of British Columbia.
The New York Liberty will face off against the Los Angeles Sparks on August 15th in what is sure to be an exciting matchup. Both teams are coming off of strong performances and will be looking to secure a win in this game.
The odds for this game currently favor the Los Angeles Sparks, who are coming in as the favorites. The Sparks have been playing well recently and have a strong roster that includes standout players such as Nneka Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver. On the other hand, the New York Liberty have been struggling this season and will need to step up their game if they want to come out on top in this matchup.
In terms of the spread, the Los Angeles Sparks are currently favored by -6.5 points. This means that in order for bettors to win a wager on the Sparks, they will need to win by at least 7 points. On the other hand, if you bet on the New York Liberty, they can either win the game or lose by less than 7 points for you to win your bet.
As for predictions, it is likely that the Los Angeles Sparks will come out on top in this game. They have been playing well recently and have a strong team that should be able to outmatch the struggling New York Liberty. However, anything can happen in basketball, so it will be important to watch the game closely to see how it unfolds.
In terms of picks, if you are looking to place a bet on this game, it may be wise to go with the Los Angeles Sparks. They are the favorites for a reason and should be able to cover the spread against the New York Liberty. However, as always, it is important to do your own research and make an informed decision before placing any bets.
Overall, the matchup between the New York Liberty and the Los Angeles Sparks on August 15th is sure to be an exciting one. Both teams will be looking to secure a win and improve their standing in the league. Keep an eye on this game for some high-quality basketball action.