With the WNBA standings so tightly packed beyond the runaway Minnesota Lynx, the final few weeks of the WNBA regular season are set to be full of game that could alter playoff seeds and positions. This afternoon’s Los Angeles Sparks vs. Washington Mystics contest (3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN3) at CareFirst Arena in D.C. is one such matchup.
Entering today, the Sparks (16-17) and Mystics (15-18) are both on the outside looking in but sit within striking distance of the Golden State Valkyries, Indiana Fever, and Seattle Storm, who currently occupy the last three spots in the WNBA playoff field.
Will L.A. win for the 12th time in 16 games to put some heat on the Storm, Fever, and Valkyries? Or will Washington pull closer to the playoffs with a big home win? Read on for our Sparks vs. Mystics prediction and best bets and see which top online sportsbooks offer the best betting value for today’s recommended plays.
Sparks vs. Mystics Betting Trends
- The Sparks are 15-17-1 ATS this season, including 8-4 ATS in their last dozen games.
- Los Angeles is 10-7 SU and 10-6-1 ATS on the road this season, including 4-1 SU and 3-2 ATS as a road favorite.
- The Mystics are 16-17 ATS this season, including 3-1 ATS in their last four games and an even 5-5 ATS in their last ten games.
- Washington is 9-6 SU and 7-8 ATS at home this season, including 4-5 SU and 5-4 ATS as a home underdog.
- The over has hit in each of the Mystics’ last three games.
- The over is 23-9-1 in Sparks’ games this season, including 13-2 in their last 15 games.
Sparks vs. Mystics Prediction and Best Bets
After dropping below .500 by losing seven of nine games, are things shifting in the right direction for Washington? In the last week, the Mystics have sandwiched road wins at Dallas and Indiana around a missed opportunity at home against the Valkyries on Wednesday, in which a bad first quarter cost them dearly.
While Wednesday’s stumble was poorly timed, the wins over the Wings and Fever are encouraging as today’s Sparks vs. Mystics matchup is one that absolutely have to win.
Friday’s 88-84 in Indianapolis saw the Mystics dig deep and pull out an impressive result. Washington was down by 13 in the second quarter but battled back, took the lead for good with 8:39 left, and went on to hold off a late rally attempt.
Another big effort is required this afternoon, as the Sparks have been one of the WNBA’s best teams since early July.
They did, however, very nearly let one slip away in Thursday’s wild 97-96 win at Dallas. The Wings trailed by 16 with six and a half minutes let but staged a furious rally and even had a shot to win it in the final seconds.
Will they improve to 8-2 in their last ten road games this afternoon? This is certainly a spot in which the Sparks have done well, in addition to their overall success.
However, the Mystics are trending the right way at the right moment. This is a great spot to back a home underdog to both cover and win outright. It is also a great spot for the over, with recent results for both teams favoring that forecast.
Sparks vs. Mystics Prediction: Mystics to win
Sparks vs. Mystics Best Bets: 1) Mystics +3 (-105 at Bovada) 2) Mystics ML (+135 at BetOnline) 3) Sparks/Mystics over 171 (-110 at Bovada)
Other WNBA Betting Content
Betting News extensively covers the WNBA, providing expert picks for many of the league’s top matchups, analysis of key storylines from a betting perspective, and more.
Are you new to betting on the WNBA? Check out our updated WNBA betting guide. It covers a lot of basic information about the league, how to bet on it, and betting tools and resources that can enhance your chances of a successful season betting on the WNBA.
Several of our sports betting guides are also handy resources for WNBA bettors. This includes our guide to futures bets, our breakdowns of line movement and line shopping, and our comparison of moneyline and spread betting.
Also, check out our streams and social media channels for even more WNBA betting insight.