Game Preview Aug 31 vs. Mystics

Sparks: 

With only seven regular-season games remaining, the Sparks (17-20) are ninth overall and two games behind the Golden State Valkyries for the eighth and final playoff spot as they host the Washington Mystics at Sunday evening.

The Sparks are coming off an extremely close 76-75 loss to the Fever Friday at home. In this tough matchup, Azurá Stevens led the way with 17 points, six rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks, while Los Angeles shot 48.2% from the field. Despite the defeat, the Sparks remain one of the league’s most efficient offensive teams, ranking second in field-goal percentage and third in three-point percentage this season.

Mystics:

The Mystics (16-23) enter this matchup 10th overall and have dropped five straight games since defeating the Sparks at home on Aug. 17. In that contest, the Mystics shot impressive 59.3% from the field.

Sparks vs. Mystics History:

This matchup marks the 65th all-time meeting between the two franchises, with Los Angeles holding a 40-24 advantage. The Sparks have taken two of the three games in the season series so far. On July 15, Los Angeles earned a dominant 99-80 win at home, followed by a 93-86 road victory on July 22. Washington responded Aug. 17 with a 95-86 win on their home court. Over the course of the season series, the Sparks have averaged nearly 96 points per game against the Mystics while shooting 51.7% from the field and 38.5% from beyond the arc. Twelve of the last 13 meetings between these two teams have been decided by 10 points or fewer.

Players to Watch:

Sparks:

  • Dearica Hamby has been dominant against Washington this season, averaging 25.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists while ranking second in the WNBA in field goal percentage at 57.2%.
  • Kelsey Plum continues to be a dynamic force, averaging 20.1 points and 5.8 assists per game. In the Aug. 17 meeting between the two teams, she tied the league record for most games in a single season with at least 20 points and 5 assists (18).
  • Rae Burrell has also provided a spark in the season series, scoring 10 points on 75% shooting in just 17 minutes of action during the most recent matchup

Mystics: 

  • Rookie Sonia Citron has quickly emerged as a standout, averaging 15.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, highlighted by her 24-point performance against Los Angeles less than two weeks ago.
  • Kiki Iriafen has been a steady interior presence for Washington, contributing 13.0 points and 7.3 rebounds per game against the Sparks this season
  • Shakira Austin has been a key two-way contributor in this season series, averaging 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.7 steals across the three matchups with L.A.

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