Sparks vs Liberty WNBA Pick: Are The Defending Champs On Upset Alert? (Aug 12)

• The Los Angeles Sparks are 15-16 and have the second-worst record out west.
• Meanwhile, the Liberty are 20-11 and own the best record in the Eastern Conference.
• These squads previously faced off on Jul. 1, with the Sparks winning that contest 101-99.

One of the games on Tuesday’s WNBA slate features the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the New York Liberty. Which team has the edge in our Sparks vs Liberty pick?

Los Angeles Shooting For Its Fifth Win In Six Games

The Sparks have won four of their last five games, including a 94-91 victory over the Seattle Storm on Sunday night.

After being outscored 26-14 in the opening stanza, the Sparks rallied to take a 46-45 lead at the break. Los Angeles looked to be in trouble when Skylar Diggins’ basket gave Seattle an 87-80 lead with 2:52 left to play.

However, the Sparks closed the game with a 14-4 run, a stretch that included the game-winning three-point play from Dearica Hamby in the closing moments. Kelsey Plum scored a team-high 20 points, along with seven assists and six rebounds. Hamby finished with 19 points, seven boards, and two blocks.

Liberty Look To Bounce Back From Double-Digit Loss To Minnesota

New York saw its three-game win streak end with an 83-71 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday.

The Liberty led 38-36 at the break and 47-40 early in the third quarter. But Minnesota answered with a 30-19 scoring edge in the third, thanks to a crucial 24-7 run. The decisive stretch included five 3-pointers and a three-point play. Even more important, it allowed New York to seize control of the contest the rest of the way.

The Liberty’s offense featured a balanced attack in which five players reached double figures. Natasha Cloud scored 14 points, grabbed six rebounds, and handed out five assists. Jonquel Jones and Emma Meesseman added 11 points apiece.

New York has dropped both meetings against the Lynx this season.

Sparks vs Liberty WNBA Pick

Los Angeles has the third-highest scoring average in the league, but ranks last in points allowed (87.8 PPG). On the other side, New York is ranked third in offensive efficiency and has the fifth-lowest defensive rating (101.3 Points Per 100 Possessions).

The teams have split the season series, with Los Angeles winning the most recent matchup by a basket. Although New York is 0-4-1 against the spread in its previous five contests, this group has enough talent to cover and win outright against an opponent who has hovered at or below the .500 mark all season.