Sparks vs Mercury WNBA Pick: LA Aiming to Bounce Back (May 21)

• The Sparks took down the Valkyries last week, before losing 89-75 to the Lynx.
• Phoenix dominated Seattle in their opener, defeating them by a score of 81-59.
• These two teams last met on Sept. 17, 2024, in a game that Phoenix won 85-81.

The 2025 WNBA season is underway with some intriguing matchups taking place each day. In our Sparks vs Mercury pick, two very competitive playoff hopefuls clash in a battle of the west.

Sparks Seeking Bounce Back Win

Kelsey Plum and the Sparks were exceptional in their opener against the expansion Valkyries. In her LA debut, Plum totaled 37 points, 6 assists, and 5 steals, becoming the first player in WNBA history to record a 35pt/5ast/5stl game. Unfortunately, she came back down to earth against the stronger Lynx, who the Sparks lost to by 14 points. They’ll aim to bounce back here.

Mercury off to Another Solid Start

Phoenix was only favored by a few points against the Storm in their opener, but wound up winning by 22. Leading the way was the newly-acquired Satou Sabally, who posted 27 points, 6 rebounds, and a pair of blocks in her Mercury debut. Alyssa Thomas also had a stellar game, showcasing Phoenix’s new 1-2 punch. They will look to make a statement against the Sparks.

Los Angeles Sparks vs Phoenix Mercury Pick

This should be an excellent matchup between a pair of title contenders, each with some new faces leading the way. It’s still undetermined whether the Mercury are better than expected, or the Storm are just worse than expected. This game should give some clarity. While I do think the new-look Mercury are capable, they’re not as deep as the Sparks. I see LA winning this one.