Sparks vs Mystics WNBA Pick: Washington Looks To Steady Its Playoff Push (Aug 15)

• The Sparks are 12-21 following an 85-81 loss to the New York Liberty.
• Washington fell to 19-14 after an 83-76 loss to the Las Vegas Aces.
• Los Angeles leads the season series 1-0.

One of Saturday’s WNBA matchups features the Los Angeles Sparks visiting the Washington Mystics. Which team has the edge in our Sparks vs Mystics pick?

Sparks nearly pull of historic comeback against New York

Following an impressive win over the Lynx, Los Angeles has lost each of its last three games. The latest setback was an 85-81 loss to the New York Liberty on Thursday.

ALSO SEE: Liberty vs Sun | Odds and WNBA Pick (Aug 15)

The Sparks trailed by 28 points in the fourth quarter and appeared to be headed toward a lopsided loss. Instead, they ripped off a 21-0 run that positioned them to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately for L.A., Ariel Atkins’ 3-point attempt that would have tied the game was off the mark, and Sabrina Ionescu hit a free throw to seal the win.

Rae Burrell, put up 28 points – including 20 in the fourth – on 10-for-19 shooting from the field. Dearica Hamby finished with 16 points, converting seven of her 11 shot attempts. Sadly, the late push wasn’t enough to overcome the massive deficit the team faced entering the final frame.

Washington aims to recover from back-to-back losses to Las Vegas

On the other side, the Mystics have fallen off a bit following a season-high seven-game win streak. Their latest disappointment was an 83-76 setback against the Las Vegas Aces – their second loss to the defending champs in as many nights.

Washington trailed 38-32 at intermission before rallying to take a brief 64-62 edge in the fourth quarter. But things went south from there, as Jackie Young fueled a game-changing 12-0 run to help Las Vegas prevail down the stretch.

Shakira Austin scored a team-high 29 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Sonia Citron added 17 points and handed out eight assists. Although the defeat concluded a solid stretch for the Mystics, they return home with an opportunity to avenge a 92-87 loss against Los Angeles back in late May.

Sparks vs Mystics WNBA Pick

Here’s what you need to know for both teams ahead of this Saturday night clash.

• The Sparks are 2-8 (SU) in their previous 10 games.
• Los Angeles is 3-2 ATS in its last five outings.
• The Mystics are 7-3 (SU) in their previous 10 contests.
• Washington is 3-2 ATS in its last five matchups.

The Sparks have been mediocre away from home, going 2-3 in their last five road outings, while Washington has been elite on its home court, posting a perfect 5-0 mark in its last five at CareFirst Arena. The Mystics also rank inside the top 10 defensively, giving them the edge in this East vs West battle.