The Los Angeles Sparks return home to crypto.com Arena after a seven-game absence hoping to end a seven-game losing streak when they welcome the Washington Mystics.
Washington has improved greatly since its May 21 meeting, and my Mystics vs. Sparks prediction likes the visitors, who are a slight favorite, to avenge their 80-78 loss tonight against an injury-riddled Los Angeles group.
Read on for my WNBA picks for the Mystics and Sparks for Tuesday, July 2.
Mystics vs Sparks predictions
My best bet
Mystics moneyline (-120 at DraftKings)
My analysis
The Washington Mystics and Los Angeles Sparks tangle for the second time this season, but neither group is the same as they were in their May 21 meeting.
The Sparks have been decimated by injuries since their first tilt with the Mystics. Lexie Brown led L.A. with 20 points that night but she’s out due to Crohn’s Disease while Cameron Brink blocked four shots and was lost for the season with an ACL injury.
Those absences have made life difficult for the Sparks. They’ve dropped seven consecutive away games and return home to face a relatively healthy Mystics group playing much better than they did in their last clash with L.A.
Washington began the season with a 12-game losing streak but is playing much better basketball than the Sparks of late, winning four of its last seven — all coming against bottom-half teams in the WNBA.
Those victories against the bottom five on the table are important, as there is a wide chasm between the WNBA "haves" and the "have nots." Washington is beginning to beat the lower half of the W and had its chances to defeat the Connecticut Sun and Las Vegas Aces. The Mystics led for much of each of those games but were unable to close out the elites in the waning moments.
Washington shouldn’t have too much trouble closing out tonight’s clash, as Los Angeles is in disarray. The Brink injury turned the Sparks' middle-of-the-road rebounding team into the league's worst and the blocked shots are few and far between (2.9 L3), which is why they allow the most points per game (93) without Brink on the floor. Washington has covered the spread in four of their past five and should beat the injury-riddled Sparks tonight.
Mystics vs Sparks same-game parlay (SGP)
Mystics moneyline
Mystics TT Over 81.5
Stefanie Dolson Over 13.5 points
Washington should win this game, but I also expect the Mystics to score big, and for Washington center Stefanie Dolson to contribute.
The Mystics have topped 90+ in each of their last three games and they meet a Sparks defense that hasn’t stopped anyone recently while allowing 94 points per game across their last three.
Dolson is the main reason behind the Mystics high-scoring stretch. Dolson has scored 14+ in each of her last five and the UConn product is shooting 49% from the field and 50% from downtown and will have an easier path to production without Brink on the floor.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Mystics vs Sparks odds
Mystics vs Sparks live odds
Get the latest Mystics vs. Sparks WNBA odds for tonight.
Mystics vs Sparks opening odds
- Spread: Washington +1.5 (-110) | Los Angeles -1.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Washington +105 | Los Angeles -125
- Over/Under: Over 162.5 (-110) | Under 162.5 (-110)
Mystics vs Sparks spread and Over/Under analysis
- Washington spread markets opened anywhere from +1.5 to –1.5, but after some heavy back-and-forth trading is now favored by -1 (-105) and -1.5 (-108).
- Los Angeles is 8-9-1 ATS and the best market for the Sparks is +1.5 (-110) after opening by as many as -1.5 (-110).
- Over 162 (-110) is the best number and odds for Over markets while Under 162.5 (-110) tops the Under markets.
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Mystics vs Sparks trend
Washington is 4-3 on the ML across their past seven games. Find more WNBA betting trends for Mystics vs. Sparks
Mystics vs Sparks game info
| Location: | Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA |
| Date: | Tuesday, 7-2-2024 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | ESPN3 |
Mystics vs Sparks latest injuries
Mystics: Karlie Samuelson G (Out), Brittney Sykes G (Out), Shakira Austin C (Out).
Sparks: Azura Stevens F (Out), Lexie Brown G (Out), Cameron Brink F (Out).
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
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