Sparks vs Mercury Predictions, Picks, & Odds for Tonight’s WNBA Game

Two teams trending in opposite directions clash on Friday night when the Los Angeles Sparks visit the Phoenix Mercury.

Phoenix is playing its best ball of the season with four wins in its last six while holding on to the sixth seed in the overall standings. They’re hefty 10.5-point home favorites in the WNBA odds against a Sparks team that’s been decimated with injuries and has lost six in a row.

Check out my free Sparks vs. Mercury predictions below, as my WNBA picks tell you why this one has rout written all over it.

Sparks vs Mercury predictions

My best bet
Mercury -10.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

My analysis

The injury bug has beaten down the Los Angeles Sparks, who already have rookie Cameron Brink (knee) and center Azura Stevens (arm) out for extended time. More bad news came down the pipe this week as guards Lexie Brown and Layshia Clarendon will sit due to illnesses. Brown is out indefinitely due to Crohn’s Disease.

The injuries have affected all aspects of L.A.’s play, as they are now 10th in the WNBA in points allowed at 85.1 per game while surrendering a league-worst 45.3% mark from the field and 36.3% from distance, which ranks second-last.

The schedule maker hasn’t been kind either, sending them on a brutal seven-game road trip with five games against the four best teams in the W — and the Top 5 defensive teams overall.

Their scoring has plummeted to 11th at just 77.9 points per contest, so it's no surprise they’ve lost six straight.

The Phoenix Mercury have navigated their tough slate with better results, going 5-3 over their last eight despite taking on the W’s Top 5 teams in six of those contests.

One of the few soft landing spots in that stretch was against these very Sparks, and Phoenix beat them up to the tune of 87-68. That was still with Brink and Brown in the lineup. The Mercury forced 20 turnovers in that one, which led to 17 points, while limiting L.A. to 40% shooting from the field.

There’s not one discernible part of Phoenix’s game that stands out, which is maybe what you’d expect from a team that’s 8-8. They are a Top 5 scoring unit, averaging 81.8 per game. Defensively, they sit just above the Sparks in points allowed in ninth at 85 points per contest, though they’re fourth in field goal shooting defense.

They don’t need to be anything definitive Friday night, though. The Sparks are finishing off a grueling road trip minus bodies, and have lost four of the last six by double digits. The Mercury should add to that misery.

Sparks vs Mercury same-game parlay (SGP)

Mercury -10.5

Kahleah Copper Under 20.5 points

Natasha Cloud Over 7.5 assists

+675 at DraftKings

Kahleah Copper is the W’s third-leading scorer at 22.6 points per game, but her scoring has been a roller coaster of late and is trending downwards.

Copper was held to nine points in the Mercury's 73-60 loss to Minnesota, the third time in four games she’s gone sub-20.

L.A. should be a get-right for her, but much like the first matchup with L.A. where she scored 12 points in the blowout win, there won’t really be a need for her to exert that much effort. There’s a bounce-back coming, just not Over the set total of 20.5 tonight.

I will, however, take the Over on Natasha Cloud's assist number of 7.5.

The No. 2 assist woman in the league at 7.1 per contest, Cloud has been seeing the best WNBA defenses of late, and she’s only cracked that number once in her last five. She tied a season-best with 12 dimes against the Sparks last time out, and she should have a hand in all the Mercury players eating in this one.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Sparks vs Mercury odds

Sparks vs Mercury live odds

Get the latest Sparks vs Mercury WNBA odds for tonight.

Sparks vs Mercury opening odds

• Spread: Los Angeles +9.5 (-110) | Phoenix -9.5 (-110)
• Moneyline: Los Angeles +375 | Phoenix -500
• Over/Under: Over 164.5 (-115) | Under 164.5 (-110)

Sparks vs Mercury spread and Over/Under analysis

• Phoenix is 10-6 ATS this season.
• L.A. is 1-9 SU on the road this year, losing eight straight.
• The Under is 3-0-1 in the last four head-to-head matchups.

Sparks vs Mercury trend

Phoenix is 3-0-1 ATS vs. L.A. across their last four meetings. Find more WNBA betting trends for Sparks vs. Mercury.

Sparks vs Mercury game info

Sparks vs Mercury latest injuries

Sparks: Azura Stevens F (Out), Lexie Brown G (Out), Julie Allemand G (Out), Cameron Brink F (Out), Layshia Clarendon (Out).
Mercury: Sug Sutton G (Out). 
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.

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