The newest team in the WNBA heads south on Friday night as the Golden State Valkyries visit the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena. Tip-off for Valkyries vs Sparks is set for 10:00 PM Eastern Time, and the meeting brings together two teams with very different levels of experience but identical targets: gathering vital early-season momentum before Memorial Day weekend.
Golden State tasted victory for the first time in franchise history on Wednesday, edging Washington 76-74 thanks to clutch shot-making from Veronica Burton and feisty defense over the final three minutes. Los Angeles, meanwhile, is trying to halt a two-game slide after falling 89-86 in Phoenix despite another offensive outburst from Kelsey Plum. The Sparks opened their schedule by beating these Valkyries 84-67 in San Francisco last week, making Friday an opportunity for the expansion side to show how far it has come in only seven days.
Valkyries vs Sparks Game Preview
Golden State arrives at 1-1 behind gritty half-court defense and emerging chemistry. The team is averaging 71.5 points while allowing 79.0, though the split is distorted by that debut loss to the Sparks. Point guard Veronica Burton headlines the story so far. She poured in 22 points, nine rebounds, and five assists against Washington, lifting her season averages to 12.0 points, 5.5 boards, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals. Forward Kayla Thornton adds another 12.0 points and 4.5 rebounds, giving coach Natalie Nakase a scorer who attacks the offensive glass hard. Depth pieces such as Carla Leite and veteran wing Stephanie Talbot supply floor spacing, though overall field-goal accuracy sits at 34.1%, bottom three through the first week.
Los Angeles stands at 1-2 but owns the league’s second-highest individual scoring mark thanks to Kelsey Plum. The former NCAA scoring champion is rolling at 26.7 points and 5.7 assists on 44.2% from the field. Forward Dearica Hamby continues to flirt with a double-double average with 16.3 points and 9.0 rebounds, while stretch big Azurá Stevens chips in with rim protection and occasional three-point touch.
Rookie Rickea Jackson is listed as out due to a concussion, and high-draft-pick forward Cameron Brink remains sidelined until June. Los Angeles averages 81.7 points and the same number against, but the defensive rating has sagged during their two-game skid, surrendering 89 to Phoenix and 89 to Minnesota in back-to-back defeats.
The pace contrast between these teams is evident. Golden State averages 71.2 possessions, the slowest in the league, while Los Angeles pushes to 78.5. If the Sparks force turnovers early, they can run and push pace, yet the Valkyries force nine steals per outing and showed Wednesday they can close quarters with timely triples.
Betting Insights
- Current Market: Sparks -11. Sparks -650 and Valkyries +475.
- Total Points: Over/Under is listed at 159.5.
- Against the Spread: Los Angeles is 1-2 overall and 1-1 away from the Crypto.com hardwood, covering as a four-point underdog in Phoenix but missing as a six-point home favorite against Minnesota. Golden State is 1-1 against the spread heading into the first road game in franchise history.
- Recent Scores:
- May 21: Sparks 86, Mercury 89
- May 18: Sparks 75, Lynx 89
- May 21: Valkyries 76, Mystics 74
- May 16: Valkyries 67, Sparks 84
- Shooting Trends: Sparks hit 42.4 percent from the floor and 38.6 percent from deep. Valkyries convert only 31.9 percent of their shots yet boast an excellent 85.4 percent at the stripe, crucial in tight finishes.
- Injuries: Los Angeles lists Rickea Jackson as out with a concussion, and Cameron Brink remains out with a knee injury. Golden State is without Tiffany Hayes and Cecilia Zandalasini, while Monique Billings is questionable.
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Valkyries vs Sparks Prediction
Oddsmakers have opened with a double-digit cushion for the Sparks because of home-court comfort, Plum’s scoring tear, and the memory of last week’s 17-point win. Yet context has shifted. Golden State survived crunch time against Washington, gaining a vital psychological lift. Burton’s ability to break down defenses off the dribble, combined with Thornton’s physical presence, offers tools to keep this one respectable, especially against a Sparks roster that can look thin on the wing with Jackson out.
Expect Los Angeles to concentrate heavily on the two-woman action between Plum and Hamby, hoping to drag Golden State’s help defenders into early foul trouble. The Valkyries will counter by packing the lane, forcing secondary Sparks shooters to prove it from beyond the arc, and grinding possessions inside ten seconds. If the game slows to that rhythm, a ten-plus number looks generous.
Projected score: Sparks 84, Valkyries 79. The lean is Golden State +10.5. Grab the points with the upstart visitors and consider a small sprinkle on the moneyline.
