The Los Angeles Sparks will face the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena in Washington, D.C. on Sunday. This is a huge game in the WNBA playoff race as both of these teams are trying to move up in the standings to get into the top eight in the standings. Before these teams do battle on Sunday afternoon, I break this game down and bring you my Sparks vs Mystics prediction.
Our Sparks vs Mystics Pick
- Pick: Mystics +5.5
- Confidence: 4/5
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Game Snapshot
- Matchup: Los Angeles Sparks @ Washington Mystics
- Date & Time: August 17, 2025, 3:00 p.m. ET
- Venue: CareFirst Arena, Washington, D.C.
- Broadcast: ESPN3
Sparks vs Mystics Odds
| Odds | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sparks | –5.5 (–110) | –278 | 168.5 |
| Mystics | +5.5 (–110) | +225 | 168.5 |
Key Storylines
- These teams are in ninth and 10th place in the WNBA standings entering Sunday’s play. The Sparks are a half-game back of the eighth-place Seattle Storm. Washington is 1.5 games back. This game has huge playoff implications.
- Shakira Austin’s health is a question mark going into this game. Austin sat out against the Indiana Fever on Friday with a leg injury and Washington would love to have her back for this game.
- The Sparks have won seven of their last 10 games to put themselves within striking distance of the playoffs. They will look for another important win here.
- The Mystics traded away Brittney Sykes and Aaliyah Edwards at the trade deadline. They deserve a ton of credit for showing heart and beating the Indiana Fever on Friday despite the organization’s apparent desire to tank for draft positioning.
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
- The Sparks have won the first two games of the season series between these teams.
- Los Angeles is 10-7 on the road this year. They have a better road record than their record at home.
- The Mystics are 9-7 at home this season.
- Los Angeles has averaged 96 points per game in their two wins over the Mystics in 2025.
Best Player Props to Watch
| Player | Prop | Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Kelsey Plum | Over 18.5 points | Plum has scored 20+ points in three straight games for the Sparks. |
| Sonia Citron | Over 16.5 points | Citron is the Mystics’ leading scorer after the Sykes trade. Her usage will be higher without Sykes on the team. |
Advanced Metrics & Trends
The Sparks are top five in the WNBA in both offensive rating and pace. They like to get into their offense quickly both in the halfcourt and in transition and they are effective when doing so. The Mystics are 11th in the league in offensive rating and are in the middle of the pack in terms of pace. They will try to slow the Sparks down in this matchup.
Sparks vs Mystics Model Projection
Score Projection: Sparks 87 – Mystics 83
Win Probability: Sparks 76%, Mystics 24%
Final Thoughts
I do think that the LA Sparks will win this game on the road as they seem more intent on making the playoffs as an organization this year. But I still think we are in for a close game here. I’ll take the points with Washington as their bigs should make life tough on the frontcourt of the Sparks, even if LA ultimately wins the game.
