The season is over for the visitors. Las Vegas Aces vs Los Angeles Sparks prediction
Las Vegas Aces
Los Angeles Sparks
The Las Vegas Aces and Los Angeles Sparks will meet overnight on Wednesday, September 23, in the WNBA regular season. The game will be played at Michelob ULTRA Arena, tipping off at 04:00 CET. My betting pick is on the winner of this game.
H2H and statistical facts
- The Aces have won their last five games.
- The Sparks have suffered just one defeat in their previous four games.
- Los Angeles have won just once in their last five away games.
- The Aces have lost their last two home meetings with the Sparks.
Las Vegas Aces
The Aces come into this matchup as one of the strongest teams of the season. After 42 games, Las Vegas have 29 wins and 13 losses and sit third in the overall standings. The team have already secured a playoff berth, while the remaining regular-season games are highly important in terms of seeding.
The Aces continue to chase the Golden State Valkyries and are looking to preserve third place ahead of the playoffs. Since returning from the World Championship break, they have been in excellent form. First, Las Vegas crushed the Seattle Storm 114-77, then produced another emphatic home victory, winning 98-77.
Las Vegas' main weapon remains A'ja Wilson. The MVP-caliber star is averaging around 26 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, and in the most recent meeting with the Seattle Storm she scored 30 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Jackie Young is also in excellent form and can shoulder a significant offensive workload. Chelsea Gray continues to play a key role in orchestrating the offense, averaging 6.8 assists per game.
Another major advantage for the Aces is their home-court performance. The team have a positive home record this season, and they have already faced the Sparks three times, leading the season series 2-1. Las Vegas won two of those games convincingly, by scores of 105-78 and 79-69. Their only defeat came in May, when the Sparks won on the Aces' home court, 101-95.
Los Angeles Sparks
This game has no tournament significance for the Sparks in the playoff race. Los Angeles have 16 wins and 26 losses and have already lost their chance to finish among the top eight. The team sit near the bottom of the Western Conference, so the remaining games are primarily an opportunity to finish the season on a positive note and evaluate their players ahead of the next campaign.
Since returning from the break, however, the Sparks have shown two very different faces. In their first game, the team lost 97-77 to the Dallas Wings, collapsing completely in the fourth quarter. Just a few days later, Los Angeles confidently defeated the Portland Fire 105-84. The Sparks produced a dominant second quarter, built a comfortable lead and then calmly controlled the game.
One of Los Angeles' key figures remains Nneka Ogwumike. In the latest game against Portland, she recorded a double-double with 20 points and 12 rebounds, adding five assists and two steals. On the season, Ogwumike is averaging 17.3 points, 8.9 rebounds and 5 assists per game.
The Sparks' situation is complicated by personnel issues. Dearica Hamby missed the last game, with Emma Cannon taking her place in the starting lineup against Portland. In addition, the team previously lost Kelsey Plum, who was traded to the Phoenix Mercury. Without Plum, Los Angeles have serious problems with offensive consistency, although in individual games they can compensate through their roster depth and Ogwumike's effective play.
What should you bet on?
On paper, the Aces have a significant advantage. Las Vegas are competing for a high seed, have won their last two games by comfortable margins and are playing at home. The Sparks, by contrast, have already lost their playoff motivation. Taking the hosts' current form and motivation into account, my prediction is for the visitors to cover a +20-point spread.
