It has been an inspiring resurgence from the Washington Mystics this season. An 11-11 record is far beyond and better than anyone expected from them this season. It could have been even better if they didn’t stumble in that last game before the All-Star break. They were cruising on a three-match winning streak with statement wins over the Las Vegas Aces, Chicago Sky, and Seattle Storm on the way, but the punch of Kelsey Plum and the Los Angeles Sparks proved too much for the young Mystics to handle.
The Sparks put up their best points tally of the season with 99 points as they also set season highs in assists with 28 and field goals made with 38. The Sparks shot a remarkable 53.5% from the field and 39.1% from beyond the arc, which made it their best all-around display of the season, as Plum said after the game, “Thought tonight was our best. I know the numbers back it up, but in terms of like, our pace, and the way we shared the ball, the way we moved, we got great shots. We got great, quality shots.”
The All-Star trio in Washington, consisting of Brittney Sykes, Sonia Citron, and Kiki Iriafen, will be raring to go and take their revenge. All three had significant contributions at the All-Star game, as Citron participated in her first three-point contest. While she couldn’t win, Sabrina Ionescu was awarded half of her prize because of her bravery to participate in the game as a rookie. Sykes had her first All-Star appearance, and the rookie duo grabbed headlines. It was a productive weekend for the Mystics, and they will be back refreshed and raring to go.
For the Sparks, Plum continued her form into the All-Star game, scoring 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists on Team Collier. With renewed determination following their last performance before the international break, the Sparks will be eager to harness that momentum and spark a turnaround in their season. The Mystics will have eyes on them and how they continue in the second half of the season. Let’s have an assessment of their current health and a closer look at how the matchup breaks down.
LA Sparks vs Washington Mystics: Injury Report
For the LA Sparks, Cameron Brink remains out with her ACL tear, but her return date is nearing by the day. The Sparks had earlier reported that Brink might return to game action before the end of July, per John W. Davis of the Long Beach Press. Even for the Mystics, there are no new injuries as Georgia Amoore is the only player on the injury report after her season-ending injury. Sika Kone remains out with international commitments at the AfroBasket.
LA Sparks vs Washington Mystics: Predicted Lineups
LA Sparks (8-14):
Dearica Hamby
Azura Stevens
Rickea Jackson
Kelsey Plum
Julie Allemand
Washington Mystics (11-11):
Shakira Austin
Kiki Iriafen
Brittney Sykes
Sug Sutton
Sonia Citron
LA Sparks vs Washington Mystics: Match Preview And Prediction
The two of the most sloppy teams face off again. The Mystics and the Sparks have had trouble keeping possession as they are 11th and 12th in turnovers per game. The last time they faced the Mystics faltered in this aspect, conceding 24 points off turnovers, while Sparks managed to close that leak with just 9 points conceded. It was Kelsey Plum that stepped up with 3 steals, and she will have to once again. If we look at the cursory statistics, the Sparks seem to be ahead in every aspect, but the Mystics have fared better as a team throughout the season. Defensively, they have Kiki Iriafen and Shakira Austin stepping up, while Sykes and Citron have the keys to the offense.
The Mystics are a team built on young blood. And the Sparks can’t let them get going and give them more confidence. Plum and Co. will have to go hard and fast right off the bat and keep a tight defense as the Mystics have struggled on the offensive front. Their offensive rating of 97.1 sits 12th in the league, only ahead of the Connecticut Sun. They will also have to be careful around Sykes, who tends to draw more fouls than average.
May 30, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Los Angeles Sparks guard Kelsey Plum (10) drives past Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) in the fourth quarter of their game at Michelob Ultra Arena. Mandatory Credit: Imagn Images
For the Mystics, they will look to keep up with the Sparks till the last minutes. They have an advantage on the boards with 35.5 per game while the Sparks only manage 32.6. Iriafen will be instrumental for them as their best rebounder and defensive player. And in clutch situations, they fare a lot better than the Sparks.
As the better overall team coming into this game, the Mystics are given a 54.1% chance to win this matchup. However, the Sparks also have their tail up after their last win and will go toe to toe with the Mystics. Plum wil be the key player once again, and if the Mystics manage to lock her up, this would be a more straightforward game for them. But that is easier said than done. Azurra Stevens will go up against Iriafen in the battle of the boards. All in all, this will be an interesting match-up that will decide the trend of the rest of the season for both teams.
The post LA Sparks vs Washington Mystics: Injury Report, Starting-5, Prediction, and More On WNBA Preview appeared first on EssentiallySports.
