Saturday's Best WNBA Bets
Los Angeles Sparks at San Antonio Silver Stars (-2, 148.5)
The Los Angeles Sparks were poised for big things this season. However, L.A. isn’t off to the start it expected.
The Sparks are 0-2 to start the new WNBA season, falling to the defending champion Phoenix Mercury in the season opener, then losing to the veteran rich Seattle Storm last weekend. Los Angeles has had plenty of time off to right the ship before the season gets out of hand.
The Sparks went toe-to-toe with the Storm in the first three quarters, but fell apart as fouls started adding up. Los Angeles managed just nine points in the final frame and finished shooting just under 39 percent for the game.
"There was no fatigue. It was all mental," star forward Candace Parker, who scored 11 points on 4-of-11, told reporters. "We just didn't execute down the stretch."
Los Angeles runs into another savvy team Saturday. The Silver Stars rebounded from an opening-game losing for an 83-74 win over the Tulsa Shock Thursday, covering as 1.5-point favorites.
These teams have split their last four meetings but San Antonio has taken five of their last eight meetings. Expect this to be another close battle, with the Silver Stars edging the Sparks.
Pick: San Antonio
Seattle Storm at Phoenix Mercury (-4.5, 171)
Phoenix Mercury star guard Diana Taurasi insists her broken right hand isn’t giving her any problems. But if she puts up another shooting night like the one she posted in the team’s season opener, Taurasi might want to consider making some excuses.
Taurasi went just 2-of-11 from the field, scoring 10 of her 14 total points from the free-throw line, in the Mercury’s 78-77 win over the Los Angeles Sparks last weekend, failing to cover as 6.5-point favorites.
"We didn't play that well, but we've been together for like a day," Taurasi told the media following the tight win. "But we saw a lot of good things and some things we have to clean up."
Taurasi injured her hand while playing in Russia before the WNBA season began. She averaged over 20 points and almost six rebounds a game last season, taking Phoenix to the WNBA title.
With some new faces and an aching hand, expect the Mercury to struggle against a savvy Storm squad that could have the best defense in the Western Conference. Taurasi will tangle with veteran guard Sue Bird, who she said was the best point guard she's ever played against, during a live chat with ESPN last week.
Pick: Seattle