Los Angeles Sparks vs Seattle Storm Picks and Predictions August 10th 2025

A Playoff Swing Game: Sparks Look to Rebound From Ugly Loss, Host Storm

It is a game with massive implications for the WNBA playoff race, a crucial “swing game” between two teams that are not only battling each other for position but are also battling their own recent frustrations. The Los Angeles Sparks will look to erase the memory of their worst offensive performance of the season on Sunday night as they return home to host their rivals, the Seattle Storm. For the Sparks, it’s about proving that Saturday’s dud was a fluke, not the start of a trend. For the Storm, it’s about finding a way to turn close losses into victories and solidifying their spot in the postseason picture.

Erasing the Memory: The Sparks’ Offensive Dud

The Sparks are coming into this game on the heels of a truly forgettable performance. In a 72-59 road loss to the Golden State Valkyries on Saturday night, the Sparks’ potent offense was completely neutralized. They were held to a season-low point total, shooting a dismal 32.8 percent from the field and just 23.5 percent from three-point range. Their star scoring trio of Kelsey Plum, Rickea Jackson, and Azura Stevens, who had been on a tear recently, was held to a combined 16 points on putrid 5-for-23 shooting. It was a total system failure on the offensive end, a performance that head coach Curt Miller wants his team to immediately forget.

“Bad shooting nights happen,” a pragmatic Miller said to reporters after the game. “The worst thing we can do is to dwell on it and second-guess ourselves. How mentally tough we are will determine what the next game looks like. We didn’t shoot well. Turn page, re-attack.” That “turn the page” mentality will be crucial as they face a tough and familiar opponent less than 24 hours later.

The table below provides a snapshot of two teams that are incredibly evenly matched, highlighting the importance of this head-to-head showdown in the crowded WNBA standings. You can find information on all the WNBA teams on our site.

Seattle’s Search for Consistency

While the Sparks are trying to bounce back from one bad game, the Seattle Storm are trying to break out of a longer, more frustrating stretch. They have lost four consecutive games, a slide that was ironically triggered by a double-overtime loss to these same Sparks on August 1. Their most recent loss, a 90-86 defeat in Las Vegas, was another hard-fought battle that ultimately ended in disappointment. The team’s offense has struggled to find a consistent rhythm, as they have failed to reach the 90-point mark in 12 of their last 15 games. They are a team that is competitive every single night but has struggled to find the extra gear needed to win close games against elite opponents.

The Sykes Effect: A Familiar Face in a New Uniform

The Storm are hoping their new trade-deadline acquisition can be the player to provide that missing spark. In a major move, Seattle acquired All-Star guard Brittney Sykes from the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. Sykes, a nine-year veteran, is no stranger to Los Angeles; she was an All-WNBA defensive performer for the Sparks from 2020-22. Her return to L.A. in a different uniform adds a fantastic “revenge game” narrative to Sunday’s contest. She made an immediate impact in her Storm debut on Friday, contributing 14 points, six assists, and two blocks off the bench.

Seattle coach Noelle Quinn believes Sykes’s biggest impact will come from her defense, which she hopes will create easy offense. “We’re top in the league in defense right now, but (Sykes) kind of contributes to that with what she can do on the ball, off the ball,” Quinn said. “At the end of the day, if we play solid defensively, we can get into transition.” The impact of a key trade deadline acquisition is a major topic for any bettor, one often explored in our expert betting guide.

The individual battles between the two teams’ top players will be a key factor in determining the outcome. You can find detailed reviews of the top betting sites from the best handicappers sites reviews.

The Betting Outlook

The home page has this matchup listed as a crucial one in the playoff race. To find out who the top experts are picking, you can check out our list of the best handicappers. To see who our experts are backing in this clash, check out our daily WNBA picks. To get access to even more premium content and betting tools, you must first login or register for an account today.