Sparks vs Mercury Betting Odds: Phoenix Looks To Avenge Opening Loss

WNBA Lines Favor Los Angeles in This Rematch

The action shifts to Phoenix when the Mercury and Sparks meet for the second time this 2023 WNBA season. The Sparks vs. Mercury betting odds favor Los Angeles by 4.5 points this time as it blew out Phoenix. Since then, the Sparks have lost two games while the Mercury notched their first win. Can Phoenix redeem its loss, or will Los Angeles make it two straight?

Shorthanded Sparks Struggling

After destroying Phoenix in their home opener, everything quickly went downhill for Los Angeles. The Sparks lost back-to-back games against Las Vegas. Nneka Ogwumike missed the first game. Now, her sister, Chiney, could miss this upcoming game with a reported illness. Guards Jordin Canada and Layshia Clarendon are also on the injury report with illnesses.

It is likely some, if not all of them suit up for this game, hence why the Sparks vs Mercury betting odds favor Los Angeles. The Sparks are still averaging the fourth-most points per game despite the absences. This is already a big step up from last season, where the team, hobbled by coaching changes, finished 10th in points.

The Ogwumike sisters are scoring a combined 33.5 points for the Sparks. Both re-signed with the team this year despite the turbulent season in 2022.

“Understanding where Chiney is in her career, where I am in my career, there’s certainly more years behind us than in front of us,” said Nneka Ogwumike to reporters in a Zoom call. “For us to be in a situation where we’re on a team, the pieces are kind of coming together; I would say that was signifying that something was getting assembled here.”

It’s still too early to tell the outlook of the Sparks this season. The WNBA schedule remains competitive for the Sparks, so the Ogwumikes will need to stay healthy.

Mercury Look Rusty

The NBA had Kobe Bryant. The WNBA has Diana Taurasi. The seemingly ageless star is in her 19th season as a 41-year-old. But while still scoring plenty (18 points per game), she’s struggled to stay efficient.

Taurasi committed seven of the Mercury’s 19 turnovers in their loss to the Sparks. She also hit four of her 15 field goal attempts and just one 3-pointer (of nine tries). But the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer bounced back with a 23-point outburst against Minnesota. This led to Phoenix’s first and only victory this season.

The 10-time All-Star also dished out 10 assists and hit 4-of-9 from 3-points. This was more of the “vintage” Taurasi folks are accustomed to. Indeed, she needs to play at this level if Phoenix is to beat the Sparks vs Mercury betting odds.

The Mercury are already without star point guard Skylar Diggins-Smith for the season, so Taurasi’s ball handling duties increase along with Moriah Jefferson and Sophie Cunningham.

The returning Brittney Griner has dominated her first three games since 2021. Phoenix will remain frisky on the WNBA odds as long as she and Taurasi can play at an All-Star level.

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