Golden State Valkyries vs Los Angeles Sparks Picks and Prediction for Sunday, August 9, 2026
On Sunday, the Golden State Valkyries (22-9) face off against the Los Angeles Sparks (12-18) at crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. Get involved in the action with our free WNBA picks.
Golden State vs. Los Angeles Game Information
- August 9, 2026
- 7:00 PM EST
- crypto.com Arena
- Disney+/ESPN
Los Angeles Form & Recent Results
Los Angeles enters this matchup riding a one-game win streak. They most recently picked up an 89–82 home win over Minnesota on Thursday, powered by Rae Burrell’s 17 points. Dearica Hamby helped control the glass with 9 rebounds, and Erica Wheeler kept the offense organized with 9 assists. As a team, the Sparks shot efficiently in that win, finishing at 50% from the field and 38% from three-point range. They did commit 13 turnovers and grabbed 35 total rebounds, and while they weren’t in front for most of the night, they still managed to lead for 16% of the game and close strong when it mattered.
Nneka Ogwumike has been the steady scoring leader for Los Angeles this season, averaging 17.1 points per game, with Hamby close behind at 15.2 points. Ogwumike also sets the pace on the boards, pulling down 8.8 rebounds per contest, while Wheeler is the team’s top playmaker at 5.5 assists per game. Defensively, the Sparks will be looking for more consistency, as over their last five games they’ve given up an average of 95.4 points, a number they’ll want to bring down as they try to build momentum.
Golden State Form & Recent Results
Golden State comes into this matchup playing some of its best basketball of the season, riding a three-game winning streak and taking three of its last five overall. The Valkyries are also coming off an impressive 94–76 road win over Dallas on Friday, a game they controlled for most of the night. Veronica Burton set the tone with 22 points and 7 assists, consistently creating good looks for herself and her teammates, while Kayla Thornton did the dirty work on the glass and finished with 10 rebounds.
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In that win, Golden State was efficient across the board, shooting 46% from the field, hitting 35% from three, and knocking down 89% of its free throws. They also took care of the ball with just 8 turnovers and held the lead for 79% of the game, which shows how steady they were from start to finish. On the season, Gabby Williams has been their most reliable scorer at 14.8 points per game, with Janelle Salaun close behind at 13.3. Kiah Stokes has been their top rebounder at 5.3 boards per contest, and Burton leads the team in playmaking at 5.6 assists per game. Offensively, the Valkyries have been producing lately as well, averaging 90.6 points over their last five games.
Key Stats
- Golden State’s Gabby Williams this season: 14.8 points per game
- Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike this season: 17.1 points, 8.8 rebounds per game
Golden State vs. Los Angeles Picks and Prediction
The Valkyries have been one of the WNBA’s top teams this season, so Los Angeles is in for a tough matchup when the two teams face off on Sunday. Golden State has been firing on all cylinders offensively in recent games, putting constant pressure on defenses and forcing opponents to match their pace. For the Sparks, that likely means a long night of having to stay disciplined, defend for the full shot clock, and find ways to keep up on the scoreboard from start to finish. Final Score Prediction, Golden State Valkyries win 90-78.
