Los Angeles (5-12) at New York (11-5)
- When: Jul 3 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA
- TV: FOX5 New York
WNBA Preview and Prediction: Los Angeles Sparks vs. New York Liberty
Spread: New York -9.5 | Total: 169.0
New York Liberty Outlook
The Liberty have hit a wall hard. After kicking off the season 9-0, New York has dropped five of its last seven games and is now clinging to third in the standings. During the hot streak, they were locking teams down, giving up just over 71 points per game. Lately? That defense has vanished, and they’re bleeding 90+ a night.
Their most recent outing, a 90-81 loss to Atlanta saw them get torched in the paint and left scrambling. Back-to-back opponents have shot over 52% against them, and it’s clear something has to change defensively.
Natasha Cloud is doing what she can, but Sabrina Ionescu’s cold streak (21.6% FG in her last four) is adding pressure. With the Liberty opening an 8-game homestand, expect urgency but also nerves. A three-game losing streak would be uncharted waters for this squad since mid-2022.
Los Angeles Sparks Outlook
The Sparks have shown flashes but continue to struggle with consistency. They stopped a four-game slide with a solid win in Indiana, only to fall short again vs. Chicago, despite solid performances from Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby.
Plum is red-hot with three straight 20+ point games and averaging 20.6 PPG. Hamby is crashing the boards and adding offensive muscle, but LA still struggles late in games. Against Chicago, they got outscored 31-23 in the fourth quarter and watched their chance slip away.
Depth is an issue, and the Sparks are still trying to figure out how to close games against the league’s elite. While they’ve got weapons, they haven’t been able to fire for four quarters consistently.
WNBA Game Prediction:
New York should bounce back at home, but the spread’s tight. Expect a win, but not a blowout. LA keeps it respectable but lacks the late-game firepower to close it. They’ll hang around but fall short.
Score Prediction: New York 88, Las Vegas 80
Best Bet: Las Vegas +9.5
Total: Under 169.0
Bet smart, not emotional. The Liberty are due but don’t expect a rout.
- WNBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
