WNBA Rivals Face Off
New York Liberty Visit Los Angeles Sparks on ESPN, Seeking Rebound After Losing Streak
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Key Points
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Los Angeles’s season has included a brief early-June run—three straight wins over Portland (89-72), Seattle (88-82), and Phoenix (111-102 in overtime)—before dropping a lopsided 78-58 decision to Golden State.
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In the Sparks’ most recent home loss before the Liberty visit, Los Angeles was beaten by Minnesota 99-83, a game in which they shot 7-for-26 from three. Rae Burrell led the Sparks with 19 points and three assists.
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New York’s rebound narrative is backed by a strong early-June stretch that included wins over Indiana (83-75), Connecticut (89-80), Atlanta (104-90), Washington (86-64), and Chicago (96-95).
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The betting market described New York as a 5.5-point road favorite with a full-game total of 178.5, and a money line near -220—numbers that align with a suggested Liberty team-total over 90.5.
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Los Angeles’s featured matchup watch centers on Dearica Hamby, with the Sparks hosting the Liberty at Crypto.com Arena on ESPN and Disney+.
The New York Liberty (11-5) travel to Crypto.com Arena on Sunday to face the Los Angeles Sparks (7-8), with tip-off set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN and Disney+. New York is hungry to bounce back after the Washington Mystics snapped their eight-game winning streak 86-83 on Friday, a loss driven by 14 costly turnovers. FreeTips notes the Liberty remain a 5.5-point road favorite despite the stumble.
The game carries extra meaning beyond the standings. Exactly 29 years ago — June 21, 1997 — these same two franchises played the first-ever WNBA game, with New York winning 67-57 at the Great Western Forum. Both teams are expected to wear throwback jerseys honoring that milestone, and the Disney+ cross-broadcast is designed to reach a new generation of fans, according to WNBA.com.
New York Looks to Erase a Painful Friday Loss
The Liberty entered Friday's home game as a 12.5-point favorite over Washington. They lost 86-83. Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones both posted double-doubles, but 14 turnovers proved fatal. Leonie Fiebich scored a season-high 19 points in the loss, tying a franchise record for three-point efficiency early in a career, per Last Word on Sports.
Stewart leads New York at 19.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Guard Sabrina Ionescu is also returning to health after early-season foot and back injuries. Sunday will be just her fifth game of the 2026 season, according to Covers. Getting Ionescu into a full rhythm on the road could be a key subplot to watch.
Sparks Are Shorthanded and Searching for Consistency
Los Angeles is dealing with a tough injury situation. Star guard Kelsey Plum, second in the WNBA in scoring at 25.0 points per game, is listed day-to-day with a lower leg injury after missing the June 17 game against Minnesota. Forward Cameron Brink is also out with an ankle issue, per LA Times. Coach Lynne Roberts praised rookie Jihyun Park as a "bright spot" and called for a "team effort."
The Sparks' recent form has been uneven. They won three straight in early June — beating Portland 89-72, Seattle 88-82, and Phoenix 111-102 in overtime — before losing 78-58 to Golden State and then 99-83 to Minnesota. In that Minnesota loss, they shot just 7-for-26 from three. Rae Burrell led L.A. with 19 points. The Sparks rank 14th in defensive rating, per StatMuse, which is the main reason betting analysts favor a high-scoring New York night.
Dearica Hamby Is the Matchup to Watch for Los Angeles
With Plum and Brink sidelined, forward Dearica Hamby becomes Los Angeles's most important player. She was named Sparks Performer of the Month and enters Sunday averaging 12 points and 9 rebounds per game, per FOX Sports. Veteran Nneka Ogwumike adds 15.2 points and 8.9 rebounds. Their ability to slow Stewart and Jones in the paint will likely decide whether L.A. keeps this game close.
Betting Market Expects a High-Scoring Liberty Road Win
The betting line tells a clear story. New York is a 5.5-point road favorite with a money line near -220. The full-game total sits at 178.5, and analysts at Tony's Picks back the Liberty team-total over 90.5. The logic is simple: L.A.'s defense ranks 14th in the league, allowing 90.9 points per game. New York scores 88.6 per game and shoots 46.1% from the field, third-best in the WNBA.
Beyond the betting angle, the stakes are real for both teams. New York sits fourth overall and needs a win to avoid a mid-season slide. Los Angeles sits 11th in a 12-team playoff field, per Yahoo Sports, meaning every game matters for their postseason hopes. A Sparks win without Plum would be a major statement. A Liberty bounce-back would reaffirm their contender status heading into the second half of the schedule.
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