Sparks vs Valkyries Prediction, Preview, Injuries, Lineups, Odds & Where to Watch – WNBA 2025 Regular Season (May 23)

After a big loss to the Los Angeles Sparks in their first regular season game, the Golden State Valkyries have a chance to find redemption on May 23. This time, the Valkyries will be challenging the Sparks on LA's home court. Surprisingly, Sparks have lost 2 out of 3 games in the 2025 regular season while Valkyries have won 1 out of the 2 regular season matchups.

Even when the Sparks hold the potential for victory, the Golden State Valkyries might turn the tables with their winning momentum. But the question is, how are the teams expecting to approach this game? Therefore, we have curated the predictions, previews, betting odds, and everything you need to know before the Sparks vs Valkyries' second regular season matchup.

Sparks vs Valkyries Match Preview

The Sparks and Valkyries will square off in a highly anticipated WNBA 2025 regular-season match on May 23. The game is set to tip off at 7:00 PM EST at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Fans can expect a competitive clash between a storied franchise and a rising powerhouse.

Golden State comes into this matchup with a fast-paced, guard-driven offense, while the Sparks are leaning on their seasoned frontcourt and strong bench. The clash of styles, coupled with playoff implications and individual player rivalries, makes this an unmissable encounter.

Sparks and Valkyries played their first regular season game this year on May 16, with the Valkyries losing by a whopping 17 points. With the final scorecard ending with 84-67, Kelsey Plum was the torch bearer of the offense and playmaking for the Sparks roster.

The Valkyries were leading the previous game by one point during the first quarter of the game against the Sparks. However, the second quarter turned the game upside down for them. At the start of the third quarter, the Sparks were leading by 3 points with 42-39 on the scorecard. The gap increased to a six-point margin at the start of the fourth quarter. Then it was a scoring spree for the Sparks since the matchup ended with a 17-point margin victory for them.

The Valkyries were on their home turf at Chase Center, yet they couldn't win the game. This time, the venue belongs to the Los Angeles Sparks, so they will hold home advantage this time. Therefore, Sparks still hold the edge in the upcoming game.

Sparks vs Valkyries Injury Report

The injuries disrupt the dynamics for the teams, especially in a sport like basketball. Therefore, we have enlisted the players who are facing injury concerns ahead of the matchup between the Sparks and the Valkyries. However, keep in mind that the names of these players might change again ahead of the showdown in case any last-minute return or injury takes place.

Sparks Injury Report

The Los Angeles Sparks are expected to face the injury to the mentioned player:

Rickea Jackson(out): According to the SB Nation report of Edwin Garcia, Rickea Jackson is facing issues with the concussion protocol. That's why she was out of the squad for the matchup against the Phoenix Mercury. Yet, she can make an appearance against the Sparks.

Rae Burrell(out): For undisclosed reasons, Rae Burrell is out of the squad till June 29 this year. Therefore, the fans won't get to see her in action for another month.

Cameron Brink(out): Harrison Faigen of SBNation.com reported that the star player for the Sparks, Cameron Brink, is out till June. Her knee injury hasn't recovered, and that's why the forward might return to the court in the first week of June 2025.

Valkyries Injury Report

Cecilia Zandalasini(out): As per ESPN, Zandalasini (foot) was ruled out for Wednesday's game against the Mystics. Nathan Canilao of the Bay Area News Group had reported the update. However, she is not confirmed to make a comeback in the May 23 matchup.

Predicted Lineups

Both of the squads from the Los Angeles Sparks and Golden State Valkyries might come up with the following starting five in the upcoming matchup, considering the injury updates.

Sparks Predicted Lineup

The Los Angeles Sparks' predicted lineup in the context of the starting five might look like the following in the upcoming game:

Valkyries Predicted Lineup

The Golden State Valkyries' predicted lineup in the context of the starting five might look like the following in the upcoming game:

Sparks Vs Valkyries Players To Watch

The last showdown between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries brought out the players who might rise to the occasion again. Obviously, Kelsey Plum took the limelight in the previous game with her performance. She proved every penny the Los Angeles Sparks have invested in her. On the other hand, there were quality performances from the Golden State Valkyries. So let's move ahead with the players who these rivals need to watch out for on the night of May 23.

Kelsey Plum (Los Angeles Sparks)

Kelsey Plum has changed the scenery for the Los Angeles Sparks since her acquisition in the 2025 offseason. She inked a 1-year $202,000 contract with the Sparks in February 2025. So far, Kelsey Plum has played two games for the Sparks this year. The first one was a preseason game against the Valkyries, and the second one was a regular season game in WNBA 2025.

In the preseason game against the Valkyries, Plum tallied 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 5 assists in 24 minutes of playing time. The next game that took place on May 16, Plum recorded another milestone number. She dished out 37 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists37 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists. As a star guard from the Las Vegas Aces, she has revived the hopes for the Sparks with her performance.

Tiffany Hayes (Golden State Valkyries)

Tiffany Hayes, as a guard, is the most consistent player for the Golden State Valkyries in the last two games against the Sparks. During the preseason game, she recorded 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. During the regular season game, Hayes tallied 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 1 assist. She shot 7 off 16 from the field and 2 off 5 from the three-point line.

She has great chemistry with Veronica Burton on the court because these two complement each other perfectly. Tiffany was also on the Las Vegas Aces last season, but she could not play for more than one season there. Now, she is adjusting to the new roster for the Valkyries and trying to at least perform on an individual level. Right now, she is on a 1 year $200,000 contract with the Valkyries that she signed in February 2025.

Where to Watch Sparks vs Valkyries

For the fans of the Los Angeles Sparks and Golden State Valkyries, along with the passionate followers of the WNBA, we have details about the stream and broadcasting of the May 23 game. Here are the details about the Sparks vs Valkyries matchup.

• Date and Time: May 23, 7:00 PM EST
• Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
• Local Broadcast: ESPN2
• Stream: Paramount+, WNBA League Pass, Prime Video

The basketball lovers residing in the UK can watch the match on Sky Sports or stream it through NOW TV. Moreover, they can also opt for streaming sites like StreamEast, VIPRow, Sportsurge, and NBAStream. However, these platforms are not official, and a VPN can be a great choice for fans in other regions.

Disclaimer: We do not promote illegal streaming services. Streaming quality and availability depend on each website’s traffic and server load.

Sparks vs Valkyries Prediction: Who will win?

The previous showdown between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries was a one-sided affair for the Sparks. Valkyries had lost the game by 17 points, and it seemed that the starting lineup could not contribute the same way as the Sparks'. Kayla Thornton tallied only 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist in 34 minutes of playing time. At the end of the game, the third and fourth quarters slipped the matchup away from the Golden State Valkyries' freshly assembled squad.

The magic performer for the Los Angeles Sparks was Kelsey Plum who recorded 37 points, 2 rebounds, and 6 assists in 40 minutes of playing time. It was a pure class performance was Plum who has been the latest addition to the Sparks squad this offseason. On the other hand, even defensively, the Los Angeles Sparks led the game through Dearica Hamby's performance. She dished out 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds.

The upcoming affair is expected to follow the same pattern since the offseason changes have changed the dynamics for the Los Angeles Sparks. The inexperience of Golden State Valkyries is costing them games. If they come up with a better combination to tackle the powerhouse players of Sparks, they might stand a chance. Otherwise, it is the Los Angeles Sparks who are ready to host the Valkyries on their home court.

Prediction:

According to our prediction, the matchup will end with the following scorecard:

Los Angeles Sparks 86- 80 Golden State Valkyries

Sparks wins by 6 points.

Sparks vs Valkyries Betting Odds

The latest odds for the WNBA matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and Golden State Valkyries on May 23 can be mentioned as follows:

• Moneyline: Valkyries: +135, Sparks: -160
• Odds: Sparks by -3.5
• Over/Under: Over 166.5

When it comes to the home turf record, the Los Angeles Sparks are slight favorites in this case. However, the tables might turn at any time. That's why you should keep yourself updated with any last-minute changes for a better guess at winning.