Mercury vs Sparks
May 21, 2026 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Mercury -2.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Sparks and Phoenix Mercury meet Thursday in WNBA action at the Mortgage Matchup Center. Here’s a Mercury vs. Sparks Prediction. This article will include a Mercury vs. Sparks Pick.
Los Angeles Sparks Betting Preview
The Los Angeles Sparks look to rebound from a 1-3 start when they take to the road for the first time. The Sparks have lost 10 of their last 17 regular season games.
The Los Angeles Sparks are averaging 87.8 points on 49.4 percent shooting and allowing 98.3 points on 51 percent shooting. Kelsey Plum is averaging 26.8 points and 5.5 assists, while Dearica Hamby is averaging 17 points and 7.3 rebounds. Nneka Ogwumike is the third double-digit scorer and Rae Burrell is dishing 1.5 assists. The Los Angeles Sparks are shooting 30 percent from beyond the arc and 76.9 percent from the free throw line. The Los Angeles Sparks are allowing 34.6 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 26.5 rebounds per game.
Phoenix Mercury Betting Preview
The Phoenix Mercury need a win after losing 3 of their last 4 games. The Mercury have lost 6 of their last 8 regular season games.
The Phoenix Mercury are averaging 88.6 points on 43.7 percent shooting and allowing 86 points on 45.6 percent shooting. Kahleah Copper is averaging 17.8 points and 2 rebounds, while Alyssa Thomas is averaging 16.6 points and 8.4 assists. Jovana Nogic is the third double-digit scorer and DeWanna Bonner is grabbing 6.6 rebounds. The Phoenix Mercury are shooting 34.7 percent from beyond the arc and 80.9 percent from the free throw line. The Phoenix Mercury are allowing 34.9 percent shooting from deep and are grabbing 32.8 rebounds per game.
Why the Phoenix Mercury will win
- The Mercury have won seven of their last eight games against the Sparks.
- The Sparks have lost eight of their last 10 games at Mortgage Matchup Center.
- The Sparks have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last nine games against teams that held a losing record.
- The Mercury have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games as home favorites following a home loss.
Why the Los Angeles Sparks will win
- The Mercury have lost four of their last five games as favorites against Western Conference opponents.
- The Sparks have won each of their last three games as road underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
- The road team has covered the spread in each of the Sparks’ last six games.
- The Mercury have failed to cover the spread in each of their last six games against teams that held a losing record.
Total Points Facts
- Each of Mercury’s last seven home games has gone OVER the total points line.
- Four of the Sparks’ last five games have gone OVER the total points line.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Phoenix Mercury have scored 90+ points in each of their last two games—the team’s equal-longest streak since 2023.
- The Phoenix Mercury have allowed fewer than 100 points in each of their last 34 games—the team’s longest streak since 2021.
- The Los Angeles Sparks rank 14th for point differential per game this season (-10.5).
- The Los Angeles Sparks rank 14th for opponent assists per game this season (22.5).
Mercury vs Sparks Injury Report
The Mercury will be without Sami Whitcomb due to a knee injury.
The Sparks will be without Sania Feagin due to a leg injury.
Mercury vs Sparks Prediction
The Sparks are better than they were a year ago on paper but it hasn’t translated to the court yet. The Sparks still don’t play a lick of defense and that includes just allowing 106 points to Toronto at home. The Mercury have been hit or miss through 5 games and are fresh off an ugly loss to Toronto, but they’re an experienced group that’s prideful and usually doesn’t allow losses to string together. The Mercury are 8-2 SU and 7-3 ATS in the last 10 games against the Sparks. I need to see the Sparks play some defense before I can get behind them in spots against good teams or on the road in general. I’ll lay the bucket.
