The Los Angeles Sparks visit the Washington Mystics this afternoon in a battle between two teams looking to climb back into the playoff race amid the struggles of the Indiana Fever and Seattle Storm.
Los Angeles has surged as of late, winning 10 of their last 13 games on the strength of their offensive firepower, led by Kelsey Plum, who is third in the league in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game.
The Sparks sit in 9th place, just half a game behind the Storm for the final playoff spot.
Meanwhile, the Mystics aren’t yet out of the postseason chase, despite an underwhelming year. They’re just 1.5 games out of 8th place. The health of Shakira Austin, who’s out for today’s game, may determine whether they can generate the momentum for a postseason push.
But today, they’ll have to face a Los Angeles team that brings top-tier offense, averaging 86.6 points per game — less than a point behind the league-leading Minnesota Lynx.
Plum is not their only option. The Sparks have an abundance of offensive firepower, including Dearica Hamby, Azura Stevens, and Rickea Jackson — all double-digit threats.
This may not be the Mystics’ year. But they have a strong core moving forward, thanks to their trio of 2025 first-round draft picks. Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen continue to shine this year. Iriafen is averaging 18.3 points per game in her last three, and Citron is averaging 20 over her last four.
Prediction
Expect plenty of offense this afternoon, with Plum and Hamby pushing early while the Mystics hang with hustle and rebounding. But this one is going to the Sparks.
Prediction: Los Angeles Sparks 95, Washington Mystics 85
Injury Report
Los Angeles Sparks
No current injuries reported — full roster available
Washington Mystics
Georgia Amoore – Out (ACL)
Jacy Sheldon – Out (ankle)
Shakira Austin – Out (leg)
How to Watch Sparks vs. Mystics
This afternoon’s game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Washington Mystics tips off just after 3:00 PM Eastern at CareFirst Arena in Washington, DC.
The game airs live in the DC area on Monumental Sports Network and nationally on ESPN 3, which can be streamed on the ESPN app and website.
ESPN streaming access is included in most cable, satellite, and streaming packages. But if you don’t have access to it, you can watch the game for free by taking advantage of a free streaming trial from DIRECTV, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV.
Sling TV offers the cheapest package that includes ESPN at $45.99/month.
Los Angeles Sparks vs. Washington Mystics
Date: Sunday, August 17, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM Eastern
Location: CareFirst Arena – Washington, DC
TV: ESPN3, Monumental Sports Network (local)
Streaming: WNBA League Pass
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