Storm vs Sparks predictions
Seattle’s been finding their groove lately, and it feels like Skylar Diggins-Smith is really settling into her role as the engine behind the Storm’s offense. With her averaging over 18 points and six assists a game, you’ve got to think she’s primed to make another statement at Crypto.com Arena. Nneka Ogwumike has also been a monster on the boards, and the matchup against the Sparks’ frontcourt should give her a good shot to flirt with a double-double. If Diggins-Smith keeps up her pace as a facilitator and Ogwumike locks down the paint, the Storm could be tough to contain, especially since they’ve shown they can hang with anyone on the road.
Switching gears to Los Angeles, it’s clear there’s a huge Kelsey Plum-sized hole in their game plan with her sidelined. The Sparks will need to get creative, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Azura Stevens step up as the focal point. Stevens has been racking up rebounds and will likely be tasked with shouldering even more of the scoring load with Plum out. The big question is who else can rise to the challenge—maybe Lexie Brown or Dearica Hamby spreads their wings a bit? L.A.’s offense and energy always buzz in their home arena, so someone’s bound to get hot, but replacing Plum’s 21 points and five assists is a tall order for any guard combo.
Taking all this into account, it feels like Seattle comes in with the edge, especially with the Sparks missing their top playmaker. The Storm have firepower from both inside and out, and their balance might just tip the scales in their favor. But you know how unpredictable the WNBA can get on any given night—if the Sparks rally and find a rhythm, don’t count them out for a close one. Still, my gut says the Storm grind out a win, pushing past the Sparks in a matchup that’ll probably stay tight right down to the wire.
