The Los Angeles Sparks will clash with the Dallas Wings at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday. The match will be telecasted from 6 PM PT at Bally Sports SW, NBA TV Canada, and Spectrum SportsNet. Both teams have had shaky starts to their seasons. While the Sparks have lost three games out of the four they have played, the Wings have won 2 and lost the other 2.

Therefore, this game will be a clash of equals as both teams will try to outclass each other. However, there are some players who are expected to shine more than others.

The players to look out for

One of the main players for the Sparks to watch will be their forward Dearica Hamby. Hamby’s impact on the team is such that the new WNBA rookie Cameron Brink has already termed her as her “second mother.” Hamby has potted 21 points per game with 13.3 rebounds per match. Except for one game against the Las Vegas Aces, Hamby has soused a double-double in the remaining three matches. Therefore, fans should keep an eye on her.

Another player for the Sparks to watch is Cameron Brink. Brink is learning the tricks of the trade and adjusting to the WNBA. She has decimated 8.3 points per game with 6.8 rebounds per match. However, her recent game against the Indiana Fever was a treat to watch as she came into her own, basketing 15 points in the game. Fans would be expecting another high-scoring display from Brink in the game.

For the Dallas Wings, their guard Arike Ogunbowale averages an excellent 31 points per game. Last match against the Phoenix Mercury, Ogunbowale smoked 40 points in the game which was a treat to watch for the fans. Going ahead, if the 27-year-old unleashes her demons, fans can be sure of the Wings winning the game by a huge margin.

Another player to keep an eye on is Wings forward Monique Billings. Billings has dropped 14.3 points per game with 7.3 rebounds per match. Therefore, her offensive and defensive abilities call for another big game against the Sparks.

Head to Head

As per AiScore, the two teams have locked horns in 64 games against each other. While the Wings have won 26 matches, the Sparks have emerged victorious in 38 games. Considering how they have players this season, it could be another offensive game at its peak in the coming contest.

Glancing at some of their previous statistics against each other, the biggest Los Angeles score against this opponent came in 2015 when they scored 98 points and bagged the victory. Dallas Wings, on the other hand, have recorded the biggest score of 116 in 2022 and clinched their victory in that game.

Prediction: who improves their win-loss ratio?

Both teams are equally deserving. However, when we check the star power in Wings, it looks better than that in the Sparks. Coupled with the stats from Wing players, it shows that the team has considerable depth. Even after Natasha Howard is out due to injury, they have Kalani Brown who can be a supportive fifth player when the time needs. Brown smoked 11 points in the 19 minutes she played this season against the Chicago Sky. Thus, she contributes her part at the opportune moment.

Apart from depth, another thing that supports Wings is that they have won two games as opposed to the Sparks who have won just one. All their games have been moderate to high-scoring matches touching as high as 107 points in their recent outing against the Phoenix Mercury. An able defense accompanied by offense has been their strategy. Nonetheless, the match can swing either way but has more chance of going in the Wings’ favor.

Injury Report

The Los Angeles Sparks star Azura Stevens is rehabbing from surgery of the left arm after she injured it in China. The injury took place in late March and she is due for fitness reevaluation 12 weeks after acquiring the injury.

The Wings have their three starts out namely Satou Sabally, Natasha Howard, and Jaelyn Brown. Sabally is rehabilitating after a shoulder injury and will be back most probably after her Olympics time. While Howard will miss the game because she is sidelined with a broken foot, Brown might miss the game due to a nose injury.

Starting Five 

LA Sparks: Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, Layshia Clarendon, Lexie Brown, Kia Nurse

Dallas Wings: Arike Ogunbowale, Maddy Siegrist, Kalani Brown, Teaira McCowan, Monique Billings

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