The Los Angeles Sparks will contest against the Indiana Fever on Friday at the Crypto.com Arena. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 PM PT and will stream at ION. The Sparks have won just a singular game and lost two whereas the Fever have been defeated in their first five games and are still looking for a win.
While both of the teams look equally competitive, the match might swing to either side depending on whose star power contributes more. Both the teams have a fresh addition of recently graduated NCAA stars who with themselves have brought a lot of fan following.
Players to watch out for
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The most important player for the Sparks has been their leader Dearica Hamby. Hamby averages a whopping 22 points per game with 13.7 rebounds per contest. She has unleashed her beasts in the three games she has played so far. Her best till now came during her second game against the Las Vegas Aces when she besotted 29 points in a losing cause. Nonetheless, her explosiveness and knack to score big can benefit the Sparks big time.
The second player from Los Angeles camp to keep an eye on is Cameron Brink. Brink was drafted as the second overall pick this WNBA 2024. Though currently she only averages 6 points per game, Brink has the potential to make it big in crucial games. She showed a trace of her exceptional display by basketing 11 points against the Atlanta Dream. And her journey has just begun.
The player to watch out for the Indiana Fever is Caitlin Clark. Clark was the number one pick in the WNBA 2024 draft and has got the center stage in the Fever lineup in the limited games she has played with them. Fans will be keen to see Clark battle it out against her NCAA rival Brink. Till now the 22-year-old has basketed 17.8 points per game with 4.6 rebounds per match and 5.8 assists per contest.
Another player from Indiana’s lineup who can change the course of the game is their forward Aaliyah Boston. Boston was the number one pick during the WNBA 2023 draft. She carries with herself the weight of expectations and if she stands tall to them, she can surely help the Fever win their first game this season. Currently, she averages 8.4 points per game with 6.2 rebounds per match.
Los Angeles Sparks vs Indiana Fever: Prior clashes
The Los Angeles Sparks and Indiana Fever have clashed against each other 46 times as per AI Score. The Sparks have had the better of the Fever 33 times whereas the Fever have won only 13. Nonetheless, both teams are in the stage of reshaping their game, and hopefully, the newly drafted rookies will provide a breath of fresh air.
Prediction: Will it be Fever’s turn?
What works in the Sparks’ favor is that they have won a game obviously in this tournament. The Fever have a disadvantage going into the game since they have lost all till now. But the Caitlin Clark fever will be high among fans and looks like the Fever can get their first win in this game.
Injury Report: Sparks vs Fever
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For the Los Angeles Sparks as per Rotowire, their forward Azura Stevens has been sidelined from the first few games. She had nursed a left arm injury while playing in China and recently underwent surgery for the same. Hopefully, the Sparks do not miss their star in this game.
For the Indiana Fever, their forward Damiris Dantas will not be playing this game. She suffered a knee injury which will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks to see if she can continue her balling journey in this year’s WNBA.
Starting Line-up in Crypto.com Arena
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Los Angeles Sparks: Dearica Hamby, Kia Nurse, Cameron Brink, Lexie Brown, Layshia Claredon
Indiana Fever: Aliyah Boston, Kristy Wallace, NaLyssa Smith, Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark