Los Angeles Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries Prediction 5/16/25 WNBA Picks

The Los Angeles Sparks are visiting the Golden State Valkyries on Friday, May 16th at the Chase Center. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Los Angeles Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries Prediction. We will examine:

The Golden State Valkyries recent form and player performance

The Los Angeles Sparks recent form and player performance

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Golden State Valkyries

Recent betting trends and streaks involving the Los Angeles Sparks

Recent betting trends in games played between the Los Angeles Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries

A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Los Angeles Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries game

Golden State Valkyries Preview

The Golden State Valkyries are the newest addition the WNBA. They were 1-1 in the postseason, losing a close game in LA against the sparks by 82-83, and got their first victory of the franchise against the Phoenix Mercury on the road with an 84-79 score. The Valkyries averaged 83 points per game in the preseason, while allowing 81. They shot with 42.4% and 34.7% from the field, and 21.4% and 30.2% from downtown.

The Valkyries made a significant impact in free agency, signing 2024 Sixth Woman of the Year Tiffany Hayes. Hayes is poised to be a featured player in the Valkyries’ offense as a lead ball handler and playmaker. She had a 50% field goal percentage and 40.2% from beyond the arc last season and her 12 years of WNBA experience will be invaluable in a new team. The Valkyries also signed reigning WNBA champion Kayla Thornton, who averaged 5.5 points per game for the New York Liberty last season.

The team’s first-round draft pick, Justè Jocytè, the 19-year-old from Lithuania, is not yet signed. She may not be with the team this season, or she could join after the EuroBasket. The Valkyries named Natalie Nakase as head coach, who is a former Los Angeles Clippers and Las Vegas Aces assistant.

Los Angeles Sparks Preview

The Los Angeles Sparks finished last season with an 8-32 record, and were placed last both in the Western Conference and in the whole league. The Sparks had a 3-17 road record and were 19-20-1 against the spread, and 19-21 in over/under. They had one of the biggest signings of the off-season, adding Kelsey Plum to their roster.

Los Angeles averaged 78.4 points per game last season, which was the 4th-worst in the league, while they allowed 85.6 points per game, which was the second-worst. Los Angeles was shooting with 42.3% from the field, 32% from beyond the arc, and with 76.5% from the free-throw line, while grabbing 32.6 rebounds per game.

Los Angeles only preseason game was a close 83-82 home victory over the Golden State Valkyries. Dearica Hamby led the Sparks in scoring last season with 17.3 points per game, adding a team-high 9.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. Rickea Jackson followed with 13.4 points per game, adding 3.9 rebounds per game.

Why the Golden State Valkyries will win

• The Sparks have lost 16 of their last 18 road games.
• The Sparks have lost eight of their last nine games.
• The Sparks have lost five of their last seven games as road favorites.

Why the Los Angeles Sparks will win

• The road team has won five of the Sparks’ last six games.
• The favorites have won eight of the Sparks’ last nine games.
• The Sparks have won 10 of their last 14 season openers.

Total Points Facts

• Four of the Sparks’ last five road games have gone OVER the total points line.
• Four of the Sparks’ last five season openers have gone OVER the total points line.
• Each of the Sparks’ last three road openers as favorites have gone OVER the total points line.

Los Angeles Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries Prediction

In this Los Angeles Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries Prediction, the Sparks are coming as -6.5 road favorites. It is extremely hard to predict the winner of a season opener, especially if one of the teams involved is a whole new team. Even with the addition of Kelsey Plum, I would not lay the points with the Sparks on the road until I see more of them. Both teams also met in the postseason, where the Sparks win by just one point. In the first game of a new team in front of their home crowd, I like the chances of the Valkyries keeping it closer than 6.5 points. Take the Golden State Valkyries by +6.5 in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Golden State Valkyries +6.5