Connecticut Sun vs Los Angeles Sparks Picks and Prediction for Saturday August 22, 2026

The Connecticut Sun head west to face the Los Angeles Sparks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, on Saturday, August 22. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET with coverage on Prime Video and Spectrum SportsNet. Connecticut enters at 9-26 overall and just 3-14 on the road, while Los Angeles is 12-24 overall and 5-12 at home. The Sparks are 2.5-point favorites with a total of 169.5, while Los Angeles is -155 on the moneyline and Connecticut is +130. Be sure to check out our free WNBA picks throughout the season for more predictions and analysis.

Connecticut Looks to Beat Los Angeles Again

Connecticut has struggled throughout the season, but this particular matchup has been one of its bright spots. The Sun are 2-0 against Los Angeles, winning 84-81 on May 30 and 85-77 on August 18. That second victory came just four days before Saturday's rematch, giving Connecticut a legitimate reason for confidence despite its 9-26 overall record.

The broader numbers remain troublesome. Connecticut averages only 79.3 points per game while allowing 87.3. The Sun shoot 43% from the field, average 32.8 rebounds and 19.1 assists, and have lost three of their last four games. Their most recent outing was particularly rough, a 101-78 loss at Las Vegas.

Connecticut also enters this matchup short-handed, with multiple players listed out. That makes it difficult to assume the first two meetings will automatically translate into a third victory. Still, the Sun have already demonstrated twice that they can make Los Angeles uncomfortable, and getting points with Connecticut deserves consideration.

Sparks Try to End Six-Game Losing Streak

Los Angeles is only three games better than Connecticut in the standings, and the Sparks enter Saturday on a six-game losing streak. Their latest defeat was an ugly 124-88 home loss, following losses of 85-77, 80-70, 85-81 and 94-87. Los Angeles hasn't simply been losing close games; its defensive performance has become a major concern.

The Sparks average 88.0 points per game and shoot 46% from the floor, both considerably better than Connecticut's offensive marks. They also average 21.9 assists per game. The problem is on the other end, where Los Angeles is surrendering 93.6 points per contest. That is more than six points worse than Connecticut's defensive average.

Los Angeles does have home court and the superior offensive production, but laying points with a team riding a six-game losing streak is difficult to justify. The Sparks have already lost twice to Connecticut this season, including by eight points earlier this week.

Connecticut Sun vs Los Angeles Sparks Picks and Prediction

Pick: Connecticut Sun +2.5

I'm taking Connecticut +2.5. Los Angeles has the better offensive numbers and should eventually break its losing streak, but asking the Sparks to cover a spread against a team that has already beaten them twice is a different proposition.

Connecticut won the first meeting by three and the second by eight. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has lost six consecutive games and just surrendered 124 points in its latest outing. The Sun's 3-14 road record keeps this from being a high-confidence play, but Connecticut +2.5 offers more value than laying points with the struggling Sparks.

Pick: Over 169.5

The Over 169.5 is my total pick. Los Angeles is scoring 88.0 points per game but allowing a massive 93.6, creating the kind of statistical profile that can produce high totals even when the Sparks themselves are inconsistent.

Four of Los Angeles' last five games have produced at least 166 combined points, including totals of 181, 175 and 212. Connecticut's recent 101-78 loss also reached 179. The first two head-to-head meetings finished at 165 and 162, which creates some resistance at this number, but the current state of the Los Angeles defense pushes me toward the over.