Valkyries Edge Sparks in Nail-Biting Finish
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · crypto.com Arena
Golden State Valkyries 76, Los Angeles Sparks 75, final. Our WNBA picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Golden State Valkyries vs Los Angeles Sparks?
Golden State Valkyries beat Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 at crypto.com Arena on September 24, 2026.
Who was favored in Golden State Valkyries vs Los Angeles Sparks?
Golden State Valkyries were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -520 (about 84% implied). The favorite won.
In a tightly contested matchup, the Golden State Valkyries narrowly defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 76-75 at the crypto.com Arena. This victory marked the Valkyries' dominance in the series, as they completed a clean sweep with a 3-0 record against the Sparks this season.
The game was significant not only for the rivalry but also for the contrasting forms of the two teams. The Sparks, with a record of 16-28, have struggled throughout the season, and their recent form reflects this, as they have won only 4 of their last 10 games, currently on a one-game losing streak. In their last ten outings, they averaged 82.2 points scored while allowing 86.1 points per game. Their home record stands at 3-2 in the last five games, with an average of 87.8 points scored and 85.2 points allowed.
On the other hand, the Valkyries, boasting a strong record of 32-12, have been in better form, winning 7 of their last 10 games, although they too are on a one-game losing streak. They averaged 78.2 points scored and allowed only 69.2 points in their recent performances. Their away record is impressive, with 4 wins and 2 losses in their last six games.
The injury situation for the Sparks was particularly concerning, with four players sidelined: Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Shyanne Sellers, Cameron Brink (ankle), and Aaliyah Nye (ankle), all out due to a coach's decision or injury. The Valkyries also faced a setback with Iliana Rupert out for non-injury-related reasons.
The betting market reflected the Valkyries' strong position, with DraftKings setting the spread at 10.5 points in favor of Golden State, and the moneyline at -520 for the Valkyries and +390 for the Sparks. The total points over/under was set at 159.5, indicating expectations for a competitive scoring affair.
The game conditions were conducive to an exciting matchup, and the fourth quarter showcased the intensity of the contest. The Sparks led at various points, but the Valkyries mounted a comeback. Key moments included a series of scoring plays from Gabby Williams, who made critical shots, including a 27-foot three-point jumper that brought the Valkyries within two points. Kayla Thornton contributed significantly with free throws that ultimately gave Golden State the lead.
As the final moments unfolded, Rae Burrell's three-point jumper put the Sparks in a precarious position, but it was not enough to secure the win. The Valkyries' defense held strong, sealing their victory in a game that showcased the resilience of both teams.
Overall, this matchup highlighted the ongoing rivalry and the contrasting fortunes of both franchises, with the Valkyries continuing to assert their dominance in the series.
What we said beforehand
The upcoming WNBA matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Golden State Valkyries is set to be a compelling encounter, particularly as the Valkyries currently lead the series 2-0. This game will take place at the crypto.com Arena on September 25, 2026. The Sparks, with a record of 16-27, will be looking to turn the tide against a formidable Valkyries team that boasts a strong 31-12 record.
In their recent form, the Sparks have had a mixed bag of results. Over their last five games, they have won three and lost two, with their most recent outing resulting in a loss to the Las Vegas Aces, where they fell 79-89. Prior to that, they secured victories against the Washington Mystics (88-82), Seattle Storm (90-74), and Portland Fire (105-84), but suffered a defeat against the Dallas Wings (77-97). The Sparks have averaged 87.8 points scored and allowed 85.2 points in their last five games.
In contrast, the Golden State Valkyries have been performing consistently well, winning four of their last five games. Their last game ended in a loss against the Portland Fire in overtime, with a final score of 82-90. Before that, they had a streak of victories against the New York Liberty (79-60), Portland Fire (86-69), and Seattle Storm (70-57). The Valkyries have averaged 79.8 points scored and allowed only 68.4 points in their last five games.
When considering home and away performances, the Sparks have a home record of 3-2 in their last five games, while their overall record at home stands at 4-6 over their last ten games. They have averaged 82.2 points scored at home but have allowed 86.1 points. The Valkyries, on the other hand, have a stronger away record of 4-2 in their last six games, with an average of 78.2 points scored and only 69.2 points allowed.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Sparks have struggled against the Valkyries in recent seasons, losing all their encounters this year, including a 78-84 defeat at home on August 9, 2026, and a 58-78 loss on the road on June 16, 2026. The last five meetings between the two teams have resulted in five losses for the Sparks, indicating a challenging rivalry.
Injury concerns for the Sparks are significant, as they will be without Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda, Shyanne Sellers, Cameron Brink, and Aaliyah Nye, all ruled out for this game. This could impact their performance, especially as they rely heavily on their star player Nneka Ogwumike, who leads the team in points with an average of 17.3. The Valkyries will also be missing Iliana Rupert, who is out for non-injury-related reasons.
The betting market reflects the Valkyries' dominance, with DraftKings setting the spread at 10.5 points in favor of the Valkyries, alongside a total of 159.5 points for the game. The moneyline shows the Sparks at +390 and the Valkyries at -520, indicating a strong expectation for the Valkyries to win.
As the game approaches, viewers should keep an eye on the performance of key players. For the Sparks, Nneka Ogwumike will be crucial, not only as a scorer but also as a rebounder, averaging 8.9 rebounds per game. Erica Wheeler is another player to watch, leading the team in assists with an average of 5.0. For the Valkyries, Gabby Williams is their top scorer with an average of 14.4 points, and Veronica Burton, with 5.7 assists per game, will play a vital role in orchestrating their offense. Kiah Stokes, averaging 5.6 rebounds, will also be important in controlling the boards.
This matchup promises to be an intriguing contest as the Sparks aim to break their losing streak against the Valkyries while the visitors look to maintain their strong form and further solidify their position in the league.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | GS -10.5 | 159.5 o -110 / u -110 | Golden State Valkyries -520 · Los Angeles Sparks +390 |
Injury report
- Ndjakalenga MwenentandaOutCoach's DecisionLos Angeles Sparks
- Shyanne SellersOutCoach's DecisionLos Angeles Sparks
- Cameron BrinkOutAnkleLos Angeles Sparks
- Aaliyah NyeOutAnkleLos Angeles Sparks
- Iliana RupertOutNot Injury RelatedGolden State Valkyries
Leaders
- PointsNneka Ogwumike17Los Angeles Sparks
- AssistsNneka Ogwumike5Los Angeles Sparks
- ReboundsNneka Ogwumike15Los Angeles Sparks
- PointsKaitlyn Chen18Golden State Valkyries
- AssistsVeronica Burton5Golden State Valkyries
- ReboundsKiah Stokes12Golden State Valkyries
Recent form
Los Angeles Sparks
Last 10: 4-6Streak L182.2 scored · 86.1 allowed per game3-2 at home
- L79-89at Las Vegas AcesSep 23
- W105-84vs Portland FireSep 20
- L77-97at Dallas WingsSep 18
- W90-74at Seattle StormAug 30
- W88-82vs Washington MysticsAug 29
- L71-78vs Atlanta DreamAug 25
- W77-68vs Connecticut SunAug 23
- L88-124vs Atlanta DreamAug 21
- L77-85at Connecticut SunAug 18
- L70-80at Washington MysticsAug 15
Golden State Valkyries
Last 10: 7-3Streak L178.2 scored · 69.2 allowed per game4-2 away
- L82-90at Portland FireSep 23
- W70-57vs Seattle StormSep 20
- W82-66vs Portland FireSep 19
- W86-69at Portland FireAug 30
- W79-60at New York LibertyAug 28
- W89-64at Connecticut SunAug 26
- W80-66at Minnesota LynxAug 25
- L70-73at Chicago SkyAug 21
- L66-77vs Minnesota LynxAug 20
- W78-70vs Dallas WingsAug 18
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | - | 11 | W1 | .750 | 33 |
| Golden State | 1 | 12 | W1 | .727 | 32 |
| Las Vegas | 2 | 13 | W7 | .705 | 31 |
| Dallas | 6 | 17 | W1 | .614 | 27 |
| Portland | 16 | 27 | W1 | .386 | 17 |
| Los Angeles | 17 | 28 | L2 | .364 | 16 |
| Phoenix | 17 | 28 | L1 | .364 | 16 |
| Seattle | 25 | 36 | L5 | .182 | 8 |
Box score
| Stat | Golden State Valkyries | Los Angeles Sparks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 27-69 | 28-68 |
| Field goal % | 39 | 41 |
| Three-pointers | 5-18 | 9-25 |
| Three-point % | 28 | 36 |
| Free throws | 17-21 | 10-15 |
| Free throw % | 81 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 35 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 26 | 27 |
| Assists | 13 | 22 |
| Steals | 5 | 2 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 9 | 12 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 7 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 8 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 42 | 32 |
| Fouls | 20 | 18 |
| Largest lead | 6 | 16 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 23 | 71 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter36-44Tiffany Hayes makes free throw 1 of 1
- 3rd Quarter36-47Rae Burrell makes 22-foot three point jumper (Nneka Ogwumike assists)
- 3rd Quarter36-50Rae Burrell makes 23-foot three point step back jumpshot (Tonie Morgan assists)
- 3rd Quarter37-50Janelle Salaun makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter37-52Monique Akoa Makani makes 3-foot two point shot (Tonie Morgan assists)
- 3rd Quarter37-53Monique Akoa Makani makes free throw 1 of 1
- 3rd Quarter39-53Janelle Salaun makes 17-foot jumper (Kaitlyn Chen assists)
- 3rd Quarter41-53Veronica Burton makes running layup
- 3rd Quarter42-53Janelle Salaun makes free throw 2 of 2
- 3rd Quarter42-55Tonie Morgan makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter44-55Kaitlyn Chen makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter46-55Kaitlyn Chen makes 9-foot pullup jump shot (Veronica Burton assists)
- 4th Quarter46-57Nneka Ogwumike makes layup (Monique Akoa Makani assists)
- 4th Quarter48-57Kaitlyn Chen makes 2-foot two point shot (Veronica Burton assists)
- 4th Quarter48-60Ariel Atkins makes 25-foot three point jumper (Nneka Ogwumike assists)
- 4th Quarter50-60Kaitlyn Chen makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot (Kiah Stokes assists)
- 4th Quarter50-62Dearica Hamby makes layup (Nneka Ogwumike assists)
- 4th Quarter50-63Dearica Hamby makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter53-63Veronica Burton makes 25-foot three point jumper (Kaitlyn Chen assists)
- 4th Quarter53-65Nneka Ogwumike makes 10-foot pullup jump shot (Erica Wheeler assists)
- 4th Quarter54-65Veronica Burton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter55-65Veronica Burton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter57-65Kaitlyn Chen makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter57-66Dearica Hamby makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter57-67Dearica Hamby makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter57-69Ariel Atkins makes 11-foot pullup jump shot (Erica Wheeler assists)
- 4th Quarter59-69Kaitlyn Chen makes finger roll layup
- 4th Quarter59-70Dearica Hamby makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter59-71Dearica Hamby makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter62-71Kaitlyn Chen makes 24-foot three point jumper
- 4th Quarter62-72Dearica Hamby makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter64-72Kaitlyn Chen makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter65-72Kaitlyn Chen makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter68-72Gabby Williams makes 27-foot three point jumper (Veronica Burton assists)
- 4th Quarter70-72Gabby Williams makes running layup
- 4th Quarter73-72Gabby Williams makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kiah Stokes assists)
- 4th Quarter74-72Kayla Thornton makes technical free throw
- 4th Quarter75-72Kayla Thornton makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter76-72Kayla Thornton makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter76-75Rae Burrell makes 23-foot three point jumper (Erica Wheeler assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Los Angeles Sparks, below favours Golden State Valkyries.
Venue
- crypto.com ArenaLos Angeles, CA
- Attendance15965
- OfficialsAmy Bonner, Sarah Williams, Josh Reed
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