Phoenix Mercury Defeats Los Angeles Sparks 94-87
Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 10:00 PM ET · Galen Center
Phoenix Mercury 94, Los Angeles Sparks 87, 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 Phoenix Mercury vs Los Angeles Sparks?
Phoenix Mercury beat Los Angeles Sparks 94-87 at Galen Center on August 11, 2026.
Who was favored in Phoenix Mercury vs Los Angeles Sparks?
Los Angeles Sparks were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -125 (about 56% implied). The underdog won.
In a closely contested matchup, the Phoenix Mercury emerged victorious against the Los Angeles Sparks, winning 94-87 at the Galen Center. This game was significant as it tied the series between the two teams at 2-2, highlighting the competitive nature of their encounters this season.
The Sparks entered the game with a record of 12-20, having struggled in their last ten games with a record of 2-8. Their recent form has seen them average 89.5 points scored while allowing 94.4 points per game, indicating a defensive vulnerability. Their last outing resulted in a loss to the Golden State Valkyries, where they fell 84-78. At home, the Sparks have not fared well, holding a home record of 0-3 in their last three games.
On the other side, the Mercury, with a record of 13-22, have also faced challenges, going 4-6 in their last ten games. They have averaged 85.9 points scored and allowed 89.5 points during this stretch. Their most recent game was a loss to the Washington Mystics, where they were defeated 95-75. The Mercury have had a mixed performance on the road, with a record of 2-4 in their last six away games.
In terms of head-to-head matchups, the Mercury have a slight edge with a record of 4-3 against the Sparks in recent encounters. The last meeting prior to this game occurred on July 22, 2026, where the Sparks lost 82-86 at home. This fixture continued the trend of tightly contested games between the two teams.
Injury concerns played a role in the game, particularly for the Mercury, who were missing several key players. Kelsey Plum and Kahleah Copper were both out due to injuries, along with Valeriane Ayayi, Kyara Linskens, and Jovana Nogic, all of whom were not injury-related. The Sparks were without Aaliyah Nye, who was also not injury-related. The absence of these players may have influenced the game dynamics and strategies employed by both teams.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Sparks favored by a spread of -1.5, with a money line of -125. The Mercury were priced at +105 on the money line. The total points over/under was set at 179.5, reflecting expectations of a moderately high-scoring game.
Conditions during the game were typical for a late summer evening in Los Angeles, with a warm atmosphere that can often energize players and fans alike. Viewers were treated to a competitive atmosphere as both teams fought hard for every point.
As the game progressed, key moments included Alyssa Thomas’s pivotal plays in the fourth quarter, where she scored crucial points that helped the Mercury maintain their lead. The final minutes saw a series of free throws from DeWanna Bonner, further solidifying the Mercury's advantage.
Overall, the game was a testament to the competitive spirit of both teams, with the Mercury managing to edge out the Sparks in a tightly contested affair.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | LA -1.5 | 179.5 o -110 / u -110 | Phoenix Mercury +105 · Los Angeles Sparks -125 |
Injury report
- Aaliyah NyeOutNot Injury RelatedLos Angeles Sparks
- Kelsey PlumOutLower LegPhoenix Mercury
- Kahleah CopperOutAnklePhoenix Mercury
- Valeriane AyayiOutNot Injury RelatedPhoenix Mercury
- Kyara LinskensOutNot Injury RelatedPhoenix Mercury
- Jovana NogicOutNot Injury RelatedPhoenix Mercury
Leaders
- PointsDearica Hamby19Los Angeles Sparks
- AssistsNneka Ogwumike8Los Angeles Sparks
- ReboundsNneka Ogwumike9Los Angeles Sparks
- PointsNoemie Brochant24Phoenix Mercury
- AssistsAlyssa Thomas9Phoenix Mercury
- ReboundsAlyssa Thomas7Phoenix Mercury
Recent form
Los Angeles Sparks
Last 10: 2-8Streak L189.5 scored · 94.4 allowed per game0-3 at home
- L78-84vs Golden State ValkyriesAug 9
- W89-82at Minnesota LynxAug 7
- L88-95at Chicago SkyAug 6
- W106-101at Portland FireAug 2
- L109-113vs New York LibertyJul 29
- L82-86vs Phoenix MercuryJul 22
- L82-90at Dallas WingsJul 19
- L82-96at Chicago SkyJul 17
- L87-96at Minnesota LynxJul 15
- L92-101at Atlanta DreamJul 13
Phoenix Mercury
Last 10: 4-6Streak L385.9 scored · 89.5 allowed per game2-4 away
- L75-95at Washington MysticsAug 9
- L72-75at Connecticut SunAug 7
- L82-96at Atlanta DreamAug 5
- W106-101at Chicago SkyAug 4
- L92-94vs New York LibertyAug 1
- W91-89vs Golden State ValkyriesJul 30
- W86-82at Los Angeles SparksJul 22
- W72-63vs Connecticut SunJul 19
- L83-96vs Connecticut SunJul 18
- L100-104at Minnesota LynxJul 14
Standings
| Team | Games behind | Lost | Streak | Win % | Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | - | 9 | L2 | .775 | 31 |
| Golden State | 2 | 11 | W4 | .725 | 29 |
| Las Vegas | 4 | 13 | W3 | .675 | 27 |
| Dallas | 7 | 16 | W4 | .600 | 24 |
| Portland | 15 | 24 | L1 | .400 | 16 |
| Los Angeles | 16 | 25 | W2 | .375 | 15 |
| Phoenix | 17 | 26 | W1 | .350 | 14 |
| Seattle | 23 | 32 | L1 | .200 | 8 |
Box score
| Stat | Phoenix Mercury | Los Angeles Sparks |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 31-60 | 32-74 |
| Field goal % | 52 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 9-25 | 7-32 |
| Three-point % | 36 | 22 |
| Free throws | 23-30 | 16-22 |
| Free throw % | 77 | 73 |
| Rebounds | 36 | 33 |
| Offensive rebounds | 7 | 11 |
| Defensive rebounds | 29 | 22 |
| Assists | 22 | 25 |
| Steals | 12 | 11 |
| Blocks | 5 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 23 | 17 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 24 | 22 |
| Fast-break points | 13 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 38 | 44 |
| Fouls | 23 | 25 |
| Largest lead | 7 | 7 |
| Lead changes | 16 | 16 |
| Time in front | 49 | 35 |
How the scoring went
- 3rd Quarter56-58Dearica Hamby makes running layup (Nneka Ogwumike assists)
- 3rd Quarter58-58Kahleah Copper makes driving layup (Noemie Brochant assists)
- 3rd Quarter58-60Nneka Ogwumike makes two point shot
- 3rd Quarter60-60Kahleah Copper makes 4-foot two point shot (DeWanna Bonner assists)
- 3rd Quarter62-60Alyssa Thomas makes driving layup
- 3rd Quarter62-63Chance Gray makes 25-foot three point jumper (Nneka Ogwumike assists)
- 3rd Quarter62-64Chance Gray makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter65-64Valeriane Ayayi makes 25-foot three point jumper (Natasha Mack assists)
- 3rd Quarter65-65Dearica Hamby makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter67-65Natasha Mack makes 3-foot layup (Alyssa Thomas assists)
- 3rd Quarter68-65Lexi Held makes free throw 1 of 2
- 3rd Quarter68-67Rae Burrell makes 3-foot layup (Cameron Brink assists)
- 4th Quarter68-68Rae Burrell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter68-69Rae Burrell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter70-69Kahleah Copper makes driving layup (Marta Suarez assists)
- 4th Quarter70-71Rae Burrell makes driving layup (Nneka Ogwumike assists)
- 4th Quarter72-71Natasha Mack makes 5-foot floating jump shot (Valeriane Ayayi assists)
- 4th Quarter72-73Erica Wheeler makes 7-foot two point shot
- 4th Quarter72-74Dearica Hamby makes technical free throw
- 4th Quarter72-76Rae Burrell makes running layup
- 4th Quarter74-76Alyssa Thomas makes driving layup
- 4th Quarter75-76Alyssa Thomas makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter75-78Cameron Brink makes 4-foot layup (Rae Burrell assists)
- 4th Quarter75-79Cameron Brink makes free throw 1 of 1
- 4th Quarter78-79Noemie Brochant makes 26-foot three point jumper (Kahleah Copper assists)
- 4th Quarter78-81Nneka Ogwumike makes 18-foot pullup jump shot (Rae Burrell assists)
- 4th Quarter79-81DeWanna Bonner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter81-81Noemie Brochant makes running layup (Sami Whitcomb assists)
- 4th Quarter82-81Kahleah Copper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter84-81Noemie Brochant makes running layup
- 4th Quarter86-81Alyssa Thomas makes running layup (Noemie Brochant assists)
- 4th Quarter86-84Nneka Ogwumike makes 25-foot three point jumper (Ariel Atkins assists)
- 4th Quarter88-84Alyssa Thomas makes 2-foot layup (Sami Whitcomb assists)
- 4th Quarter89-84Alyssa Thomas makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter90-84Alyssa Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter90-87Ariel Atkins makes 24-foot jump bank shot (Dearica Hamby assists)
- 4th Quarter91-87DeWanna Bonner makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter92-87DeWanna Bonner makes free throw 2 of 2
- 4th Quarter93-87DeWanna Bonner makes free throw 1 of 2
- 4th Quarter94-87DeWanna Bonner makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Los Angeles Sparks, below favours Phoenix Mercury.
Venue
- Galen CenterLos Angeles, CA
- Attendance6247
- OfficialsFatou Cissoko-Stephens, Charles Watson, Blanca Burns
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WNBA rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Mercury Edge Sparks in Close ContestJul 22, 2026
- Sparks Edge Mercury in Overtime ThrillerJun 13, 2026
- Sparks Edge Mercury in Thrilling WNBA MatchupMay 21, 2026
- Sparks Edge Mercury in Thrilling WNBA ClashSep 9, 2025