Valkyries at Sparks: injuries, recent form and the matchup

Game outlook

The Los Angeles Sparks host the Golden State Valkyries on Thursday, September 24 at crypto.com Arena. The first market snapshot is not posted yet, so the early read is form, scoring, rest and availability.

Availability

The observed injury report lists one Valkyries player. Out long-term: Iliana Rupert (Out, out for the season; feed updated May 7).

The observed injury report lists three Sparks players. Out long-term: Aaliyah Nye (Out; the observed estimated return date May 1, 2027; feed updated Sep 23). Listed with the observed estimated return date of September 24, the day of this game: Dearica Hamby (Day-To-Day; feed updated Sep 23) and Cameron Brink (Out; feed updated Sep 21) — the observed estimates, not confirmations.

Aaliyah Nye appeared in one of the Sparks’ last five games, so the rotation in that window already reflects her absence.

Dearica Hamby appeared in three of the Sparks’ last five games, so the rotation in that window already reflects her absence.

Cameron Brink appeared in three of the Sparks’ last five games, so the rotation in that window already reflects her absence.

How they match up

Over the full season the Valkyries (31-12) score 82.3 points a game and allow 75.1, a +7.2 differential; the Sparks (16-27) score 87.3 and allow 91.7, -4.4. The Valkyries are 14-7 on the road; the Sparks are 8-13 at home.

The pace differs — an estimated 84 possessions a game for the Sparks, 77.4 for the Valkyries: the Valkyries score about 106.3 points per 100 possessions, the Sparks 104 (points per game divided by estimated possessions).

The Valkyries shoot 42.3% and hold opponents to 41.4%; the Sparks shoot 46.4% and allow 47.4%. On the glass the Valkyries are +0.5 a game and the Sparks -4.5 a game (season team stats).

Recent form adds to that picture: the Valkyries are 7-3 over their last 10 with a +9 average margin, the Sparks 4-6 at -3.9. The Valkyries’ worst result in that stretch was a 77–66 loss at home to the Lynx on August 19. The Sparks’ was 124–88 at home to the Dream on August 20.

Rest does not separate them: the Valkyries come in on 1 days of rest after their last game on September 22, the Sparks on 1 days after September 22 (PropSports schedule, whole days between tips).

Season series: GS leads series 2-0: the Valkyries won 84–78 in Los Angeles on August 9; the Valkyries won 78–58 at home on June 15.

The line

No market snapshot exists for this game yet. Snapshots run at 8:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET.

Before tip

The observed estimated return date for Dearica Hamby and Cameron Brink is game day (feed updated Sep 23 and Sep 21); none is a confirmation, and each confirmed return or scratch changes the rotation described above.

Player props enter the board inside 36 hours of tip, which is usually where a minutes change becomes visible first.