It looks like Brink is finally back! After waiting over half the season, we finally get to see the Sparks at full strength, taking on the Aces. This should be an exciting matchup as both teams try to move closer to contention!
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Cheyenne Parker-Tyus Out
We’ve waited a long time to see the former second pick in the 2024 WNBA draft return, but tonight is the night! Brink will be making her season debut for the Spark as they look to swing the second half of their season. Despite some disappointing results early on, even after adding Plum this year, the team could still make a run for a solid playoff spot. Of course, a lot of that will depend on what Brink looks like. An ACL tear is a tough injury to come back from, especially for a 6’4" person like her. We’ll see if she still has the same energy in her step as she had before the injury. Regardless of her mobility, just adding her size back to this team should be helpful. As long as she can contribute a meaningful amount on defense, especially against A’ja Wilson, she could be the difference maker tonight.
As for the Aces, they’ve been doing an excellent job bouncing back after a rookie start. Now sitting at 13-13, they’re far from leading the league, but they’re definitely back in the mix. We’ve seen this team dominate underneath their two starters, Young and Wilson. While A’ja might not have another MVP year, she’s still a top-five player in the league. She’s literally leading in all counting stats on the team except assists. Even there, she averages 3.4 a game. This team just feels one player short of being a true contender again. The depth is where this team can start to fall apart. After Young and Wilson, Gray is about the only top-end contributor, but most nights, it’s not enough.
The matchup between these two should be electric. You’ve got the Brink storyline, the Plum and Vegas storylines, with both of these teams desperate for wins. This is going to be a scrappy, high-octane game for sure. However, I think the Sparks are going to take it. They’ve already beaten the Aces before on the road, and now, with a healthy team at home, I’m feeling excellent about them. That’s why I’m going with the Sparks moneyline, the over on the 175 points total, and the LA spread at +2.
Money line: LVA (-130) / LAS (+110)
Total Points: 175
Spread: -2 LVA (-108) / +2 LAS (-112)
With her finally making her return to the court, we’ve got to take her points tonight. She only average 7.5 points a game in 15 games before tearing her ACL, but at 6+ I love this line. She’s had an entire season to learn, and even has Plum next to her, which should help open up opportunities for Brink.
Wilson has been inconsistent against the Sparks this year. She scored 35 points in one game but only 9 in another. Recently, we’ve seen her struggle a bit with scoring. Add the return of Brink, who should boost the Sparks' defense, and I think Wilson might fall a little short of this line.
With Brink returning, expect a bit more competition on the boards for Hamby. Even though Brink wasn’t posting huge totals last year, the 4 or 5 rebounds she’ll likely grab tonight will come out of Hamby's pocket. Especially with Wilson on the other side, rebounds could be a hot commodity tonight.