Recap: Golden State Valkyries VS Los Angeles Sparks 2025-05-23

"Sparks Get Snuffed: Valkyries Fly High in 82-73 Win

In a game that was supposed to be a barnburner, the Golden State Valkyries came out on top, defeating the Los Angeles Sparks 82-73. The Valkyries took control early, outscoring the Sparks 25-9 in the second quarter to take a 49-33 lead into halftime.

Dearica Hamby tried to will the Sparks back into the game, dropping 25 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late. The Valkyries' strong team performance, led by Janelle Salaun's 13 points and Carla Leite's 10 points off the bench, proved to be too much for the Sparks to handle.

The Sparks' defense, which has been struggling without Rickea Jackson, got torched by the Valkyries' fast-paced offense. Despite a late comeback attempt, the Sparks couldn't overcome the deficit, and the Valkyries flew away with the 9-point win.

Coach Lynne Roberts summed it up best, saying "It was a great day, but we didn't execute like we did on Wednesday." The Sparks will look to regroup and get back to their winning ways, while the Valkyries will try to keep their momentum going.

In the end, the Valkyries covered the spread and sent the game over the total, just as we predicted. If you bet on the Valkyries, you're probably feeling pretty good right now. If you bet on the Sparks... well, there's always next time."

Created: May 24, 2025, 10:46 a.m. GMT