Atlanta Dream Favored by 8.5 Points Over Sparks as Plum Misses 10th Game

Q: With stars injured, can the Sparks' 'win now' strategy survive with the league's worst defense?

The Sparks’ “win now” plan can probably survive as a playoff chase, but not as a serious title push unless they get healthy quickly and fix a defense that has been the league’s worst. The injuries are the biggest immediate threat. Kelsey Plum, who was averaging 23.9 points and 6.4 assists, is not just their top scorer but their offensive organizer, and Los Angeles has already had to shift away from the guard-driven attack it built for. Cameron Brink’s absence is just as damaging on the other end because she is one of the roster’s few true rim deterrents and a key part of any defensive improvement plan. That matters because defense was supposed to be the area the Sparks upgraded. They brought back Nneka Ogwumike, added Ariel Atkins, and expected Brink’s development to raise their floor. Instead, they have still been allowing the most points in the league, with reports putting them around 93 to 94 points allowed per game and the worst defensive rating in the WNBA. A team can survive short-term scoring losses with veterans like Ogwumike and Dearica Hamby, but it is much harder to survive persistent defensive breakdowns. There is still enough talent to stay competitive. Ogwumike and Hamby give Los Angeles a reliable frontcourt, and recent wins show they can grind out games. But the margin is now thin. If Plum misses extended time and Brink remains out, the Sparks’ realistic ceiling shifts from “win now” contender to lower-seed playoff team trying to hold position.

1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 13

Atlanta is projected to beat Los Angeles 89-82, with the Dream favored despite entering on a 1-4 skid over their last five games.
Kelsey Plum is out again for the 10-11 Sparks, and her absence is expected to ease pressure on Atlanta's backcourt of Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
Howard and Gray each average about 18 points per game, and both are tipped to top 20 against a Sparks team missing another key piece in Cameron Brink.
Los Angeles has won two straight and could lean on Nneka Ogwumike's 16.9 points and Dearica Hamby's nearly 15, but the matchup has shifted from guard play to the frontcourt.
The total has risen from 177.5, yet the outlook still favors the under, with uncertainty around Angel Reese adding another variable for Atlanta.