Updated:
Sep 17, 2026 , 05:00 PM ET
• 4 min read
The Dallas Wings are fighting to climb out of the No. 8 seed, but don’t sleep on a Los Angeles Sparks team that’s healthier and primed to cover the spread tonight.
Photo By – Reuters Connect. os Angeles Sparks forward Nneka Ogwumike (30) shoots against Seattle Storm center Stefanie Dolson (31) during the first quarter at Climate Pledge Arena.
The Dallas Wings have punched their ticket to the postseason, but there’s still work to do following the FIBA World Cup break – starting tonight against the Los Angeles Sparks.
Dallas enters as the No. 8 seed with a chance to inch up the standings into a more favorable playoff matchup, but my Sparks vs. Wings prediction expects a veteran LA squad to give Paige Bueckers and Co. a scare here.
Check out my free WNBA picks for this Sept. 17 clash.
- UPDATE: Added Jessica Shepard prop!
TOP PICK
Sparks vs Wings prediction: Sparks +9.5 (57%)
The Los Angeles Sparks have played some of their best basketball since the playoff door slammed shut in their faces, and I’ll gladly take the points as LA plays spoiler tonight.
Despite the gloom around this lost season, the Sparks are 9-5 ATS in their last 14 games and covered the spread in their final four games before the World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Dallas Wings are just 7-10 ATS in their past 17 outings, and the injury list is a concern, with Azzi Fudd out for the rest of the season and Alanna Smith joining her in street clothes. Plus, Paige Bueckers‘ knee issue could limit her production here.
With Nneka Ogwumike looking to finish her WNBA career in style, look for LA’s frontcourt edge to keep the score close. While I see Dallas escaping with a win, this line feels too high, and I’d still take the points at 8.5 or 9.
COVERS INTEL: The Sparks finally found an extra gear defensively last month, and they held three of their final four opponents under the 80-point mark before the World Cup break.Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account 
Sparks vs Wings combo
I’m picking the Sparks to dig in at College Park Center, and the two-week layoff could result in some rusty shooting, with Dallas already ranking in the bottom five in made three-pointers per game (8.2).
That leads me to the Under, which is 7-3 in LA’s last 10 games and 6-3 in the past nine meetings between these squads.
A scrappy contest should also pad the rebounding numbers for both teams, and Ogwumike is a leading candidate to make a splash on the glass. She’s hauled in 11+ boards in three of her last four games and has averaged 9.0 RPG across her past 10 contests. The Wings’ up-tempo style should help, too – Dallas ranks second in the league in FGA per game.
Sparks vs Wings combo
- Sparks +9.5
- Under 177.5
- Nneka Ogwumike 8+ rebounds
Want more basketball combos? Check out our WNBA parlay picks page!
Sparks vs Wings player prop: Jessica Shepard 15+ points (58%)
Jessica Shepard has an even bigger runway to take off in the Wings’ final regular-season matchups with Fudd sidelined and Smith’s return unclear.
Shepard averaged 18.8 PPG in her last four contests prior to the World Cup, and I’m penciling her in for 10+ FGA tonight. She poured in 22 points against the Sparks back in June, and she’s shooting almost 60% from the field this year.
With Bueckers pulling the strings, there should be some easy looks for the Dallas veteran.
Tom Oldfield’s 2026 Transparency Record
- Top picks: 8-10, -2.30 units
- Combos: 3-15, -5.50 units
Sparks vs Wings odds
- Spread: Sparks +9.5 | Wings -9.5
- Moneyline: Sparks 24% | Wings 77%
- Over/Under: Over 177.5 | Under 177.5
Sparks vs Wings trend
The Under is 1-6 in Dallas’ last seven contests. Find more WNBA betting trends.
How to watch Sparks vs Wings
| Location | College Park Center, Arlington, Texas |
| Date | Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | Spectrum SportsNet, KFAA |
Sparks vs Wings latest injuries
Sparks: None.
Wings: Alanna Smith F (Out), Azzi Fudd G (Out)
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
Leave a Reply