The 2024 WNBA season is finally here. For the Los Angeles Sparks this a transition year. For the Atlanta Dream, they’re hoping to build on 2023's success with the addition of veteran Tina Charles.
My Dream vs. Sparks prediction expects Dearica Hamby to help make L.A.'s transition smoother, and my my WNBA picks for this May 15 tilt focus on her points total.
Dream vs Sparks predictions
My best bet
Dearica Hamby Over 13.5 points (-110 at bet365)
My analysis
It’s often the case that when a long-injured star player returns to the lineup, they help previously overstretched role players all fall back into their proper place. No longer forced to do things they’re less than able at, natural synergies emerge, and the collective is better for it.
But what happens when the fulcrum of the team leaves and a new world struggles to be born in their wake?
That is the promise and peril of the Los Angeles Sparks, with longtime franchise icon Nneka Ogwumike gone. While promising rookie Cameron Brink is hopefully the long-term replacement, until then there will be some growing pains.
But they won’t be as painful as they might otherwise be because of one Dearica Hamby. Still playing a supporting role behind Ogwumike last season, Hamby is going to be thrust into a pseudo-starring role for the first time in her career while Brink and Rickea Jackson take their lumps as rookies.
While not much of an outside threat, Hamby is a highly skilled two-way forward, and seeing how she responds to the heaviest offensive load of her career is going to be fascinating. I’m bullish on her chances tonight for a few reasons outside of Hamby’s own considerable talent.
For one, If Hamby is competing with anyone on the Sparks for shots, it’s Brink. And I think it might take Brink a few games to settle into the W. The number one thing basketball players struggle with when they turn pro is the speed of the game. Every player who eventually turns the corner says something along the lines of “the game finally slowed down for me”.
That makes a WNBA season debut against the Atlanta Dream — the fastest pace team in the W last season — particularly challenging for Brink, who will not only be asked to try and score but to anchor the team's defense as well.
The Dream are a team that loves to attack in transition. If rotations aren’t crisp, it could also see Brink land in early foul trouble as she’s caught out of position trying to contain a breakdown from the perimeter. She played just seven minutes of the Sparks preseason game against the Phoenix Mercury because of the same kind of early fouls.
That pace also means Hamby should get plenty of shots. The Sparks made a clear effort to run during the preseason, and the more plays they can get in the open court the less Hamby’s limited perimeter game will matter.
Hamby scored 17 and 21 respectively in her preseason games and led the team in field goal attempts. These Dearica Hamby odds aren’t accounting enough for her new role.
Dream vs Sparks same-game parlay (SGP)
Dearica Hamby Over 13.5 points
Dearica Hamby 5+ rebounds
Dream -4.5
Atlanta flashed strong ball movement and cutting throughout the preseason. It already had elite spacing and shooting, and now a pair of strong post players as well in Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Tina Charles.
In the competitive portion of their final preseason game against the Indiana Fever — a similarly young team to the Sparks — the Dream scored 30 points in the first quarter before taking their foot off the gas.
Even though I expect Hamby to produce the Dream are liable to run the Sparks out of the gym while they’re still gathering themselves.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
Dream vs Sparks odds
Dream vs Sparks live odds
Get the latest Dream vs Sparks WNBA odds for tonight.
Dream vs Sparks opening odds
- Spread: Atlanta -6.5 (-110) | Los Angeles +6.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Atlanta -240 | Los Angeles +195
- Over/Under: Over 156.5 (-110) | Under 156.5 (-110)
Dream vs Sparks spread and Over/Under analysis
- The Dream opened as high as -6.5 point favorites over L.A. but most sportsbooks are offering it at between -4.5 and -5.5 as of Wednesday morning.
- The Dream are 15-5 against the spread in the last 20 games in Los Angeles.
- Wednesday’s total opened at 155.5 but it has steadily risen since then to as high as 161.5 at some books.
Dream vs Sparks trend
The Dream are 15-5 against the spread in the last 20 games in Los Angeles. Find more WNBA betting trends for Dream vs. Sparks.
Dream vs Sparks game info
| Location: | The Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, CA |
| Date: | Wednesday, May 15, 2024 |
| Tip-off: | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| TV: | Peachtree TV, Spectrum SportsNet |
Dream vs Sparks latest injuries
Dream: Jordin Canada G (Out).
Sparks: Azura Stevens C (Out).
Find our latest WNBA injury reports.
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