Basketball is funny. One night you’re hitting everything, and the next, the rim feels like it’s been shrunk by three sizes. When the Atlanta Dream at Los Angeles Sparks matchup pops up on the calendar, most casual fans just look at the standings and move on. That is a massive mistake. Honestly, this specific cross-country rivalry has quietly become one of the most explosive, high-scoring chess matches in the WNBA, especially after what we saw go down in late 2025.
If you’re expecting a slow, grinding defensive battle, you haven’t been paying attention.
The Night the Records Shattered
Let’s talk about September 5, 2025. People still bring up that game when they talk about the "new" WNBA. The Dream didn't just win; they essentially turned Gateway Center Arena into a video game. Atlanta walked away with a 104-85 victory, but the score barely tells the story. Rhyne Howard—who is basically a walking bucket when she’s in the zone—dropped 37 points and tied the league record with nine made threes in a single game.
It was surreal.
Atlanta as a team tied the WNBA record with 19 total three-pointers that night. Think about that. Nearly 60 points came from beyond the arc alone. When the Atlanta Dream at Los Angeles Sparks game heads to the West Coast, the Sparks have to find a way to close out on shooters or they get buried. Simple as that.
🔗 Read more: Men's Sophie Cunningham Jersey: Why This Specific Kit is Selling Out Everywhere
The Sparks aren't exactly slouches on offense either. In 2025, they hovered around the top five in offensive rating but struggled mightily on the other end. It’s a recipe for what bettors call "the over." They play fast. They rank near the top of the league in pace. Basically, they want to turn every game into a track meet, which is great for the fans but terrible for their defensive stats.
The Kelsey Plum Factor in LA
When the Sparks landed Kelsey Plum, the energy in Crypto.com Arena changed. She’s been averaging nearly 20 points a game, and her chemistry with Dearica Hamby is, quite frankly, the only thing keeping LA in the hunt during tough stretches. Plum is the engine. She’s the one who stretches the floor and creates those lanes for Rickea Jackson to slash through.
But here’s the problem.
LA has been bit by the injury bug harder than almost anyone. Losing Cameron Brink to that ACL tear early on was a gut punch. Brink was supposed to be the defensive anchor, the one who prevented Rhyne Howard from living in the paint. Without her, Azurá Stevens has had to shoulder a ridiculous load. Stevens is a pro’s pro—averaging about 8 boards a game—but she can’t be everywhere at once.
💡 You might also like: Why Netball Girls Sri Lanka Are Quietly Dominating Asian Sports
Key Matchup Stats (2025 Season)
- Atlanta Scoring: 84.4 PPG (Led by Allisha Gray’s 18.4)
- LA Scoring: 85.7 PPG (Led by Kelsey Plum’s 19.5)
- The Boards: Atlanta leads the league in rebounds (36.6 per game), mostly thanks to Brionna Jones being a total force inside.
- The Pace: LA runs the fastest tempo in the league, while Atlanta prefers a more balanced, inside-out approach.
Why the Dream Usually Has the Edge
If you look at the head-to-head history, Atlanta has won a lot of these lately. Why? It’s the depth. It’s not just Rhyne Howard. Allisha Gray is arguably the best two-way guard in the league that nobody talks about enough. She was First Team All-WNBA in 2025 for a reason. She’s efficient, she defends the best player on the other team, and she doesn't turn the ball over.
Then you’ve got Jordin Canada. Going back to LA is always a "thing" for her since she played for the Sparks (and UCLA before that). She knows those rims. She knows the environment. When she’s healthy and pushing the ball, Atlanta’s offense looks unstoppable.
The Dream finished 2025 at the top of the Eastern Conference with a 30-14 record. The Sparks, meanwhile, were fighting just to stay relevant in the playoff conversation. There is a clear gap in consistency here. Atlanta knows who they are. LA is still trying to figure out their identity while waiting for their young stars to get healthy.
What to Watch for in the 2026 Matchups
As we head into the 2026 season, the Atlanta Dream at Los Angeles Sparks games are going to be defined by two things: perimeter defense and the expansion draft fallout.
📖 Related: Why Cumberland Valley Boys Basketball Dominates the Mid-Penn (and What’s Next)
With the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire joining the league, rosters are being shuffled. The Sparks had to make some tough choices on who to protect. Keeping Rickea Jackson and Cameron Brink was a no-brainer, but losing depth pieces to expansion teams might make their bench even thinner.
For Atlanta, the goal is simple. Keep Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner healthy. Having Griner in the middle changes everything for their defense. She doesn't even have to block every shot; her presence just makes guards think twice about driving, which allows Howard and Gray to gamble more on the perimeter.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
- Watch the First Quarter Spread: Atlanta tends to start fast in these matchups. If they hit their first few threes, the Sparks usually struggle to claw back because they lack the defensive stops.
- Monitor the Injury Report: Specifically look for Jordin Canada and Kelsey Plum. If either of these lead guards is out, the game plan changes from a fast-paced shootout to a messy, turnover-heavy grind.
- The Rebound Gap: If Atlanta out-rebounds LA by more than 10 (which they often do), the Sparks almost never win. Look for Dearica Hamby to be aggressive early to try and neutralize Brionna Jones.
- Back-to-Back Factors: Because of WNBA scheduling, these teams often play "series" where they meet twice in three days. The loser of the first game almost always makes a massive defensive adjustment in the second.
The reality is that the Dream are currently the better-oiled machine. They have the veterans, the size, and the shooting. But never count out a team with Kelsey Plum and a healthy Rickea Jackson in a building like Crypto.com Arena. The lights are bright, the crowd is loud, and sometimes that's enough to spark an upset.
Keep an eye on the shooting splits for the first ten minutes. If Rhyne Howard hits her first two attempts from deep, grab some popcorn. It’s going to be a long night for the Sparks' defense.