Malonga Shines as Storm Clash with Sparks in Key WNBA Matchup
Seattle’s got a big one on the calendar tonight. The Storm are heading into Los Angeles to face the Sparks, and all eyes are on Dominique Malonga after her standout performance just days ago. She put up 22 points in a tough 90–86 loss to the Las Vegas Aces, and now she’s expected to be a major factor again as the Storm try to bounce back.
This is more than just another game — it’s the third meeting between these two teams this season. The Sparks came out on top in their last matchup on August 2, edging Seattle 108–106, thanks in large part to Rickea Jackson’s 27-point outburst. So yes, there’s a little bit of unfinished business here.
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The Sparks enter with a 14–16 record, including a 4–12 mark against Western Conference opponents. Their strength? Owning the paint. They lead the West with an average of 40.3 points inside per game, and Dearica Hamby has been the driving force, putting up 17.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and showing hustle on both ends. She’s been getting plenty of help too — the Sparks are hitting nearly 46% from the field this season, a clip that’s noticeably better than the defensive percentage Seattle usually allows.
On the other side, the Storm are sitting at 16–15 overall and are an even 9–9 against Western Conference teams. They’ve been dangerous from beyond the arc, averaging 7.4 made threes a game at a 33.2% success rate. Erica Wheeler has been leading that charge from distance, hitting 35.5% from three and averaging 1.6 makes per game. Nneka Ogwumike continues to be a steady force inside for Seattle with 18 points and 7.1 rebounds per outing.
If recent form is any indicator, the Sparks come in with momentum. They’ve gone 8–2 over their last 10 games, averaging nearly 93 points while shooting a sharp 48.5% from the floor. The Storm, meanwhile, have struggled lately at 3–7 in their last 10, although they’ve been keeping games competitive by forcing turnovers and blocking shots at a high rate.
The sportsbooks have Seattle favored by 3.5 points with an over/under set at 170.5, which suggests we could be in for another high-scoring, fast-paced contest. The Sparks are healthy, while Seattle is still without Katie Lou Samuelson for the season due to a knee injury.
So here we are — two Western Conference squads with playoff implications hanging in the balance, one riding a hot streak and the other trying to snap out of a funk. Malonga’s scoring touch could be the difference for Seattle, but if the Sparks dominate the paint like they’ve been doing, Los Angeles might just make it two straight against the Storm. Either way, expect fireworks when the ball tips in L.A. tonight.
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