![\"Zak](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/1755447790_78_371644d1-17e8-4896-938c-2b1c123cdf06.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSonia Citron has stepped up in a big way since Sykes departed Washington, and she’s in line for another strong performance against L.A.<\/p>\n
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Aug 17, 2025 \u2022 10:40 ET<\/p>\n
\u2022 4 min read<\/p>\n
Photo By – Imagn Images. Sonia Citron (22) looks to pass the ball during the first half of a game against the Indiana Fever.<\/p>\n
With just three weeks left in the WNBA season, the race for the final playoff spots is heating up. The Los Angeles Sparks sit just half a game back of the Seattle Storm for the No. 8 seed, while the Washington Mystics are just one game back of the Sparks.<\/p>\n
My Sparks vs. Mystics predictions expect a high-scoring game in the nation\u2019s capital, highlighted by big games from the Mystics\u2019 star pair of rookies.<\/p>\n
Find out more in my WNBA picks<\/a> for August 17.<\/p>\n Sparks vs Mystics predictions<\/p>\n My Sparks vs Mystics best bet: Sonia Citron Over 16.5 points (+100 at FanDuel<\/a>)<\/p>\n Paige Bueckers has been the runaway favorite to win Rookie of the Year for most of the 2025 campaign, but Sonia Citron<\/a> has made a strong case of her own and may push Bueckers over the final stretch of the season.<\/p>\n Citron is averaging 15 points per game this season, and she\u2019s got the second-most 20-point games behind only Bueckers. Since the Washington Mystics<\/a> traded Britney Sykes, Citron has stepped up as the Mystics\u2019 go-to option on offense.<\/p>\n Over the last five without Sykes, Citron has averaged 18.6 points and two triples while shooting 51.7% from the floor and a blistering 55.6% from beyond the arc. Citron has also been aggressive getting to the rim, averaging 5.2 free throws per game in that span.<\/p>\n The All-Star rookie will look to build on that momentum and keep her team in the playoff race when the Los Angeles Sparks<\/a> come to town this afternoon.\u00a0<\/p>\n Sparks vs Mystics same-game parlay (SGP)<\/p>\n Sonia Citron Over 16.5 points<\/p>\n Kiki Iriafen Over 22.5 points+rebounds<\/p>\n Over 171<\/p>\n Citron is just one half of Washington\u2019s star rookie duo, as fellow All-Star Kiki Iriafen<\/a> has been playing some great basketball in 2025.<\/p>\n Iriafen is averaging 12.7 points and 8.5 rebounds on the season, but over her last five, she\u2019s posted 15.4 points and 9.4 boards. Iriafen has scored in double figures in eight straight, and she\u2019s come up with at least 23 points+rebounds five times in that span. Riding a streak of three straight double-doubles, I expect her to hit the Over on this line again.<\/p>\n The Sparks\u2019 offense has been tremendous this season, but the team\u2019s defense has been the most generous. L.A. has allowed the most points per game at 88.6, but over the last 10, the Sparks have given up a whopping 92.6 points.<\/p>\n Washington has hit the Over in three straight, and Los Angeles has hit the Over in eight of the last 10. Both head-to-head matchups between these teams have gone Over, and I predict the third matchup will yield the same result.<\/p>\n Sparks vs Mystics odds Sparks vs Mystics opening odds<\/p>\n Spread: Los Angeles -3 (-108) | Washington +3 (-112) Sparks vs Mystics trend<\/p>\n Los Angeles and Washington have hit the game total Over in each of their head-to-head matchups this season. Find more WNBA betting trends<\/a> for Sparks vs. Mystics.<\/p>\n How to watch Sparks vs Mystics<\/p>\n Location Date Tip-off TV Sparks vs Mystics latest injuries<\/p>\n![\"FanDuel](\"https:\/\/img.covers.com\/betting\/sportsbooks\/818\/fanduel_2.svg\")
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\nSparks vs Mystics live odds<\/p>\n
\nMoneyline: Los Angeles -162 | Washington +132
\nOver\/Under: Over 171 | Under 171<\/p>\n
\nCareFirst Arena, Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n
\nSunday, August 17, 2025<\/p>\n
\n3:00 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
\nESPN3<\/p>\n