Atlanta Dream vs LA Sparks: Injury Report, Starting 5, Prediction and More on Tonight’s WNBA Preview

Heading into a ferocious back-to-back against the Atlanta Dream, every game is a do-or-die for Los Angeles. Even after defeating Seattle, another team in playoff contention, the Sparks only have a sixteen percent chance of making the postseason according to ESPN. Indiana, Seattle, and Golden State are ahead of Lynne Roberts’ team, but all hope is not lost. Four out of five games in the Sparks’ remaining schedule are against high-seeded contenders. So, while it is Atlanta’s game to lose, expect Los Angeles to come out all guns blazing against the Dream–their entire postseason depends on it after all!

Where to watch?

• Game day: Wednesday, September 3, 2025
• Game time: 7:30 p.m. ET
• TV channel: Peachtree TV and SportsNet LA
• Location: College Park, Georgia
• Arena: Gateway Center Arena

Injury report

Atlanta Dream:

Taylor Thierry (ankle): The six-foot-one combo guard is definitely not having a great rookie season, and the cherry on top? She has missed quite a few games after twisting her ankle against the Washington Mystics. She has been ruled OUT for the matchup against Los Angeles.

Allisha Gray (knee): It’s safe to say that the outcome of the game will depend on whether the six-foot-tall guard will play against the Los Angeles Sparks. Because of a knee issue, she is a GAME-TIME DECISION for the matchup against Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Sparks: 

Rickea Jackson (leg): The Sparks forward is listed as PROBABLE for the matchup against the Atlanta Dream despite a leg injury.

Probable lineups

Atlanta Dream:

Brionna Jones

Allisha Gray

Rhyne Howard

Te-Hina Paopao

Naz Hillmon

Los Angeles Sparks:

Dearica Hamby

Azura Stevens

Kelsey Plum

Rickea Jackson

Julie Allemand

Atlanta Dream vs LA Sparks prediction: Can Atlanta stop a late playoff push from Los Angeles?

For Los Angeles, the next five games mean everything, but for Atlanta? This matchup is just an opportunity to get a better seed. The Dream is currently heading the Eastern Conference with a 26-14 record, leaving even the defending champs behind. In the eye of the hurricane stand Allisha Gray (if cleared) and Rhyne Howard. Both of the stars have outdone expectations this year, combining for around 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists per game. So, it’s pretty clear that the Dream has a solid backcourt.

On the other hand, the Los Angeles Sparks backcourt is entirely dependent on Kelsey Plum. The five-foot-nine guard is currently averaging 19.9 points, 5.8 assists, and 3.2 rebounds a game, facilitating the team’s offense. And why wouldn’t she? Plum Dawg has a star-studded frontcourt in Dearica Hamby, Cameron Brink, and Azura Stevens. All of them can create their own shots, finish from under the rim, and provide essential spacing for the Sparks.

So, how do these two teams match up? Well, it all comes down to whether Allisha Gray is fit to play or not. The six-foot-tall point guard facilitation and perimeter play is a major factor behind the Dream’s success, so if the game-time decision goes Los Angeles’ way, they might actually have a shot!

According to ESPN’s matchup predictor, Atlanta has a 75.3% chance of winning against Los Angeles, but those odds stand to lessen if Gray is out injured. If we take a look at the stats, they tell an interesting story. Atlanta averages 83.7 points per game, just 4.2 fewer than what Los Angeles (87.9) allows. Not to mention, the Dream are virtually unstoppable if they score more than 87.9 points, boasting a 16-2 record. The Sparks average 8.9 more points per game than Atlanta allows, and have an impressive 19-13 when they’ve scored more than 77.1 points.

It will be interesting to see how this matchup turns out for Los Angeles, as they’re definitely under higher scrutiny right now. If they end up losing, this could be the end of their late-season playoff push, and even if they win? Well, the road to the postseason is long and steep. Stay tuned for more updates!