“Circus shot from Rickea Jackson and the Sparks get a walk-off winner!” shouted sportscaster Michael Grady as the Sparks pulled off a thrilling 101-99 victory over the Liberty in the final seconds. That unforgettable LA Sparks vs. New York Liberty clash saw Rickea Jackson score 24 points, sealing a big statement win for the Sparks! Now, we finally get to see these two teams face off again after their exciting July 26 matchup, as the defending champions head to Los Angeles.

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The Sparks have been on fire, winning 9 of their last 11 games, five of which came at home. Meanwhile, the Liberty comes into this game with 3 wins from their last 5 games. The Sparks(15-16) are certainly enjoying life with the addition of Cameron Brink to the side, whereas the Liberty (20-11) are still adjusting to life without Breanna Stewart, who is still out nursing a bone bruise in her knee and, according to various reports, is targeting a return by the end of this month.

LA Sparks vs New York Liberty: Where to watch

Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Venue: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, California
Watch on: NBA TV, WWOR, SportsNet LA, and Liberty Live
Streaming: Fubo, Paramount+, and ESPN+.

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LA Sparks vs New York Liberty: Injury report

New York Liberty

  • Kennedy Burke – OUT
  • Isabelle Harrison -OUT
  • Breanna Stewart – OUT
  • Nyara Sabally- OUT

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Los Angeles Sparks

  • No player is out injured

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Probable Starting Lineups

New York Liberty

  • Leonie Fiebich
  • Jonquel Jones
  • Emma Meesseman
  • Natasha Cloud
  • Sabrina Ionescu

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Los Angeles Sparks

  • Dearica Hamby
  • Azura Stevens
  • Rickea Jackson
  • Kelsey Plum
  • Julie Allemand

Prediction: Can the Sparks continue their winning ways?

Heading into this game, both teams have a 1-1 record against each other. This will be the third time they face off against each other, and it’s the first time Cameron Brink will get to play against Jonquel Jones this season. That definitely promises to be an exciting matchup.

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New York Liberty

Imago

Sabrina Ionescu scored 30 points the last time these two teams met and will definitely be a player to watch. That said, heading into this game, you’d usually expect the team with better form and home advantage to be the favorites, right? But remember, we’re talking about the defending champions here.

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The Liberty may be without stars like Breanna Stewart and Kennedy Burke, but they’ve still got plenty of firepower to challenge the Sparks on their home turf. They have the numbers to back their case! The Sparks are one of the best offensive teams in the league, averaging 85.9 points per game this season. But there’s one team that’s even better offensively — the Liberty. Sandy Brondello’s side is putting up 86.4 points per game this season.

Defensively, there’s a clear difference between the two teams. The Sparks give up 87.8 points per game this season, while the Liberty hold their opponents to just 80.9 points per game. Because of that, ESPN gives the New York Liberty a 68.3% chance to win. It might surprise some, but the numbers definitely favor the defending champs!

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If you had to pick a winner between these two teams, who would it be? The high-flying LA Sparks or the experienced New York Liberty? Drop your predictions in the comments down below!

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Akash Das

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Akash Das is an NCAA and WNBA Writer at EssentiallySports, where his bylines dive deep into the structural side of basketball. With a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication and a Master’s in Sports Business & Management from the University of Liverpool, he grounds every feature in strong reporting fundamentals and academic rigor. His coverage tracks how coaching blueprints, roster construction, and roster moves, from the NCAA transfer portal to WNBA free agency, shape outcomes on the court. His sharp breakdowns at the WNBA desk earned him a spot in the outlet’s prestigious Journalistic Excellence Program, putting him among ES’ most trusted voices on basketball. Beyond box scores, Akash is driven by the bigger picture: how programs are built, maintained, and rebuilt in the NCAA pipeline, and how those systems intersect with the professional game. With experience across sports writing, research, and media strategy, he brings nuance to topics often overlooked in day-to-day highlights coverage. Whether examining the long-term vision behind a college program or the ripple effect of player mobility in the WNBA, Akash connects fans to the tactical and structural heart of the sport.

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