The stakes could not be higher as the Seattle Storm vs the Los Angeles Sparks game edges closer. Both teams will enter the arena with playoff berths in mind. For LA, the timing could not be better. Indiana’s recent slide to eighth place has cracked the door open, and the Sparks are rushing through with renewed confidence. Fresh off a crucial win against Washington, the Sparks have six games in their bank to cash for a win and get a playoff ticket.

Seattle, though, is no easy hurdle. Sitting in seventh with a .537 win percentage, the Storm need just one more victory to all but punch their playoff pass. In the battle to confirm the remaining playoff spots, Seattle does have an upper hand based on past records. But before this important game, let’s take a look at the injury report and the projected starting five for both teams.

Seattle Storm vs LA Sparks: Where to watch

Date: Monday, September 1, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM PST/ 9:00 PM EST

Venue: Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, WA

Fans eager to catch the action have plenty of options. Tickets are up for grabs on Vivid Seats for those wanting to watch inside the arena. If home viewing is the plan, the clash will be broadcast on NBA TV and CW Seattle. Alternatively, the game can also be tuned in via WNBA League Pass, Amazon Prime US, Fubo, SlingTV, or YouTube TV.

Seattle Storm vs LA Sparks Injury Report

Heading into the matchup, the Storm are the ones feeling the sting of injuries more than LA. However, both teams are expected to roll out their familiar starting five in this crucial matchup.

LA Sparks

Currently, no player on the Los Angeles roster is suffering from injury. This is a surprising fact considering this to be one of the most injury-laden seasons.

Seattle Storm

• Dominique Malonga: GTD (Game Time Decision)
• Katie Lou Samuelson: OFS (Out For Season)

Rookie center Dominique Malonga is still listed as day-to-day with a left wrist injury, and her status will be a game-time call. She already missed the Storm’s last outing against the Chicago Sky, and her availability remains uncertain. Adding to Seattle’s troubles, Katie Lou Samuelson has been ruled out for the entire season after tearing her right ACL in practice on May 1, with the team making the announcement two days later.

With the injury report settled, it is time to shift focus to the projected starting fives for both squads.

Predicted Starting Lineup

LA Sparks

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

Seattle Storm

• Nneka Ogwumike
• Gabby Williams
• Ezi Magbegor
• Skylar Diggins
• Brittany Sykes

Seattle Storm vs LA Sparks Prediction: Who will emerge victorious?

When you line up these two squads, the balance of experience and young energy jumps right off the page. The stakes are massive, and the numbers show just how close this battle could be. The Sparks are putting up 85.9 points per game, while the Storm trails slightly with 82.4. For LA, the one-two punch of Kelsey Plum and Dearica Hamby has been driving the offense, while in Seattle, Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins are leading the charge.

The real separator, though, comes on the defensive end. LA has been bleeding points, giving up more than they score, whereas Seattle has built its reputation on getting stops. The Storm are holding opponents to just 79.9 points, compared to the Sparks’ 88.0. Add in Seattle’s edge in blocks and steals, and the defensive advantage tilts heavily toward the home team. If LA wants to keep their playoff hopes alive, they’ll need to find cracks in what has become a fortress at Climate Pledge Arena.

History, however, offers LA a sliver of hope. The Sparks have taken two of the last three meetings, both by razor-thin margins, proving they know how to make Seattle sweat. But momentum is wearing Storm colors. Seattle has won four of their last five, while LA has dropped three in that same stretch. ESPN’s analytics back that up, handing Seattle a 71 percent chance of victory against LA’s 29.