PREVIEW: The New York Liberty (11-5) host the Los Angeles Sparks (5-12) in a critical WNBA matchup that finds both teams seeking to recalibrate their recent performances. New York leads the Eastern Conference, but injuries have complicated their title defense, while the Sparks are struggling to maintain playoff hopes. The Sparks will rely on Kelsey Plum, who leads their offense with 20.6 points and 5.6 assists per game, alongside contributors like Dearica Hamby (16.5 points) and Azura Stevens (14.6 points, 8.4 rebounds). The Liberty enter as heavy favorites, with betting lines suggesting a significant margin of victory. Breanna Stewart anchors New York's offensive attack, averaging 20.8 points and six rebounds, with Sabrina Ionescu adding 18.6 points and Natasha Cloud distributing 6.5 assists per game. The Liberty boast the WNBA's top offense, averaging 87.6 points while shooting 45.8% from the field, and outscoring opponents by 0.8 points per game. While New York has the league's third-best defensive rating, they've recently struggled, allowing 90 or more points in consecutive games, partially due to Jonquel Jones' ankle injury. This matchup represents the first of a three-game regular-season series between the teams in 2025.