Liberty vs. Sparks odds, predictions: WNBA picks, best bets Tuesday
The Liberty are in a funk that goes well beyond a championship hangover.
They are short-handed and lack the defensive intensity to instill any fear in opponents.
After starting the season 9-0, the Liberty are just 11-11 since.
The Liberty just got smoked, 83-71, at home by the Lynx, even though Minnesota was playing without MVP favorite Napheesa Collier.
The Liberty now hit the road and visit the Los Angeles Sparks as two-point favorites with a total of 175 points at FanDuel.
The Sparks are fighting for their playoff lives and consequently playing much better lately, having won nine of their past 11 games.
Plus, Cameron Brink recently returned from injury to help stabilize their defensive front line.
This is when the Liberty desperately need Sabrina Ionescu to lead the team.
With former MVP Breanna Stewart still sidelined with injury, Ionescu is their best player and offensive focal point.
Rae Burrell #12 of the Los Angeles Sparks.
Getty Images
The sharpshooter has been held below 17 points in three straight games, while shooting a combined 11-of-40 from the field.
The Liberty still managed to win two of those three games, but she knows her role.
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The Sparks are the perfect opponent for her to face.
They push tempo, which is why this game has such a high total, and they lack the wing defenders to limit her. She should have open looks all day.
I have a 60-48-1 ATS record in this Post sports section, and my next play is Ionescu Over 20.5 points (-102, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He's also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
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That was more of a projection, though, with the thought that his past two years have been outliers. And that, with the addition of a strong left tackle and an improved pass-catching core, Mahomes could reclaim the throne. But based upon his recent play? His recent stats? His recent film? The case for Mahomes gets more complicated. Mahomes himself admits that he didn't play up to his own standards last season. "There's plays on the football field that I didn't make last year that I've made in previous years," Mahomes told USA Today. "At the end of the day, I'm going to do whatever it takes to win, whether that's passing for a lot of yards, not passing for a lot of yards. But I think if I play better, that's going to make it better for the team." There was no talk of Mahomes in the MVP discussion last year. That was a neck-and-neck race between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. 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And that might be the category that matters most to everyone at this point. When ranking Mahomes over the other three, it's really that the other three can't seem to beat Mahomes. And what else matters, if not head-to-head wins in playoff games? For a long time, a QB's wins-and-losses record was atop his résumé. Recently, QB evaluation has grown more complicated, with the formula fluctuating around wins, film, counting stats and advanced stats. Each variable's value rises and falls based on groupthink. Quarterback wins, for example, went completely out of vogue about two years ago. But now, given Mahomes' befuddling incongruities, people seem to be valuing wins more. Because Mahomes did not win the Super Bowl last season, and because he was not in the mix for MVP — because he did not elevate his team in undeniable fashion — I'm not sure he's the league's best QB. I'll rank him there because he's trustworthy. Because he's as likely as any of the others to turn back into that guy. The Guy. But if we're looking at last season in a vacuum, I see better cases for Jackson or Allen or even Jalen Hurts. Hurts, after all, reminded everyone that Mahomes and the Chiefs are beatable. In the biggest moments. In the biggest game. Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes shake hands after Philadelphia beat Kansas City 40-22 to win Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. (Photo by) And perhaps that's what makes the 2025 season so compelling for Mahomes. It could be the year when he loses that QB1 label. He's as vulnerable as ever, especially if — for example — Allen, Jackson or Burrow wins a Super Bowl. Will Mahomes prove people right — that he's still QB1? At what point will he stop being the safe bet? Might we see another year of good-but-not-best play? Mahomes does seem to have a strong left tackle again. Rookie Josh Simmons appears to have won the starting job based on his incredible play during training camp. The picture at the pass-catcher spot isn't totally clear. Xavier Worthy looked strong at the end of last season, but there are big questions about the others. Travis Kelce is aging, Hollywood Brown is oft-injured, Rashee Rice is returning from injury and likely to serve a four-to-six-game suspension, and Jalen Royals is a rookie. Still, there's reason for optimism. Mahomes is the most successful quarterback we've seen since Brady. But even Brady experienced years when his play dipped. That's what seems to be happening with Mahomes, even with his team making three Super Bowls in a row. The Chiefs might have been as dangerous as ever, but I'm just not sure Mahomes has been. Before joining FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna . Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? 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USA Today
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