WNBA Sports Betting – Insights from DraftKings Sportsbook
Sean Barnard shares top player prop picks on DraftKings Sportsbook for tonight’s matchup between the Los Angeles Sparks and Golden State Valkyries.
(Image: May 16, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Los Angeles Sparks forward Rickea Jackson (left) dribbles against Golden State Valkyries forward Kayla Thornton (5) in the third quarter at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images)
Only one WNBA game is slated for tonight, with the Los Angeles Sparks (3-11) hosting the Golden State Valkyries (6-25) in an all-California showdown. This marks their third clash this season, with each team splitting the first two games.
The Sparks are 6.5-point favorites with a -278 moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Valkyries sit at +225 to pull off the upset, with the game total set at 162.5.
You can find my full predictions for this game here, but this article zeroes in on my top player prop bets for this lone WNBA matchup. Below are my three favorite prop picks for this budding rivalry.
1. Rickea Jackson Over 12.5 Points (+100)
Rickea Jackson has had a tough start, appearing in only nine of the Sparks’ first 14 games this season. The second-year standout suffered a concussion and missed time due to personal issues. In those games, she’s averaged just 5.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game. The expect statistical regression to shift as she regains form with steadier minutes. Jackson’s opportunities have been inconsistent due to her on-and-off roster status, and tonight marks just her second time playing back-to-back games.
Last season, Jackson averaged 11.4 points per game and scored over 12.5 points in 26 of her appearances. She dropped 16 points against the Valkyries earlier this season, her only game this year with over 26 minutes played. The former All-Rookie First Team member averaged 26.4 minutes last season and should see expanded opportunities with regular play.
The Sparks’ 3-11 start partly stems from Jackson’s inconsistency. Her impact transcends stats, and expect the expect Los Angeles to lean on the 24-year-old tonight heavily. The Valkyries have struggled defensively, allowing 86.5 points per game, the fourth-worst in the league. Look for Jackson to eclipse 12.5 points for the second time against Golden State and play a key role as she returns to form.
2. Kayla Thornton Over 2+ Made Three-Pointers (-120)
In their debut WNBA season, the Golden State Valkyries have carved out a clear identity from beyond the arc, leading the league with 30.1 three-point attempts per game, despite a league-worst 29.3% shooting percentage. Kayla Thornton is central to this approach, averaging 6.5 three-point attempts per game.
Thornton has struggled, shooting just 23.8% from deep this season—an outlier compared to her career 33.4% three-point clip, including 34.6% last year. Still, she’s hit two or more threes in seven games this season, including a 4/9 performance recently.
Tonight, the Sparks are vulnerable to perimeter defense, allowing opponents 28.1 three-point attempts per game (second-worst in the WNBA) at a 33.9% clip. Thornton went 0/6 from three in their first meeting and 1/9 in the second. She’s a better shooter than these numbers suggest, and I view this as an early-season slump. Coming off her best long-range game, expect Thornton to capitalize on her volume and sink at least two threes tonight.
3. Kelsey Plum Over 20.5 Points (-120)
The Sparks made a blockbuster move to acquire Kelsey Plum this offseason. She’s settled in seamlessly, averaging 18.7 points per game, a career-high for the three-time All-Star. Plum also ranks second league-wide with 2.9 made threes per game. She’s scored 37 points in a game this season—against the Valkyries—and has cleared 20.5 points in 11 of her 23 games.
While the Valkyries prioritize three-point shooting offensively, they struggle to defend it, allowing 27.4 three-point attempts per game (fifth-worst) at a 35.7% rate. Opponents sink 9.8 threes per game against them, the second-most in the WNBA. Golden State’s fourth-ranked pace adds extra possessions, boosting Plum’s chances to hit this mark.
Backed by the home crowd and having torched this defense for 37 points earlier this year, expect a big night from the Sparks’ star. In their last win, a 14-point blowout, Plum played a season-low 28:33 and took just nine shots—her only game under 14 attempts. Look for a sharper scoring focus tonight, with Plum well-rested. Trust her to exploit Golden State’s shaky perimeter defense and add to her impressive early-season scoring outbursts.