[InTheHole]

Lady Luck

WNBA Best Bets


Phoenix Mercury at Los Angeles Sparks (-6, 169)

This game features two star players going in opposite directions.

The Sparks welcome back new mom Candace Parker, who missed the beginning of the year to give birth to daughter Lailaa on May 13. Missing the league’s reigning MVP and Rookie of the Year, the preseason favorite Sparks limped to a record of 3-5. But Parker, who averaged 18.5 points and a league-high 9.5 rebounds per game last season, figures to help turn the team’s season around.

Across the court from her will be troubled Phoenix Mercury star Diana Taurasi. The former UConn standout is the team’s leading scorer and the league’s leading All-star vote-getter, but she may miss time soon. She was cited for DUI early Thursday morning. Taurasi figures to play in the game, but expect the league to take swift action.

Taurasi will be off her game, so look for Parker to be the spark Los Angeles needs.

Pick: Sparks

Connecticut Sun at Detroit Shock (-3, 144.5)

Fans of slow, half-court basketball and physical, man-to-man defense have had this one circled on their calendars.

The defending champion Shock have struggled this season to a 2-6 record, but managed to keep games close by using a methodical attack. The style, however, hasn’t helped the team pick up wins. The Shock average a terrible 71 points per game and appears in no rush to change its approach.

And don’t expect any slack from the Sun, who tout the league’s best defense. Connecticut has been miserly at protecting its own rim, yielding just 67.3 points per game.

This game won’t feature much electricity, but the Sun figure to burn bright.

Pick: Sun