Los Angeles Sparks v Golden State Valkyries - Source: Getty

LA Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries Predicted Starting Lineups and Depth Charts (May 16) | 2025 WNBA Season

Modified May 17, 2025 07:31 GMT

The LA Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries game on Friday is a matchup between one of the oldest teams in the league and the WNBA's newest franchise. This will be the first-ever regular season game played by the Valkyries, who filled up their roster primarily through an expansion draft held in December 2024.

As the first WNBA expansion team since the Atlanta Dream's entry in 2008, the Valkyries are looking to get off to a great start by picking up their first regular-season win. Their current roster consists of both up-and-coming stars (such as Kate Martin and Temi Fagbenle) and grizzled veterans (like Tiffany Hayes, Kayla Thornton and Monique Billings).

Standing between the Valkyries and their historic first win is a Sparks team looking to bounce back from a lackluster performance last season. In 2024, the Sparks finished dead last in the league, collecting just eight wins against 32 losses.

By all indications, things are looking up for the Sparks as they acquired star point guard Kelsey Plum in a blockbuster deal during the offseason. They'll also be counting on veterans Dearica Hamby and Odyssey Sims, as well as young talents like Rae Burrell and the returning Cameron Brink.

This past Sunday, the Valkyries had their first preseason matchup, which also happened to be against the Sparks. Though LA led by 14 points in the first half, Golden State went on a third-quarter surge and eventually seized the lead. In the end, the Sparks came up with the 83-82 victory. The exciting action in this game appears to be a precursor to a thrilling affair on opening weekend.

LA Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries: Injury report

LA Sparks injury report

Cameron Brink won't be playing in the season opener against the Valkyries, as she is still recovering from her torn ACL last year. Julie Allemand will also be sitting out due to knee issues.

Golden State Valkyries injury report

Kate Martin (hand) has been ruled as probable for this game. However, Stephanie Talbot (quad) and Cecilia Zandalasini (foot) won't be suiting up.

LA Sparks vs Golden State Valkyries: Predicted starting lineups and depth charts

LA Sparks predicted starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd unit
Kelsey Plum	Sarah Ashley Barker
Azura Stevens	Odyssey Sims
Rickea Jackson	Sania Feagin
Dearica Hamby	Emma Cannon
Rae Burrell	Mercedes Russell

Golden State Valkyries predicted starting lineup and depth chart

Starters	2nd unit	3rd unit
Veronica Burton	Julie Vanloo
Tiffany Hayes	Kate Martin
Kayla Thornton	Carla Leite	Juste Jocyte
Monique Billings	Janelle Salaun
Temi Fagbenle	Kyara Linskens

About the author

Simoun Victor Redoblado is an NBA and WNBA journalist at Sportskeeda with over 12 years of experience writing for publications such as Collider, ALL-STAR Magazine, and Sir Charles in Charge.

Simoun has a bachelor's degree in Secondary Education, Major in English and Minor in journalism. Thanks to the journalism courses that he took, Simoun understood the fundamentals of journalistic storytelling in the context of sports writing.

Passionate for the UP Fighting Maroons, Simoun is a fan of the NBA, PBA, UAAP, and FIBA.
His childhood team was the Chicago Bulls and Simoun was a longtime supporter of the Houston Rockets because his friends would say he looked like Yao Ming.

Simoun loves the systematic, tactical movement of the ball and the players, the stories behind each individual competing on the hardcourt and most of all, how basketball is a sport for life and all its struggles and lessons.

A father of two, Simoun spends his free time with his kids.

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