Each time I make my Sparket picks for LFG, the contests are slightly different. Its one of the things I love about these contests. When I wrote my previous articles, those contests did not contain First Goal Scorer picks. Those picks have some of the biggest odds we have seen, and they have a chance to swing the results of these contests wildly. This is a somewhat turbulent time in the NWSL, with teams still getting players integrated into their teams following injuries, trades or international duty. With that in mind, I think in general I am more likely to choose an underdog both for winners and goal-scorers than I might be otherwise.

08/15/25

Highest Scoring Team Los Angeles Sparks (4.2X)

I have no idea why Los Angeles has the second-highest odds in this group. Maybe because they are on the road? They have the third-most points per game on the road this season, behind Minnesota and New York. Dallas has allowed the second-most points at home. The Sparks have been even better offensively since Cameron Brink returned, averaging a league-high 93.3 ppg in August. They have also allowed the most points in August, while Dallas is third. I think the highest-scoring team is coming from this game, and considering the Wings are 5-12 at home and the Sparks are 9-7 on the road, I feel good about picking Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Sparks Winner vs Dallas Wings (2.4X)

If you don’t want to go out on a limb like I did for my first pick, or if you want to hedge in case Indiana and Washington go to overtime, I think the Sparks should be favored in this game, even on the road. The Sparks have won seven of their last 10 games, and while that came against a soft schedule, Dallas has the third-worst record in the league. The Sparks have been beating the teams they should beat, and I think they can do it one more time. Dallas has never found its footing this season, and trading reigning Most Improved Player DiJonai Carrington for the oft-injured Diamond Miller and a draft pick only made the team worse for this season. The Sparks are one game out of the final playoff spot, and this game means a lot more for them than for the Wings.

Washington Spirit vs Racing Louisville - First Goal Scorer? The field (13.0X)

It is worth noting that the first time these teams played this season, Leicy Santos scored the first goal (her only of the season thus far), and she is included in The Field. Mostly, however, I’m picking the field due to the return of Trinity Rodman. Rodman scored in her first game back despite entering in the 75th minute, so I’m not too worried about her form. In her second game back, last week, she came on for Gift Monday in the 58th minute, though she failed to score. If Rodman starts, our odds are much, much too good. Even off the bench, I like this price because any time Rodman gets will likely come at the expense of one of Washington’s other goal-scorers. Gift Monday has five goals in 12 matches this season, but if she goes to the bench again to make room for Rodman, her listed win percentage is too high.

08/16/25

Top Points Scorer? Sabrina Ionescu (3.9x)

Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart have both been out with injuries. Stewart has been out since July 26 with a right knee bone bruise, while Collier suffered an ankle sprain on August 2 that was supposed to keep her out at least two weeks. Even if they both somehow returned for this game, I don’t expect them to be at 100 percent, which they probably need to be to score the most points in this game. Kayla McBride is averaging 14.8 ppg, and her scoring has actually been down slightly in the three games Collier has missed with her ankle injury. Sabrina Ionescu is averaging 19.4 ppg. In two games against the Lynx this season, Ionescu has averaged 20.5 points. McBride averaged 21.0 points in those same two games, so I understand if you want to chase the higher odds, but I am perfectly content to roll with Ionescu.

Kansas City Current Winner (1.9X) vs. Orlando Pride

It looks like Ally Sentnor is set to make her Kansas City Current debut after the trade from the Utah Royals, and that could have some interesting implications on the First Goal Scorer pick pool from that game. I’m going with the safer, if somewhat boring play of the best team in the league winning at home. Orlando has looked unimpressive at best in two home draws since the break, while Kansas City has eight straight wins, including a 1-0 victory in Orlando in May. Marta didn’t play in either of those games since the break, and that could definitely make the difference, but I’m not expecting Orlando to be able to flip the switch against Kansas City. If they show signs of life this week, maybe I’ll pick them next week at Angel City.