The Los Angeles Sparks (12-23) will attempt to turn around a five-game losing streak when they host the Atlanta Dream (22-13) on Thursday, August 20, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena. The game airs at 10 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video.

How to watch Atlanta Dream vs. Los Angeles Sparks

Atlanta vs. Los Angeles odds

• Spread: Atlanta -8.5 (-110), Los Angeles +8.5 (-110)
• Favorite Moneyline: Atlanta -400
• Underdog Moneyline: Los Angeles +310
• Total: 180.5
• Total Over Odds: -110
• Total Under Odds: -110

Injury reports

Dream

Brionna Jones: Out (Leg)

Sparks

Monique Akoa Makani: Probable (Ankle),

Erica Wheeler: Probable (Ankle),

Cameron Brink: Probable (Ribs)

Stats to know

• The 90.3 points per game the Dream score are just 2.4 fewer points than the Sparks allow (92.7).
• Los Angeles’ 88.0 points per game are just 2.3 more points than the 85.7 Atlanta gives up.
• Angel Reese puts up 15.7 points, 12.0 boards and 2.6 assists per game, while shooting 41.9% from the floor.
• Dearica Hamby averages 15.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists per contest, while shooting 55.3% from the floor (fifth in WNBA).

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Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Julio Aguilar, Ethan Miller, Steph Chambers / Getty Images

The Texas Rangers host the Washington Nationals at 8:05 p.m. ET on Thursday, with both teams hoping to win the series. Jacob deGrom (8-8, 3.95 ERA) gets the start for the Rangers, who are 62-65 this season and second in the AL West. Andrew Alvarez (2-4, 3.72 ERA) is starting for the Nationals, who are 61-67 and fourth in the NL East.

How to watch Washington Nationals vs. Texas Rangers

Nationals vs. Rangers odds

• Favorite Moneyline: Rangers -182
• Underdog Moneyline: Nationals +150
• Total: 7.5
• Total Over Odds: -105
• Total Under Odds: -115

Injury reports

Rangers

Kyle Higashioka: 10 Day IL (Flexor tendon), Josh Jung: 10 Day IL (Calf), Jose Corniell: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Nathan Eovaldi: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Robert Garcia: 60 Day IL (Shoulder), Jack Leiter: 60 Day IL (Ankle), Jalen Beeks: 60 Day IL (Back), Michael Helman: 60 Day IL (Hand), Carter Baumler: 60 Day IL (Ribs)

Nationals

James Wood: 10 Day IL (Oblique), Drew Millas: 10 Day IL (Finger), Connelly Early: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Josiah Gray: 60 Day IL (Elbow), DJ Herz: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Ken Waldichuk: 60 Day IL (Forearm), Richard Lovelady: 60 Day IL (Tricep), Mitchell Parker: 60 Day IL (Elbow), PJ Poulin: 60 Day IL (Flexor)

Stats to know

• Brandon Nimmo is hitting for a .271 BA, .335 OBP and .433 SLG with a 21.4% strikeout rate and a 7.8% walk rate. His OPS is .768 and he has scored 52 runs. In 510 plate appearances, he has hit 13 home runs and driven in 48 runs.
• In 451 plate appearances, Ezequiel Duran has slashed .261/.316/.427 this season. He has hit 13 long balls and driven in 64 runs with a strikeout rate of 24.4% and a walk rate of 7.1%. He has nine stolen bases on 11 attempts. He has come around to score 55 times.
• CJ Abrams is hitting for a .279 BA, .354 OBP and .530 SLG with a 23.2% strikeout rate and an 8.6% walk rate. His OPS is .884, which ranks 11th in MLB, and he has scored 77 runs. In 534 plate appearances, he has hit 29 home runs (10th in MLB) and driven in 91 runs (3rd in MLB). Abrams has recorded 24 steals on 29 attempts.
• In 521 plate appearances, Daylen Lile has slashed .243/.292/.405 this season. He has hit 15 long balls and driven in 65 runs with a strikeout rate of 19% and a walk rate of 5.6%. He has stolen 12 bases on 17 attempts and has scored 62 runs.

This watch guide was created using technology provided by Data Skrive.

Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.

Photo: Jamie Squire, Ishika Samant, Scott Taetsch, Alika Jenner / Getty Images

Aston Villa have had an offer worth £18million ($24.5m) plus add-ons rejected for Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Villa are looking for a central defender, with Ezri Konsa expected to complete a move to Arsenal, worth £51m plus add-ons. Konsa, 28, underwent a medical on Thursday morning.

Villa are currently monitoring three options in central defence to replace Konsa, with Harwood-Bellis among them. They had made a bid for the England international, which, like Benfica’s opening offer of €20million (£17m; $23.1m) for the 24-year-old last weekend, was rejected.

Harwood-Bellis made his England debut in November 2024 against the Republic of Ireland, scoring in what remains his only international appearance to date.

The defender signed for Southampton in 2024, after the south coast club triggered the obligation to sign him from Manchester City following promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

A product of City’s academy, Harwood-Bellis previously had loan spells at Burnley, Blackburn Rovers, Stoke City and Anderlecht, and made eight first-team appearances in what was then Pep Guardiola’s side.

He made 48 appearances in all competitions last term, including featuring in 41 of the club’s 46 Championship games and both legs of the play-off semi-finals.

Harwood-Bellis has already made two appearances for Southampton this season, playing the entirety of both the 2-0 League Cup victory over Colchester United on August 8 and the 2-1 defeat to Watford in his side’s Championship opener on August 16.

Southampton are next in action against Stoke City on August 22 while Villa begin their 2026/27 Premier League campaign with a trip to the Amex to face Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.