Sports

How to watch Valkyries vs. Sparks: TV channel and streaming options for August 9

Published

1 hour ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

Aug. 9, 2026 Updated 2:54 pm EDT

The Golden State Valkyries (22-9) will try to build on a three-game winning streak when they visit the Los Angeles Sparks (12-18) at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at Crypto.com Arena. The contest airs on ESPN and Disney+.

How to watch Golden State Valkyries vs. Los Angeles Sparks

Golden State vs. Los Angeles odds

Spread: Golden State -6.5 (-110), Los Angeles +6.5 (-110)
Favorite Moneyline: Golden State -250
Underdog Moneyline: Los Angeles +200
Total: 169.5
Total Over Odds: -115
Total Under Odds: -105

Injury reports

Valkyries

Cecilia Zandalasini: Questionable (Quadricep),

Iliana Rupert: Out For Season (Pregnancy)

Sparks

Monique Akoa Makani: Questionable (Ankle),

Rae Burrell: Probable (Leg)

Stats to know

The Valkyries put up 10.6 fewer points per game (83.3) than the Sparks give up (93.9).
Los Angeles averages 12.5 more points per game (89.6) than Golden State allow its opponents to score (77.1).
Veronica Burton posts 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 5.6 assists per contest, while shooting 42.5% from the field and 36.1% from beyond the arc with 1.4 made 3-pointers per game.
Dearica Hamby posts 15.2 points, 2.5 assists and 7.7 boards per contest.

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

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Aug 9, 2026

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms

Sports

San Diego Padres sign OF Austin Hays to a major-league deal

Published

5 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

Austin Hays takes an at-bat during a game against the Padres.

Austin Hays is a nine-year veteran and one-time All-Star. Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images

Aug. 9, 2026 Updated 3:41 pm EDT

In need of an offensive spark and veteran outfield experience, the San Diego Padres are signing Austin Hays to a major-league deal, a league source told The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal on Sunday. With Samad Taylor still on the IL, Ramón Laureano likely out for the year, and Jase Bowen struggling against big-league pitching, the Padres found themselves in need of a temporary solution.

After a solid season with the Cincinnati Reds last year, Hays signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Chicago White Sox this past offseason. But injuries have dogged the 31-year-old veteran all year long, limiting him to just 12 games (44 plate appearances). He was designated for assignment Wednesday and released Friday.

When he has been on the field this summer, Hays has struggled to perform. But when he’s healthy and at his best, Hays is a quality right-handed bat, particularly facing lefties. Last season, Hays had a 155 wRC+ against lefties, and for his career he’s at 123. Hays primarily plays left field now, but can also handle right field if needed.

Connections: Sports Edition Logo

Aug 9, 2026

Connections: Sports Edition

Spot the pattern. Connect the terms

Find the hidden link between sports terms

Sports

Livingstone and Brevis take apart Phoenix at Lord's

Published

12 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

A partnership of 103 between Liam Livingstone and Dewald Brevis, including some huge sixes, sees London Spirit coast to victory over Birmingham Phoenix.

Sports

Tour de France Femmes: Demi Vollering wins final stage to clinch second title

Published

19 minutes ago

August 9, 2026

qasimgillani

Demi Vollering showed her prowess on the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes to become the race’s first two-time winner.

The Dutch FDJ-Suez rider won the penultimate stage to snatch the leader’s yellow jersey from Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney and carry an eight-second lead into Sunday’s finale.

The fifth edition of the race culminated with a 99.2km mountain stage, beginning and ending in Nice, which featured four ascents of the Col d’Eze and totalled 2,100m of climbing.

Niewiadoma-Phinney’s British team-mate Zoe Backstedt pushed the pace in the early stages before former race leader Marlen Reusser crashed on the second descent of the Col d’Eze.

Reusser was third in general classification, 72 seconds behind Vollering, and although the Swiss rider could finish, she was unable to get back in contention.

That left previous race winners Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney to battle it out and, just as Vollering did on Saturday, she pulled clear of her Polish Canyon-SRAM rival just before cresting the final climb and stretched her lead on the descent.

The 29-year-old went on to finish more than a minute ahead of her rivals as she claimed her third stage win from nine in this year’s race.

“I’ve never won wearing the yellow jersey before,” said Vollering. “It’s not only the dream to win in yellow here, to win a second Tour de France, but it’s the dream to live this life, to work hard together with people with a lot of passion. I think that’s the whole dream. It’s incredible.”

Niewiadoma-Phinney felt Vollering’s team-mate Celia Gery delibrately blocked her during stage eight, so Vollering wanted to prove a point with Sunday’s emphatic victory.

“I went alone because I wanted to make it clear that we didn’t win because of an incident yesterday,” she added.

“That’s not what I believe, and I wanted to make it clear that we, as a team, deserve to win a beautiful Tour de France Femmes, with humility and pride.”

Vollering and Niewiadoma-Phinney, 31, kept up their record of being on the podium in every edition of the race, while Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini, 34, claimed her first top-three finish.