Connecticut’s Defense Will Keep The Sparks In Check
Sparks vs Sun WNBA Odds: The Sparks Lack All-Star Caliber Players
The Los Angeles Sparks will visit the Connecticut Sun, looking to be only the second team to knock off the Sun this season.
The Sun is currently 12-1, led by DeWanna Bonner. She’s added 17.6 points per game and has also earned six rebounds and 1.9 assists a game. She’s one of five players on the Sun who are averaging double-digits in points.
Meanwhile, the Sparks are led by Dearica Hamby. She’s scored a team-high 19 points and just got an extension through the 2025 season. Hamby is currently averaging a double-double with 11.1 rebounds per game. However, unlike the Sun, the Sparks only have two players in double figures.
It’s one of the many reasons the Sparks are 4-10 and the Sun are 12-1.
Therefore, at this time, the Sun is a 12.5-point favorite with a total of 155.5. However, the Under is currently juiced to -115.
Let’s break down the Sparks vs Sun WNBA odds for the first of two WNBA games tonight.
🏀 Sparks vs Sun 🏀
📊Records: Los Angeles Sparks (4-10), Connecticut Sun (12-1)
📍Location: Uncasville, CT
⏰Day/Time: 📺Streaming: NBA TV
Sparks vs Sun WNBA Odds & Betting Trends
The Connecticut Sun are 10-0 in the last ten matchups against the Los Angeles Sparks. More importantly, the Sun are 9-1 against the spread and have covered the previous eight meetings against the Sparks.
Meanwhile, Connecticut has also covered their last three games and is now 7-6 against the spread this season. The Sparks are only 5-8-1 against the spread and have been much more inconsistent.
Also, six of the last ten head-to-head meetings have gone under the total after looking at these WNBA scores. However, the most recent game, on September 5, 2023, went over 152 after Connecticut scored 90 points in a 90-76 win.
Not A Good Road Trip
The Los Angeles Sparks began their road trip on June 11 with a matchup against the Seattle Storm. The Sparks lost that one, 95-79, and traveled to Minnesota for another road contest.
Los Angeles also lost that one, 81-76, and is, again, heading back on the road to take on the Connecticut Sun.
The Sparks are just 1-6 on the road and are highly likely to fall to 1-7 after this matchup against the Sun. This is one reason they’re near the bottom of the WNBA standings.
Is DiJonai Carrington The Defensive Player of The Year?
DiJonai Carrington is in her fourth season in the WNBA with the Connecticut Sun. The former Stanford alum is one reason the Sun leads all teams in defensive rating, among other categories like fastbreak points and points off turnovers.
The buzz is already out there after she kept Caitlin Clark in check. She’s always tasked with guarding the best player and has done a phenomenal job this season.
Keep that in mind when making your next WNBA picks.
Do the Sparks Have a Chance?
The Connecticut Sun aren’t the highest-scoring team despite their 12-1 record. Instead, they’ve scored just 81.1 points per game, which is 6th-best in the league.
It’s really the defense that has done the talking for the Sun. Connecticut has held teams to 1.02 points per scoring attempt and has allowed just .83 points per play. Opponents have shot just 28.6% from downtown against Connecticut and have only shot 42.1% from the field.
They’re playing elite defense and will now face a Sparks squad that ranks 10th in points per game this season.
The Sparks have only added 77.6 points per game and earned net points of -6.4, which is 11th in the WNBA.
In addition, Los Angeles has scored just 92.2 points per 100 possessions, the worst rate in the WNBA, and added a -10.7 margin per 100 possessions, the worst rate in the WNBA.
How will one of the worst offenses find their groove against one of the best defenses, especially on the road?
It’ll be tough.
The Sparks’ only offensive strength is getting to the foul line. They’ve been there 17.9% of possessions and have scored 20.7% of their points from the foul line.
However, the Sparks have only hit 77.6% from the foul line, which ranks 9th in the WNBA. So even when the Sparks get to the foul line, they don’t execute and make their shots.
On defense, the Sparks have allowed opponents to hit 35.4% from downtown and have allowed a 49.6% effective field goal percentage. Again, these numbers are below average in the WNBA.
Additionally, the Sparks are 9th in offensive rebounds per game and are just 6th in total rebounds per game, despite having a player who has added more than 11 rebounds per game this season. They’ve also dropped from being first in the WNBA in steals last season to 9th this year.
Therefore, the Sparks vs Sun WNBA odds are warranted. Back Connecticut at home against the spread at -12.5 (-110) for tonight’s showdown.
For WNBA betting news, odds analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.
