Sun vs Mercury Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds and Picks
The Connecticut Sun look to extend their mastery in the series and record a fourth straight victory overall when they visit the struggling Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night.
The Sun are a strong favorite in the WNBA odds as they attempt to beat the Mercury for the seventh straight time. Connecticut is 8-2 on the road in 2023 and has won five straight games at Phoenix.
All-Stars DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas have led the Sun, who can match their season-best win streak of four after beating the Chicago Sky 84-72 last time out.
Phoenix is 3-6 on its home court and has the tools to turn its season around in the second half, with All-Stars Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi leading the way.
Connecticut is +2500 to win the WNBA title in the Las Vegas odds, while the Mercury is +40000.
Connecticut Sets Sights on East Title
The Sun is percentage points behind the first-place New York Liberty in the Eastern Conference, despite being without second-leading scorer Brionna Jones since June 20.
Jones, who was averaging 15.9 points and 8.2 rebounds, is out for the season with a torn Achilles tendon, and Connecticut is 5-2 in seven games without the former Maryland standout.
Bonner tops the Sun at 18.3 points per game after totaling 49 in the last two games and Thomas is scoring 15.1 per contest while averaging 9.7 rebounds (third in the league), 8.1 assists (second in the WNBA) and 2.0 steals (second in the WNBA).
Tiffany Hayes has stepped up lately, averaging 15.3 points across the past three games after matching her season high with 22 on July 12 versus Chicago.
The over is 13-7, according to WNBA lines, in Connecticut games this season and 5-1 in the past six.
ROSTER UPDATE: Connecticut Sun Sign Kristine Anigwe
🔗: https://t.co/9jZE1KTZba pic.twitter.com/RT8LCXxkK0
— Connecticut Sun PR (@CTSunPR) July 17, 2023
Mercury Hopes for Second-Half Revival
Phoenix snuck into the playoffs as the eighth seed last season and is 3 ½ games out of that spot at the All-Star break.
Griner (19.5 points, 6.6 rebounds), who dunked twice in last weekend’s All-Star Game, missed three games in the first half and Taurasi (14.7 points, 5.3 assists) was not available for four of them.
Only way to start the second half is with ANOTHER Brittney Griner dunk! pic.twitter.com/dh9Awkfdcx
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) July 16, 2023
Sophie Cunningham (10.8 points) has made just 3-of-19 from the field over the past three games, while Michaela Onyenwere (10.6 points) has scored at least 18 in three of the past four contests for the Mercury.
The over is 5-2 at the sportsbook in Phoenix’s last seven losses, but the under is 10-2-1 in its past 13 versus Eastern Conference teams.
Sun vs Mercury Head-to-Head
Connecticut was 3-0 against the Mercury last season, including a 92-88 triumph at Phoenix, as Jones scored 18 and Thomas recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists.
Taurasi had 32 points in that contest for Phoenix, which lost the two games at Connecticut last season by an average of 18.5 points.
This is the first of three meetings this season. The Mercury host the Sun on Aug. 10 and travel to Connecticut for the final matchup on Aug. 31.
The under is 8-1 in the last nine meetings at Phoenix if you are betting online. The Sun is 5-1 ATS in the past six matchups.
Sun vs Mercury Game Information
- Game: Sun (15-5) vs Mercury (4-15)
- Day/Time: Tuesday, July 18, 10 p.m. ET
- Location: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Ariz.
- Sun vs Mercury Live Stream: WNBA.com
Sun vs Mercury Betting Lines
Sun vs Mercury Picks and Prediction
If the Mercury are going to make a run, they have the first two games at home after the break to start one.
Phoenix hosts eighth-place Chicago on Thursday before going on the road for the next four where they are 1-9 on the season.
Thomas, Hayes and Bonner have been really sharp, though, and DiJonai Carrington is also averaging 14.9 points over her past six games for Connecticut.
The Sun should find a way to win this one, and there is enough offensive talent to make the over a good bet. But Phoenix may be worth a bet if the WNBA spreads stays at 8½ or more.
The Sun are listed at -390 in our Vegas WNBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on Connecticut Sun , you have a chance to win $26. The Mercury are +330, offering a chance to win $330 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives Sun a 79.59% chance to win, with Mercury at 23.26%.
