Series hasn’t been fair fight
The Connecticut Sun-Dallas Wings series has been one of the truly lopsided ones in the WNBA over the last few years. Connecticut had won eight games in a row before the Wings won at Mohegan Sun in late May. The Sun won the rematch two days later, making it 16 wins in the last 19 meetings with Dallas. Connecticut is 6-1 in its last seven road games against the Wings leading into Tuesday’s renewal of acquaintances.
Connecticut, 8-3 on the road this season, is 4-1 in its last five road games when favored. This is the first time in the last six home games that Dallas is the underdog at home.
There are milestones within reach for a pair of Connecticut’s stars. Jonquel Jones needs just 13 points to hit the 2,500-point mark in the regular season, while teammate DeWanna Bonner needs 17 points to reach 6,000.
Connecticut is 4-2 in its last six road games, while at home, Dallas fell in its last two.
Connecticut (+425) has fallen to fourth in the odds to win the WNBA championship, according to the WNBA playoff odds. The odds for Dallas are +8000. Bet online.
Backcourt work in progress for Sun
The loss of veteran point guard Jasmine Thomas due to a season-ending injured knee has the other perimeter players needing to make some adjustments.
Natisha Hiedeman went from a player who might play 15-18 minutes a night to someone averaging nearly 35 minutes per game in her last four. Hiedeman averaged 14 points and four assists in the two games against Dallas earlier in the season, and is coming off a 14-point effort in the win over Washington. She did help Connecticut erase a 17-point, second-half deficit en route to the victory in overtime. Connecticut will look to carry that momentum into Tuesday’s game.
The Connecticut Sun complete the 17-point comeback to win in OT‼️
The second-largest comeback this season ☀️ pic.twitter.com/ByyWlA3luC
— ESPN (@espn) July 3, 2022
Courtney Williams figured to rebuild the on-court chemistry with Thomas that she had when playing in Connecticut from 2016-19. Instead, there’s some adjusting to be done not thaw Thomas has been sidelined.
Williams had a stretch earlier in the season when she scored in double figures six times in a span of seven games. for the Sun. Included was an 11-point effort against Dallas. Then, less than 10 points six times in a seven-game span before now trending in the other direction. Williams is averaging 13.5 points over the last four games, shooting 48.1% during that stretch.
Five of the Sun’s last six games have finished under the Las Vegas odds total.
Gray is finding way for Wings
Playing on a team with Arike Ogunbowale, it’s not hard to be overshadowed. However, veteran Allisha Gray continues to be a reliable offensive contributor for the Wings.
Gray’s been held in single digits just twice in 19 games this season. Even while Dallas, having lost its last three, has struggled to put together results thus far, Gray’s been such a consistent player on the Wings,
She is averaging 14 points per game over the last four. The last time out, she had 10 points with just four field-goal attempts.
She’s had at least two 3-pointers in each of her last eight. Gray is shooting 43.4% from 3-point range during that stretch. Among those with at least 40 3-point attempts since June 5, only Seattle’s Sue Bird and New York’s Marine Johannes have better marks from the distance.
Something to consider for those who bet online, Dallas has failed to cover in four of its last five.
Sun vs Wings Game Information
- Game: Sun 13-6 (6-4 on the road); Wings 9-12 (4-7 at home)
- Location: College Park Center, Dallas, TX
- Day/Time: Tuesday July 5, 8:00 p.m. ET
- Sun vs Wings LiveStream: NBA Game Pass
Sun vs Wings Betting Lines
| Team | Handicap | Moneyline | Total | Team Total |
| Connecticut Sun | -6 -110 | -240 | 165-110o | 85½-115o
85½-115u |
| Dallas Wings | +6 -110 | +200 | 165-110u | 79½-115o
79½-115u |
Sun vs Wings Prediction
Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones is averaging 19.3 and 8.5 rebounds, shooting 53.2% from the field, 41.4% from 3-point range and 81.5% from the foul line. Dallas should have Satou Sabally back for the game, playing just 16 minutes in the loss to Los Angeles. It was her first game in nearly three weeks.
Connecticut is leading the WNBA with an average of 8.9 steals per game.
Connecticut and Dallas rank first and third, respectively, in the league in free throws attempted per game. They are also second and third in offensive rebounds per contest. Dallas is ninth in the WNBA in defensive rating at home, while Connecticut has the second-best defensive rating when playing on the road.
The last two games between the teams went over the total after the previous five in the series went under the total. The total is at 165 so this is not expected to be a defensive struggle.
Take the visiting Sun to continue their mastery against the Wings.
