Connecticut Sun (21-12) at Los Angeles Sparks (25-8)
Staples Center
Sunday, September 3rd, 4:00 p.m. ET
Watch Live on League Pass
Last Game: The Connecticut Sun fell 86-66 to the Phoenix Mercury at Talking Stick Resort Arena on September 1st. The Los Angeles Sparks won 81-56 at home over the Atlanta Dream on September 1st.
Players to Watch: Connecticut – Jonquel Jones leads Connecticut this season in both scoring (15.5 ppg.) and rebounding (11.9 rpg.). She finished with five points and nine rebounds in Friday’s loss to Phoenix. Alyssa Thomas leads the Sun in assists (4.6 apg.), and is second in scoring (15.0 ppg.) and rebounding (6.8 rpg.). She had 19 points, six rebounds and two blocks against the Mercury. Jasmine Thomas ranks second on the team in assists (4.4 apg.) and third in scoring (14.3 ppg.). She added four points and five assists in the game.
Los Angeles – Nneka Ogwumike leads Los Angeles this season in scoring (18.8 ppg.) and is second in rebounding (7.8 rpg.). She finished with 13 points, six rebounds and three blocks in Friday’s win over Atlanta. Candace Parker leads the Sparks in rebounding (8.2 rpg.), and is second in both scoring (17.0 ppg.) and assists (4.3 apg.). She had 15 points, four rebounds and five assists against the dream. Chelsea Gray leads the team in assists (4.4 apg.) and ranks third on the team in scoring (14.9 ppg.). She added eight points, four rebounds and four assists in the game.
Noteworthy:
- Connecticut is 0-2 against Los Angeles this season.
- The Sun grabbed a season-high 16 offensive rebounds against the Sparks earlier this season (6/27).
- Parker recorded a season-high five blocks against the Sun (6/27).
- Connecticut leads the league in scoring average (86.5 points per game), is second in rebounds (36.85) and fifth in both field goal percentage (.450) and assists (17.94 per game).
- The Sun lead the league in assists per turnover ratio (1.45).
- Jones finished with five points and nine rebounds against the Mercury. She is now six rebounds away from surpassing Tina Charles for the WNBA’s all-time record for rebounds in a single season. Tina Charles holds the record with 398 rebounds during the 2010 season.
- Alyssa Thomas notched her 14th straight game in double-figure scoring (26th of the season) against Phoenix. She ranks fifth in the league in assists (4.6 apg.).
- Brionna Jones set career-highs with 13 points on five made field goals in Friday’s loss.
- Los Angeles leads the league in steals (9.24 per game), ranks second in field goal percentage (.478) and fourth in both scoring average (83.6 points per game) and assists (18.58 per game).
- The Sparks lead the league in steals per turnover ratio (0.70).
- Ogwumike is sixth in the WNBA in scoring (18.8 ppg.) and eighth in rebounding (7.8 rpg.).
- Parker ranks seventh in the league in rebounding (8.2 rpg.) and 10th in scoring (17.0 ppg.). She set the league-high with 17 defensive rebounds against San Antonio (7/28).
- Gray is sixth in the league in assists (4.4 apg.).
Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller:
On Brittney Griner’s performance:
“It’s great to see her back healthy. Obviously she was playing at an MVP type of level, certainly in that discussion and then went down with that injury. When Phoenix is good it’s good for the league and when you see Britney Griner play like she did tonight, while you don’t like it as an opposing coach, it is fantastic to see. There is no one like her in our league. She played fantastic tonight, we didn’t have an answer.”
Next Game: The Connecticut Sun will host a WNBA Playoffs second round elimination game at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, September 10th at 3:00 p.m. ET. Their opponent has yet to be determined. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit www.connecticutsun.com.