Boston, MA: The Connecticut Sun (19-7) host the Los Angeles Sparks (6-21) in a historic matchup on Tuesday, August 20 at 7:00 PM ET at the TD Garden. The Sun lead the 2024 regular season series with the Sparks, 1-0, winning their first matchup in Connecticut, 79-70, on June 18. The game will air on NBC Sports Boston and stream live on WNBA League Pass.
Storylines:
Last Time Out:
The Sun fell to the Dream on Sunday, 82-70, in Atlanta. With the loss, the Sun split the 2024 regular season series with the Dream, 2-2. It also marks the Sun’s first loss to the Dream in Atlanta since the 2019 season. Alyssa Thomas led Connecticut in scoring in the effort notching 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. After starting 24 games this season, Sun guard Ty Harris made her first appearance off the bench and added 12 points, one assist and two steals in the game. The team committed a season-high 28 personal fouls with Atlanta tallying 25 of their 82 points from the charity stripe.
Sold Out in Boston:
On August 16, the Connecticut Sun officially announced that the Boston game at TD Garden had sold out. This game will make history as the first WNBA game to be held at the storied TD Garden. The Sun’s 19,156 tickets sold marks the sixth sell out of the 2024 season, the third highest attendance to a WNBA game this season to date, and the largest number of tickets sold to a Connecticut Sun game in the franchise’s history.
Opponent History:
Connecticut is 28-28 all-time against Los Angeles during regular season action, with a 17-11 record at home. The Sun have won ten straight regular contests against the Sparks dating back to the 2020 season. Los Angeles enters Tuesday night’s game coming off an 87-71 loss to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday. Head Coach Curt Miller is currently in his season with the Sparks, after serving as the Sun’s Head Coach for seven seasons (2016-2022). He is 23-44 all-time with the Los Angeles, including 0-4 against Connecticut.
Sun-Sparks Connections:
- Sun guard Marina Mabrey was originally drafted 19th overall to the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2019 WNBA draft and played her rookie season in LA.
- Sun forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa was originally drafted 19th overall to the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2022 WNBA draft and played her rookie season in LA before being traded to the Sun prior to the 2023 season.
- Sparks guard Layshia Clarendon spent time with the Sun during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, while Sparks guard Odyssey Sims played with Connecticut during the 2022 season.
- Sun forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Sparks guard Crystal Dangerfield played together at the University of Connecticut for two season (2018-2020).
- Sun guard Ty Harris and Sparks guard Zia Cooke played together at the University of South Carolina for one season (2019-20).
- Connecticut Sun President Jen Rizzotti coached Sparks forward Dearica Hamby on the bronze medal winning USA Women’s 3×3 Team during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rizzotti has also coached Sparks forward Cameron Brink in USA 3×3 play.
- Sparks Head Coach Curt Miller served as the Connecticut Sun’s head coach for seven season (2016-2022). He led the team to two WNBA Finals appearances during his tenure in Connecticut (2019, 2022).