Brooklyn, NY: The Connecticut Sun (18-5) head to Brooklyn to take on the New York Liberty (20-4) in their final game before the Olympic break on Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 PM ET at the Barclays Center. New York currently leads the 2024 series, 2-0, and have a six-game regular season win streak against Connecticut dating back to the beginning of the 2023 season. The game will air on NBC Sports Boston and stream live on Prime.
Storylines:
Last Time Out:
Last time out on Sunday afternoon, the Connecticut Sun defeated the Phoenix Mercury, 96-79, to pick up their 18th win of the season. Rachel Banham had a career-day, leading the Sun with a season-high 24 points, going 8-11 from behind the three-point line. Her eight three-point field goals set a new career-high, tied Shekinna Stricklen for most threes made in a game in franchise history and set a new WNBA record for most threes made in a game by a reserve. DiJonai Carrington added 12 points and 11 rebounds, notching the first double-double of her career.
Opponent History:
Connecticut is 48-47 all-time against New York during the regular season, including a 20-26 record on the road. The Sun will look for their first regular season win at Barclays center since May 17, 2022, where they defeated the Liberty, 92-65. New York enters Tuesday’s showdown winning eight of their last nine games and three straight. They have only dropped one home game thus far this season on May 23 to Chicago, 90-81. Head Coach Sandy Brondello is in her third season with New York.
Sun-Liberty Connections:
- Liberty center Jonquel Jones played six seasons with the Connecticut Sun (2016-2019, 2021-2022). During her time with the Sun, she was named WNBA MVP (2021), WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year (2018) and WNBA Most Improved Player (2017).
- Liberty guard Betnijah Laney-Hamilton played one season with the Connecticut Sun (2018).
- Sun guard Moriah Jefferson and Liberty forward Breanna Stewart played four seasons at the University of Connecticut, winning four consecutive NCAA National Championships (2012-2016).
- Sun forward Alyssa Thomas will suit up alongside the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu on the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
- Sun forward DeWanna Bonner and center Brionna Jones will suit up alongside the Liberty’s Jonquel Jones on Team WNBA in the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game.