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The series will be a close one
Tonight, is game three of the WNBA Semifinals between the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun. Best of five games, New York clutched a game two 84-77 victory over Connecticut. Favored by -9.5, New York made adjustments on offense, and defensively to zone coverage.
After the win, Liberty forward Jonquel Jones describe the game as a "do or die situation," With Breanna Stewart winning the MVP hours before tip, the Liberty knew it would be a special night, backed by fans. In a fairly close game, New York stepped up their game play in the second half, and attacked inside the basket. Sabrina Ionescu finished with 21 points, one block, one steal, and five assists. Her ten free throws attempted and made were a playoff career high. Betnijah Laney, held to just three points in game one, was a crucial factor on both ends of the court. Laney finished on 5-7 three point shooting with 20 points.
For the Connecticut Sun, Natisha Hiedeman was limited to just 14 minutes due to an undisclosed illness. Rebecca Allen, a vital factor in game one, was held to 20 minutes due to personal fouls. In their absence, Tiffany Hayes finished with a game high 30 points, and DeWanna Bonner with 19. Alyssa Thomas, who had an incredible season, finished just 2-13 from the field and ten points.
In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET, at Mohegan Sun Arena, located in Uncasville, Connecticut. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN2. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.
WNBA Odds Game 3: New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun
WNBA Semifinals Series Odds: New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun
New York Liberty -3.5 (-115)
The New York Liberty didn't have a great first game, and were far from perfect in game two. New York limited the shots of Alyssa Thomas, despite a 30 point performance from Tiffany Hayes. Once down by 12 points, New York made the adjustments, especially with zone defense. A deadly three-point shooting team, New York adapted their offensive scheme based off pressure on the perimeter.
Jonquel Jones has been a crucial x-factor in the sense of setting the tempo in the first two games. Often held in the second half, Jones is excellent in using her size and strength down low. Last matchup, we saw Jones have several inside buckets over DeWanna Bonner. No. 35 had nine points in the first half, finishing with a double-double by the end of regulation.
New York swept Connecticut 4-0 in the regular season series
For Connecticut, they will have home court advantage the next two matchups. With a 4-0 regular season sweep, New York is no stranger to their home arena. With the Liberty experimenting with zone and man defense, they must find a way to cover DeWanna Bonner on the wide open perimeter.
The New York Liberty are coming off three days of rest, in which they had a record of 2-0 in the regular season. On those days rest, New York averaged 92 points per game, 43.5 rebounds, and 24 assists. In the playoffs, the Liberty are 1-0 with three days rest, in which they average 90 points a game and 41 rebounds.
Why New York will cover the spread
New York has improved their play in the third quarter, which has been their downfall this postseason. In game one, the Liberty were limited to zero fast break points, and were out rebounded by the Sun. Prior to Tuesday's game, Jonquel Jones briefly talked about the preparation for game two, and their adjustments. "The preparation, it was just humbling in a lot of areas because we watched the film. The film doesn't like obviously, " said Jones. " [Connecticut] exposed us in a lot of ways, and ultimately just watching the game, us as a team, we just saw that we didn't play the style of basketball that we played all year."
New York was able to outscore Connecticut 46-35 in the second half and made adjustments as a team. If Betnijah Laney can get some looks on both sides of the ball, that will be imperative for New York. Several New York players have expressed their urgency to "punch first" while playing at their own pace and style. With Breanna Stewart winning the MVP, it's hard to fade New York here, who's headed into Connecticut with all that momentum.
The Connecticut Sun and New York Liberty are two elite teams
The Connecticut Sun covered the spread in three of the four regular season matchups. Tonight, the spread is lesser at +/- 3.5. New York's 95-90 overtime win was the smallest spread these two teams have seen all season.
Overall, the Connecticut Sun and the New York Liberty are two elite teams. For me, it comes down to momentum, coaching, and experience. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner are incredible athletes, who are surrounded by a defensive juggernaut team. New York is harder to guard on both the weak and strong side of the ball, as well as the interior. If they continue to make adjustments and not force shots, New York has the upper hand in terms of talent and strength. Tonight will be either a blow out or an extremely close game. I will take my chances on New York to cover the -3.5 spread tonight.
Sabrina Ionescu O 20.5 Points and Assists (-137)
Sab lit it up in game 2
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023pic.twitter.com/MQ3WxBBY63
Season Stats: PPG: 17 | FG: 42.3 % | 3 PT: 44.8 % | FT: 87.2 % | REB: 5.6 | AST: 5.4 |STL: 1 | BLK:
Playoff Stats: PPG: 18.3 | FG: 41.8 % | 3 PT: 42.4 % | FT: 86.7 % | REB: 4.8 | AST: 3.3 |STL: 1
Season Stats vs CT: PPG: 16.5 | FG: 34.5 % | 3 PT: 35.7 % | FT: 100 % | REB: 2 | AST: 3 | STL: 0.5
Sabrina Ionescu may not have won MVP, however, she's been a constant force for the Liberty all season and into the playoffs. In the postseason, Ionescu is averaging over 18 points a game. One of the bright spots on this struggling offense, No. 20 is shooting over 42 percent from long range this postseason.
In two games against Connecticut in the Semifinals, the Liberty guard is averaging over 16 points and two assists per game. 1-6 from the three, Ionescu has learned how to adapt to the opposing defenses. Driving to the basket and drawing the fouls will be the key for the next matchup. After all, Ionescu made a playoff career high ten free-throw shots on Tuesday.
Why this prop will hit
If you're betting on this prop, Sabrina Ionescu hit over 20.5 points and assists seven of the last ten games, and three of the last five. Time after time, No. 20 has stated she thrives in pressure situations. Look for the Liberty guard to fight around screens, drive to the basketball, and find off ball opportunities. In their 95-90 win over the Sun in overtime, Ionescu finished with 18 points, four assists, on 2-7 three-point shooting. With Bonner matched up with Jones, and Thomas on Stewart, I fully expect Sabrina Ionescu to take charge in some form on Friday.
Season Statistics & Betting Trends
New York Liberty
- New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
- 8-2 in their last 10 games.
- ATS Record: 19-21-0
- O/U Record: 23-17-0
- 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
- O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
- O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
- 2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
- 4th in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (104.5)
- 3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
- 4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (100)
- 2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
- 5th in Pace: 96.56
- Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 30.9 % (6th)
- Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
- Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 37.8 (3rd)
- New York ATS won last 10 games: Phoenix (-12.5), Minnesota (-9), Las Vegas (-2), Connecticut (-7.5), Chicago (-9), Washington (-9.5).
Game 2. What a day, what a day.
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 28, 2023#SEAFOAMSZN pic.twitter.com/bZUDTwXVf1
Connecticut Sun
- CT Sun: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
- 6-4 in their last 10 games.
- ATS Record: 21-17-2
- O/U Record: 22-18-0
- 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
- O/U is 2-3 in the last 5 games.
- O/U: 5-5 in the last 10 games.
- 4th in Offensive Rating (103.2)
- 2nd in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (109)
- 2nd in Defensive Rating (98.8)
- 2nd in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (97.1)
- 4th in Points Per Game (82.7)
- 10th in Pace: 95.14
- Opponent Points Per Game: 79 (1st)
- Three-Point Percentage: 36% (4th)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 41.9 % (2nd)
- Rebounds Per Game: 33.4 (6th)
- Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 34 (6th)
- Connecticut ATS won last 10 games: Chicago (-5.5), New York (+6), LA (-6.5, -10.5), Indiana (-10), Minnesota (-8.5, -5.5), New York (+8.5, +9.5).
The @ConnecticutSun get their first win vs. the Liberty this season to take Game 1
— ESPN (@espn) September 24, 2023#WNBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/4eR5L0lgQn
Head-to-head stats: Liberty vs. Sun
Season Matchups:
Game 1: New York 81, Connecticut 65 (New York -6.5, under 164.5)
Game 2: New York 89, Connecticut 81 (New York -4.5, over 168.5)
Game 3: New York 95, Connecticut 90 OT (Connecticut +6, over 166.5)
Game 4: New York 89, Connecticut 58 (New York +7.5, under 160)
Playoffs
Game 1: Connecticut 78, New York 63 (Connecticut +85, under 163)
Game 2: New York 84, Connecticut 77, (Connecticut +9.5, over 158)
- Connecticut won the regular season series 4-0
- The Liberty were 3-1 ATS vs. the Sun this season.
- Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups: 154
- New York average points last 10 games: 87
- Connecticut average points last 10 games: 81
The fight was ON
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023See y’all in CT Friday!
LIBS WIN
Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles. Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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Hours before tip off, the league learned about Breanna Stewart winning the league MVP. In an emotional day, the Liberty knew what was at stake. Down 0-1, New York responded with resilience and determination. Once down by 12 points, the Liberty managed to change their game play and adapt to Connecticut's defensive strategy.
RELATED: Breanna Stewart wins the WNBA MVP
Prior to the start of the matchup, Breanna Stewart commented on juggling the MVP news along with preparing for a significant matchup. Despite winning the award, Stewart make it clear she was locked in for game two.
"Yeah, it's a juggling act today, " Stewart told the press. "[I am] happy to have my family here, but the moment I step off this podium, it's time to lock in for the game." "I expect to respond really well. Connecticut played well on Sunday, and we're ready to bounce back tonight. It comes down to the way we play-- we want to be the aggressors, we want to play fast."
Despite an early lead, Connecticut went on a 13-2 run in the first quarter. Tiffany Hayes, who finished with a team high 30 points, scored 12 in the first quarter. The Sun held the Liberty to 16.7 percent from the three-point, in which Breanna Stewart and Alyssa Thomas were held scoreless. Similar to game one, New York created four turnovers, in which Connecticut scored six unanswered points.
Jonquel Jones sets the tone early
WE SEE YOU 3⃣5⃣ @jus242 leading the Libs with 11 PTS | 9 REB pic.twitter.com/zNiHIQgZ3M
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023
Heading into this series, coach Sandy Brondello learned to adapt her teams strategy outside the three point shot. Jonquel Jones, acquired in the offseason in a three-team trade, has been vital for New York on both sides of the ball. In a must win victory over Washington in the first round, Jones used her size in the paint, when the shots weren't falling. Similarly, the Liberty looked for Jones to utilize her strength and use the mismatches in the post. In the first ten minutes, No. 35 had nine points and three rebounds. Much like the first matchup, Jones was limited to zero points in the second half. The Liberty forward was an integral part of the defense, especially in her matchups with Bonner and Thomas. Jones finished with another double-double, 11 points and 13 rebounds.
In Tuesday's victory, the crowd at the Barclays Center was electric and paramount to the team's success.
"For us, it kind of felt like a do or die situation," said Jones. "We allowed them to come in and you know, basically win on our home court obviously. We felt like we needed to give the fans something to cheer about. "
The Liberty adapted their offensive game plan
It's no secret the New York Liberty have struggled shooting the deep ball in the playoffs. Similar to game one, the Liberty found themselves down by twelve points in the second quarter. Determined to secure a win, New York changed their game plan 7:37 minutes before halftime. Betnijah Laney played stiffling defense on Bonner, in addition to hitting her first shots of the game. Sabrina Ionescu, finished with 21 points, one block, one steal, five assists, and two rebounds. 1-5 from long range, Ionescu, continously attacked the rim, drawing fouls on multiple defenders. By halftime, Ty Harris and Rebecca Allen tallied two personal fouls each. Ionescu, 25, had a playoff high of ten free throw attempts made by the end of regulation. The Liberty, a 87.3 percent free-throw shooting team, shot 16-16 from the line Tuesday night.
Sab lit it up in game 2
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023
Ionescu admits that being a three-point threat can be used to her advantage at times, even when the shots aren't falling. Post game, the guard emphasized the importance of applying pressure to Connecticut's defense by attacking inside the paint. Rebecca Allen, a vital player for the Sun in game one, tallied five personal fouls. Instead of forcing tough shots, New York was excellent on finding patience, and attacking in the right areas.
By the end of regulation, New York outscored Connecticut 32-24 in the paint, which was improbable considering the Sun are the top team against paint points in the playoffs. With zone defense, the Liberty were able to capitalize on the rebounds, along with fast break points. With created turnovers, New York was able to score 11 points, and had effective offense in transition post second half.
"Getting into the paint either to score at the rim or getting to the foul line, " Ionescu commented post game. "For me, it was continuing to read and how they are gonna play me, but not settling. Not settling for jump shots, and understanding what I'm able to do if I'm you know, getting on two feet into the paint and being strong with the ball."
The Liberty heat up in the third quarter
In game one, New York was outscored 28-15 in the third quarter. Down four point at the half, the Liberty executed on their pregame plan. They came out punching first, and were dialed in. The momentum quickly shifted after a Jonquel Jones rebound, which led to a layin by Courtney Vandersloot. With Alyssa Thomas creating a turnover, Betnijah Laney set the tone early with a three-point shot. From there, the home crowd went into a frenzy with a 43-42 Liberty lead.
BIG B AND THE B STANDS FOR BANDS CAUSE THAT WAS MON3YYY
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023@BetnijahLaney pic.twitter.com/JyXyiRKiPM
Poised to defeat the Sun, Sandy Brondello's team played New York basketball. In collaboration, New York shot over 42 percent from the three, and 47 percent from the field in that third quarter. With DeWanna Bonner and Tiffany Hayes having honorable performances, New York switched to zone defense, which doesn't happen often.
"We knew we had to win on our home court," Brondello told the media post game. "You could see a very connected team today. We went to the zone, but there's still a lot of communication. The zone was effective for us tonight, but we didn't want to lose. We weren't happy with our last game." That was a big thing for us because we haven't been coming out really strong in that third quarter."
With the effective zone scheme on defense, New York held Connecticut to just 25 percent field goal shooting in the third quarter. Both Tiffany Hayes and DeWanner Bonner were held to four points each. MVP candidate Alyssa Thomas finished with 10 points, on just 2-13 shooting.
Betnijah Laney is the ultimate X-Factor
Betnijah Laney has been a crucial member on both sides of the ball all season long, despite the volume of talent that surrounds her. No. 44 was held to just three points in New York's game one casualty against Connecticut. Often times, Laney is the one to set the tone, which creates momentum and opportunities for her teammates.
Named All-Defensive Second team, Laney is often matched up with some of the leagues most elite. Defending Bonner most of the night, Betnijah was able to defend both the perimeter and Alyssa Thomas on the inside. With Hayes having a impactful night, Laney had some defensive matchups on No. 15.
WE LOVE THIS SONG
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023pic.twitter.com/X4CZcYTMjm
Offensively, Laney was able to get some open looks, in addition to fast break opportunities. She finished with 20 points, one steal, three assists, and four rebounds. In 37 minutes, No. 44 shot 5-7 from long range, and 7-11 from the field. Her toughness and resiliency is a crucial part of this team, in which she contributes in various ways the box score doesn't always show.
In a tight 75-70 game, the crowd erupted after Laney banked a three-point shot in transition from Sabrina Ionescu. After DeWanna Bonners four point play, Benijah sunk another three point, extending the the lead 80-70.
"It says a lot of B [Laney], its all about winning," said Brondello. " I think she's improved her three point shooting, and she loves the moment. B [Laney] has been great for us. She scores in multiple ways."
Coach Sandy Brondello expressed how proud she was of Laney, especially embracing a role amongst a talented roster.
Stew York City
Often the MVP is not the player who scores the most every night. On Tuesday evening, Breanna Stewart finished with just 11 points. Her contributions on defense were immense, and set up the Liberty for offensive opportunities. In 39 minutes, the MVP finished with 11 points, five blocks, two steals, five assists and 11 rebounds. Towards the end of the matchup, she found her stride with a three-pointer pick and pop with Courtney Vandersloot.
Things we love to see: IT
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023
With four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Breanna Stewart had a monumental block on Olivia Nelson-Ododa, in which you could feel the energy from fans in Brooklyn. Stewart also had critical blocks over Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner.
MVP WITH THE REJECTION
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 27, 2023pic.twitter.com/FtRWaeICHk
Breanna Stewart continues to make history. Her five blocks is a postseason single-game franchise record.
"We wanted to win for Stewie [Stewart], we wanted to win for ourselves. I think it was the hardest for [Stewart] because that's a big day--- handling all the emotions and all the interviews. She [Breanna Stewart] came out and she competed. It wasn't about scoring here, but just her effort and her leadership, and her overall just running and doing the little things well certainly helped us get the W," said Brondello.
In combination of zone defensive, it was a collaborative effort on offense for New York. All five starters were positive +/- on the floor, and each had points in double figures. Not rushing shots, New York had fluid ball movement, and efficient floor spacing.
The New York Liberty (1-1) will face the Connecticut Sun (1-1) on the road for game three of the Semifinals on Friday, Sept. 28. The best of five games, game three will certainly be a tone setter with the next two matchups on the road.
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]]>The @ConnecticutSun get their first win vs. the Liberty this season to take Game 1
— ESPN (@espn) September 24, 2023
Tomorrow is game two of the WNBA semifinals between the New York Liberty (0-1, 0-1 Home) and the Connecticut Sun (1-0, 1-0 Away). Best of five games, the Liberty will have another home matchup. With New York favored by six, the Connecticut Sun utilized their defense, in which they defeated New York 78-63 in game one. With coach Sandy Brondello calling the loss "the worst game of the year," the Liberty were held to a season low 63 points.
In Rebecca Allen's return to New York, No. 9 scored 18 points, and 4-6 from downtown. For Connecticut, DeWanna Bonner had a team high 20 points, three blocks, one steal, and seven rebounds. A collective team effort on both ends of the floor, the Sun had 7 blocks and steals as a unit, and forced New York to turnover the ball 14 times. The Sun, led by Stephanie White, limited the Liberty to zero fast break points, and four points in the paint throughout the second half of the matchup.
The Liberty struggled in Game One
For New York, all five starters finished negative +/- on the court, in which their offense was stale and stagnant the entire night. With no sense of flow or consistency, Breanna Stewart was held to 7-25 field goal shooting, in which she missed all eight three-point shots. Jonquel Jones was limited to four second half inside points, and Courtney Vandersloot with seven. Sabrina Ionescu finished 50 percent from the three, however, was bottled up a majority of the night, and didn't score inside the perimeter. Betnijah Laney, had 19 points, two steals, and two blocks in their last victory against Connecticut. On Sunday, Laney was held to three points. Overall, the Connecticut Sun found their rhythm offensively, created stops defensively, and the New York Liberty looked unrecognizable.
In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 8 p.m. ET, at the Barclays Center, located in Brooklyn, New York. If you're betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on ESPN. For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.
WNBA Odds Game 2: New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun
WNBA Semifinals Series Odds: New York Liberty vs. Connecticut Sun
New York Liberty -8.5 (-114)
Game two should be a classic bounce back performance for the New York Liberty. In front of a sellout crowd of 9,442, the New York Liberty were held to a season low 63 points. In the loss, New York's offense looked unrecognizable, as they finished the night shooting under 35 percent from the field. All five starters struggled offensively, including Breanna Stewart and Betnijah Laney. With the best of five series, this is a must win for New York, who will need to utilize home court advantage, before heading to Connecticut on Friday. With the playoffs, it starts off at 0-0, and its often hard to gauge the outcomes this time of the year. I will utilize last night's matchup, in the addition to the four regular season games to formulate my best bets for Tuesday.
Connecticut made sure to shut down New York's production inside the paint by Jonquel Jones second half of the game. For the first half of the matchup, we saw Jones utilize her size and strength inside, in which No. 35 finished with 10 points. New York has gone cold from three-point shooting, especially the last two games. Breanna Stewart, an MVP candidate, finished 0-8 from the field, Betnijah Laney, 1-9, and Sabrina Ionescu 4-14 from the field. Through four playoff games, Connecticut remains second in defensive rating (94), and leads in opponent points per game (70). Even with Connecticut playing tough defense, it's hard to envision New York reliving their underwhelming offensive performance.
Why New York will cover
New York still ranks fourth in offensive rating (103) in four playoff games, and fourth in defensive rating (100). In multiple regular season games, the Liberty were 3-1 against the spread against Connecticut. In the meetings, the Liberty averaged 88.5 points, 40 rebounds, and 23.3 assists in four victories. Additionally, they shot 48.4 percent from the field, and 34.7 percent from the field. It's extremely hard to envision this offense limited again, which consists of multiple former MVPs, Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. New York has the stardom with Sabrina Ionescu, Courtney Vandersloot, and Betnijah Laney in the backcourt.
In four playoff matchups, the New York liberty are 2-2 against the spread, and the Connecticut Sun 3-1. For a team that ranks second in perimeter defense this post season, expect New York to tightly guard DeWanna Bonner, in addition to Ty Harris, Rebecca Allen, and Natisha Hiedeman.
Jonquel Jones to record a double-double (-105)
BIG tripl3 from @jus242
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) September 24, 2023pic.twitter.com/mYwKybTKsn
Season Stats: PPG: 11.3 | FG: 52.7 % | 3 PT: 35.2 % | FT: 86.3 % | REB: 8.4 | AST: 1.8 |STL: 0.6 | BLK: 1.3
Playoff Stats: PPG: 17.7 | FG: 62.1 % | 3 PT: 14.3 % | FT: 80 % | REB: 12.3 | AST: 2 |STL:0.7 | BLK: 2.3
Season Stats vs CT: PPG: 13 | FG: 50 % | 3 PT: 25 % | FT: 88.9 % | REB: 8.8 | AST: 8 | STL: 0.5 | BLK: 2.3
If there's any prop bet, I'm confident in, it's Jonquel Jones. Although the Connecticut Sun limited her looks in the second half, Jones had several inside buckets, including ten first half points. No. 35 has significant size and strength advantage against Connecticut. The biggest threat to Jones besides Bonner will be Olivia Nelson Ododa, who finished with one block and two steals last matchup.
In New York's game two win against Washington, the Liberty relied heavily on Jones, including putting her at the point. Last game, there was some success with the pick and roll between Jones and Breanna Stewart. Although the Sun are the best team in the playoffs in terms of opponent points in the paint (28.5), I would expect Jones to utilize her size, and draw fouls early on. In the postseason, Jones has shown how crucial she is to this New York team, especially when the outside shots aren't falling. The Liberty forward is averaging over 17 points and 12 assists in the past three games. With Connecticut as one of the top defensive teams, look for the offense to flow through Jonquel Jones.
Why this prop will hit
Jones is coming off three straight double-doubles, including two against Washington. In four regular season matchups, Jones hit this prop 50 percent against the Sun, and twelve games, including the Commissioners Cup victory over Las Vegas. One of the only bright spots for the Liberty in game one, expect Jones to be highly involved Tuesday night.
Season Statistics & Betting Trends
New York Liberty
- New York Liberty: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
- 8-2 in their last 10 games.
- ATS Record: 19-21-0
- O/U Record: 23-17-0
- 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 5-5 ATS in their last 10 games.
- O/U is 4-1 in the last 5 games.
- O/U: 7-3 in the last 10 games.
- 2nd in Offensive Rating (109.6)
- 4th in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (103)
- 3rd in Defensive Rating (99.4)
- 4th in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (100)
- 2nd in Points Per Game (89.2)
- 5th in Pace: 96.56
- Opponent Points Per Game: 80.6 (4th)
- Three-Point Percentage: 37.4 (1st)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 28.6 % (6th)
- Rebounds Per Game: 37.9 (2nd)
- Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 38 (T2)
- New York ATS won last 10 games: Phoenix (-12.5), Minnesota (-9), Las Vegas (-2), Connecticut (-7.5), Chicago (-9), Washington (-9.5)
Connecticut Sun
- CT Sun: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
- 7-3 in their last 10 games.
- ATS Record: 21-17-2
- O/U Record: 22-18-0
- 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games.
- O/U is 2-3 in the last 5 games.
- O/U: 4-6 in the last 10 games.
- 4th in Offensive Rating (103.2)
- 2nd in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (111.4)
- 2nd in Defensive Rating (98.8)
- 2nd in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (94)
- 4th in Points Per Game (82.7)
- 10th in Pace: 95.14
- Opponent Points Per Game: 79 (1st)
- Three-Point Percentage: 36% (4th)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs: 42.6 % (1st)
- Rebounds Per Game: 33.6 (8th)
- Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 34 (6th)
- Connecticut ATS won last 10 games: Chicago (-5.5), New York (+6), LA (-6.5, -10.5), Indiana (-10), Minnesota (-8.5, -5.5), New York (+8.5)
SUNDAY FUNDAY!#CTSun | #ForgedByFire
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 24, 2023
Head-to-head stats: Liberty vs. Sun
Season Matchups:
Game 1: New York 81, Connecticut 65 (New York -6.5, under 164.5)
Game 2: New York 89, Connecticut 81 (New York -4.5, over 168.5)
Game 3: New York 95, Connecticut 90 OT (Connecticut +6, over 166.5)
Game 4: New York 89, Connecticut 58 (New York +7.5, under 160)
Playoffs
Game 1: Connecticut 78, New York 63 (Connecticut +85, under 163)
- Connecticut won the regular season series 4-0
- The Liberty were 3-1 ATS vs. the Sun this season.
- Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups: 154
- New York average points last 10 games: 90
- Connecticut average points last 10 games: 82
The @connecticutsun secure the 15-PT win to go up 1-0 in the Semi-Finals series vs. the New York Liberty
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023
2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/ZvQtfdMAhI
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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"What we did in the [pre] season doesn't matter," Sabrina Ionescu told reporters. "Now it's zero-zero, and we have to make sure that, you know, we take that into consideration-- It's anyone's game and we have to go out there and take it, it's not going to be handed to us." "We know how Connecticut is going to play, and obviously they're going to take it to another level, and so we have to as well," Ionescu told reporters pregame.
New York Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello described game one as the "worst game of the season." "We [The Liberty] will be better next game. I'm 100 percent sure of that. We've got great players, and we will have to respond in the right way. It's a great challenge for us," Brondello told the media post-game.
Despite sweeping the Sun, the Liberty were held to a season low 63 points, on 33.8 percent field goal and 29.6 three-point percentage. Contrary to their dominant performance in the paint against the Washington Mystics, they were outrebounded by the Sun 35-30, and were held to 22 points in the paint. With the presence on of Jonquel Jones, the Liberty were held to just four points down low in the second half.
Rebecca Allen impresses against her former team
A signature @becallen8 reverse lay to get us going.#CTSun | #ForgedByFire
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 24, 2023
After a 25-21 first quarter lead, the Liberty commanded a 40-37 halftime edge over the Sun. Despite keeping the score adjacent, New York fell completely fell apart in the second half. It was at this time where the Connecticut Sun "took their game to another level." Despite losing Jonquel Jones in the offseason, and Brionna Jones to injury, Connecticut found a way to break through the Liberty. Rebecca Allen, in her first WNBA semifinals, had her best playoff game of her career, with 18 points, two blocks, two steals, seven rebounds. The former Liberty forward shot 77.8 percent from the field, and 66.7 percent from the three-point line. The Sun, with who had a top defense all year, certainly did not disappoint in game one.
The Sun set the tone after their 11-3 run in the first quarter, led by Rebecca Allen. In the offseason, Allen, along with the 2023 No. 6 pick were acquired by the Connecticut Sun in the Jonquel Jones trade. In the acquisition, Kayla Thornton was shipped to New York, and Tyasha Harris to Connecticut. Poised with confidence, Allen set the tone with a reverse layup over Sabrina Ionescu. She later pulled a contested 26 three-point jumper over Breanna Stewart, with the help of Alyssa Thomas's screen.
With 6:44 left to go in the first quarter, it was clear the Connecticut Sun were prepared for this moment. With Allen on Sabrina, her steal turned into bold faced three-pointer in the hand of Ionescu. Feeling her stride, No. 9 pulled a contested three-pointer in front of Marine Johannès during the third quarter.
Rebecca Allen is ON ONE
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023@becallen8 has started off the 1Q with 8 PTS (3-3, 2-2 from 3)
ESPN | 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/b2mi2AJPJZ
The Connecticut Sun have trust in their entire team
Despite a 10-2 run by the New York Liberty in the second, the Connecticut Sun outscored the New York Liberty 28-15 in the third quarter. They shot an incredible 44 percent from the three and held the Liberty to 33 percent field goal shooting. The creating of mismatches, especially with Bonner and Vandersloot down below, opened up three-point opportunities for the Sun.
The Sun, led by head coach Stephanie White, utilized other players besides Thomas, who scored zero points in the third. Prior to getting into foul trouble, Tiffany Hayes finished with six points, along with Allen and Hiedeman. Connecticut, a team that often relies too heavily on DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas, turned to their starters and role players for production. Ultimately, this matchup game down to confidence, the Sun were able to hit tough shots as a team.
The backcourt tandem between Tiffany Hayes and Natisha Hiedeman combined for 24 points, six assists, and nine rebounds. Between Hayes, Heideman and Allen, all three players set the tone for Connecticut to thrive down the stretch. All five Connecticut Sun starters finished positive on the court, contrary to their last matchup against New York.
.@NatishaHiedeman knocks down ANOTHER triple
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023
The @connecticutsun are on a 11-2 run over the last 2:37
The Sun had a colossal third quarter
It's clear the Connecticut Sun capitalized on their defensive stops. Allen continued her dominant three point shooting this quarter, along with Hiedeman in the corner over Ionescu. From there, Connecticut went on a 12-3 run. The defensive pressure from White's squad forced New York to turn the ball over four times in this quarter, and 14 as a team. As a result, the Sun capitalized with 7 fast break points, and held New York to zero throughout the entire matchup.
DEWANNA
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023BONNER
With that bucket, DeWanna Bonner passes Taj McWilliams-Franklin for 3rd on the Sun All-Time Playoffs points list with 383
"We came out really slow in the first quarter and then the third quarter. It's been happening in the last few games, and I think it's mindset. Frustration sets in, we don't execute, and we all know we are better than that," said coach Brondello.
New York cut the deficit to five points, followed by Kayla Thorntons three-pointer. Even with the slightest momentum, the Liberty couldn't get stops on defense. With DeWanna Bonner doubled by Vandersloot and Thornton, Rebecca Allen was ready to strike beyond distance again, this time in the corner over Jonquel Jones. Alyssa Thomas the point forward position, was able to find teammates in the low post with back door cuts. With one second remaining in the third, Bonner hit a buzzer beating mid-range shot over Breanna Stewart. From there on out, the Sun remained poised with confidence and determination. Bonner finished the game with 20 points, three blocks, one steal, and seven rebounds.
The Liberty couldn't find their stride on offense
Throughout the month of August, the Liberty ranked first in both offensive rating and net rating. Multiple Liberty players have stated the playoffs are a different time, and this matchup proved just that. Jonquel Jones finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and two blocks. With New York scoring 18 points in the paint first half, the Connecticut Sun were able to adjust to that defensively. With ten first half points, the Sun limited Jones to four second half of the game. Though the Liberty defeated the Mystics with paint presence, the Sun figured out a way to negate that.
Even with Jones's strength and size, you could visibly see multiple orange jerseys that surrounded her the second half the game.
New York is confident they will play better
The Liberty offense overall looked stale and out of rhythm. Though Breanna Stewart finished with a team high 19 points and six rebounds, Stewart shot 7-25, and 0-8 from the three. With the perimeter heavily guarded, Connecticut forced New York to take unwanted shots. Betnijah Laney, an incredible x-factor in their starting lineup, finished with just three points on 1-9 shooting. Laney saw some looks in the paint and couldn't finish in several of them. In the fourth quarter, the Liberty struggled to score on turnovers, especially with Hiedeman's block over Breanna Stewart with eight minutes to go.
"That's what makes it tough is her [Alyssa Thomas] ability to guard multiple positions, and you know, they knew where I was all night. Credit to them, but we'll be back," said Stewart post-game.
.@NatishaHiedeman with the BIG TIME REJECTION
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 24, 2023
The @connecticutsun lead by 15 in the 4Q on @ESPN
2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/R2TtRKCYLd
With Ty Harris sent to the Suns bench with five personal fouls, New York still couldn't take advantage. Ionescu, who finished with 12 points, was 4-14 from the field, and was guarded heavily with her every move.
Breanna Stewart expresses frustration
"They were being aggressive, you know, blowing things up for us, but I don't think we handled it well," Stewart told the press. " We didn't stay poised or composed. We had the ability to the second and third side, and we just didn't do that today. So, it's a little bit frustrating to drop this one at home."
Their offensive seemed uncharacteristic, as they shot just 13.6 percent, and 10 percent from the three in the final quarter. New York was held to just eight points in the final ten minutes. This game was a struggle, not just by Stewart, but along with the entire team.
After a sloppy game one, the New York Liberty (0-1, 0-1 Home) will matchup against the Connecticut Sun (1-0, 1-0 Away) for game two of the WNBA semifinals. With one more home matchup, the two teams will play on Tuesday, at the Barclays Center.
Stay tuned for more WNBA related articles. Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas are an elite duo
What a duo
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 21, 2023@athomas_25:
28 PTS, 6 REB, 12 AST
DeWanna Bonner:
2023 #WNBAPlayoffs | @google pic.twitter.com/cVKu6IGHy9
No Brionna Jones? No problem. Heading into Wednesday's matchup, the Connecticut Sun knew they were possibly facing elimination on a tough road matchup at the Target Center. 14-6 on the road, the Sun faced a Minnesota Lynx team who were under .500 at home and were plagued with injuries. Without Jessica Shepard, Lindsay Allen, and Aerial Powers, Minnesota was able to secure the 82-75 game two victory over the Connecticut Sun.
With the stardom of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, the Sun overcame Napheesa Colliers 31 points, and defeated the Lynx 90-75. Thomas and Bonner combined for 53 points, 18 assists, 16 rebounds, three blocks, and shot 21-33. The duo made up nearly 60 percent of the team's entire offense. The Connecticut Sun, led by Stephanie White, are in their seventh straight playoff appearance, and will head to their fifth straight semifinals. The Sun lost Jones to a season ending achilles injury early in the season.
The @ConnecticutSun advance to their fifth straight WNBA semifinals
— ESPN (@espn) September 21, 2023pic.twitter.com/P7ieDw0GG1
In a critical game three, Connecticut was able to capitalize on the rebounds, along with scoring domination in the paint. Alyssa Thomas set the early tone with a push back mid-range shot over rookie Diamond Miller. With eight points in the first quarter, No. 25 tied a career high with 28 points, one steal, 12 assists, and six rebounds. Through three games against the Lynx, Thomas averaged 23 points, 9.3 assists, 2.3 steals, and 5.7 rebounds.
Much like we projected, Thomas played an entire 40 minutes of basketball. While getting an early lead was important, Thomas created points off turnovers, which included assists on the outside. Her ability to distribute to her teammates was impeccable, along with her strength offensively down in the post. With a commanding 17-6 lead, DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas showed their chemistry on the court, creating opportunities for each other off the pick and roll. Below is a prime example of Alyssa Thomas strength, taking on three defenders in the paint.
The dimes were dropped last night as the @ConnecticutSun secured their 5th consecutive Semi-Finals appearance
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 21, 2023
Check out the best #StatefarmAssistsoftheNight | @StateFarmpic.twitter.com/bCMRvkRE4c
DeWanna Bonner, a fourteen-year WNBA veteran, pulled a 24 foot three-point jumper with zero hesitation over Rachel Banham. Her ability to create her own shot and drain from downtown over Dorka Juhasz certainly made a statement. Similar to Thomas, Bonner finished with 25 points, three blocks, one steal, six assists, and ten rebounds. She shot 50 percent from three and had multiple key blocks. No. 24 became the third player in WNBA history to have 1,000 playoff points 500 rebounds and joins Tamika Catchings and Candace Parker on the all-time list.
Brilliant so far in the postseason, Bonner averaged 22 points, ten rebounds, 4.7 assists, and one block in three games vs. the Lynx. Bonner's athleticism was highlighted all night, as she made fadeaway jumpers, and capitalized on the fast break points off turnovers. The momentum started to shift after Bonner drained an 11-foot jump shot over Bridget Carleton at the Buzzer.
DeWanna Bonner at the buzzer
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 21, 2023
The @ConnecticutSun are one half away from advancing to the semispic.twitter.com/6hWGGpPpzC
The Connecticut Sun take over early
The Minnesota Lynx had the early tempo in game two, in which they outscored the Connecticut Sun in the first half. With Lynx fans buzzing at the Target Center, it was vital for the Sun to catch an early lead. The Sun had a monster first quarter, tallying 26 points and started on a 20-6 run. By the half, Connecticut outscored Minnesota 49-34, in which they made their first three field goals, and five of their first six shots. With Collier missing her first two shots, and Minnesota missed four straight field goals, from 6:48 to 2:34 in the first quarter. Once Diamond Miller made a driving layup, Minnesota didn't make a field goal until Carleton's three-point shot around the 8-minute mark. From there, the Lynx were held to 30 points through the next two quarters.
Tyasha Harris shines as the ultimate x-factor
Tyasha Harris showed why she can be such an x-factor for this team, after being acquired by the Connecticut Sun this offseason in the Jonquel Jones trade. Struggling in game two, Harris finished with 19 points, one rebound, and one assists off the bench for Connecticut. In a vital role, the guard shot 7-11 from the field, and 4-6 from the three-point line. Through 40 games played, Harris led the WNBA in three-point percentage, which was a career-high (46.4 percent). She was excellent around screens set by Alyssa Thomas and was able to drop in the shots and layups. Her confidence was at an all-time high, as she ripped a long three-point shot over Rachel Banham.
a SILENCER from three by @TyHarris_52
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 21, 2023#CTSun | #ForgedByFire
Minnesota struggled offensively
Forward Napheesa Collier had an impressive performance, delivering 31 points on 11-19 field goal shooting. The Lynx starting four combined for only 26 points, in which they finished 43.3 percent from the field. Although the Lynx cut the deficit to one point in the third quarter, they were shutout mainly until the final quarter of the game.
Kayla McBride was a large factor in Minnesota's game two win over Connecticut. In game three, McBride struggled from the field, adding only ten points in 40 minutes. With the season on the line, Minnesota was unable to get the stops defensively, and offensively come up with a plan outside of Collier. After a first-round exit, the Lynx have a promising young team, comprised of Dorka Juhasz and Diamond Miller around Kayla McBride and Napheesa Collier.
The Connecticut Sun will face the New York Liberty in the WNBA Playoffs Semifinals. The best of five games, the Liberty will have home court advantage for the first two games. Connecticut will play New York on Sept. 24 at 1 p.m. ET, at the Barclays Center.
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Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and a Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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]]>GAME 3
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 20, 2023
It's win or go home as the @minnesotalynx host the @ConnecticutSun in Game 3, Round 1 of the 2023 #WNBAPlayoffs presented by @Google
Tune in and find out who advances to the Semi-finals pic.twitter.com/MnlT3TEwRq
One team will be eliminated from the playoffs tonight
Tonight, is game three of the first-round WNBA playoffs between the Connecticut Sun (1-1, 1-1 Home)?and the?Minnesota Lynx (1-1, 1-1 Away).? After sealing a game one victory, the Lynx defeated the Sun 82-75 on the road. In a low scoring affair, Minnesota had 54 combined points from Napheesa Collier and Kayla McBride. For the Sun, DeWanna Bonner and Alyssa Thomas collectively scored 50 points. Once down by sixteen points in the third quarter, Connecticut was able to capitalize off turnovers and narrow the deficit to two points in the fourth. Through 40 minutes, the Lynx dominated on the rebounds, and scoring in the paint.
Connecticut couldn't get the stops they needed in the third quarter, which gave Minnesota a majority of the momentum. Kayla McBride had seven points alone, including two looks in the paint. Collier made a statement in the first ten minutes, with 10 points. As the Sun chipped away, Collier drained a two-point shot with 2:12 to go in final regulation. Under two minutes, Connecticut was unable to exploit the opposing defense, and missed a key three-point jumper and a driving layup. In a playoff format like the first round, there's zero room for error, and we saw that with the Sun.
?In this article, I will break down the WNBA betting odds, statistics, trends, odds, player prop bets, and predictions. The matchup will begin at 8 p.m. ET, at Target Center, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. ?If you're Betting on the WNBA and interested in watching, the game will air on?ESPN.?For the best betting odds, stats and analysis, here is information to know.
WNBA Odds Game 3: Connecticut Sun vs. Minnesota Lynx
Alyssa Thomas O 24.5 Points & Assists
Alyssa Thomas O 14.5 Field Goal Attempts
through the whole defense for
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 17, 2023! @athomas_25 #CTSun | #ForgedByFire
Season Stats: PPG: 15.5 | FG: 47.4 % | 3 PT: 0 % | FT: 71.5 % | REB: 9.9 | AST: 7.9 |STL: 1.8 | BLK: 0.5
Playoff Stats:?PPG:?20.5?| FG:?51.5 %?| 3 PT:?0 %?| FT:?63.6 %?| REB:?5.5?| AST:?8?|STL:?3?| BLK:?1
If there's one player prop bet I'm confident in, it's Alyssa Thomas over points and assists. A current MVP candidate, Thomas had 26 points, and 6 assists, on 10-18 shooting, in Game two against Minnesota. Over the course of the playoffs, the Suns point forward averages over 20 points a game, and nearly six assists per game. In game one, No. 25 put up an impressive stat line, with another double-double. Through 37 minutes, Thomas added 15 points, and 10 assists on 7-15 field goal shooting. The Sun will now face the Lynx on the road, in a critical game three.
Over 24.5 points and assists hit in the first two playoff games for Thomas, and three of the last five matchups. In the month of August, Thomas hit this prop seven of eleven games. In four regular season matchups against the Lynx, the prop hit three of the four games. Thomas averaged 17.3 points, 36.6 minutes, and 10.3 assists in four games against the Lynx this year. On the road against Minnesota, No. 25 averaged 15.5 points, 34.2 minutes, and 9 assists. It's important to note, Alyssa Thomas shot 48 percent from the field, which is three percent more on the road. Last matchup, Thomas played a full 40 minutes, in which she had 18 field goal attempts. I expect her to be on the court until the very last second tonight, win or lose.
Why over points and assists will hit
In a possible elimination game, Alyssa Thomas will have the ball in her hands tonight. Last game, we saw her take control when the Sun were down points, in which the forward trekked to the free-throw line seven times. Over the course of the season, Thomas has performed consistently well against Minnesota. She had back-to-back triple doubles, a first in WNBA history, and will face a Lynx team who ranked 10th in defensive rating. Given Thomas loves driving to the hoop, the Lynx allowed the 8th most points in the paint this year (36.7).
In 40 regular season games, the All-Star averaged 15.6 points and 7.4 assists on the road. Her field goal percentage is higher on the road, along with free-throw attempts. With eight teams in the playoffs, Minnesota has the 5th worst defensive rating (107.8) and is allowing the Sun to shoot 45 percent through two matchups. She will most likely be matchup up with Napheesa Collier, who ranked in the bottom 113 in defensive rating (103.7). With Jessica Shepard out with an injury, Dorka Juhasz will have the task of guarding both Thomas and Bonner as a rookie.
In a critical game such as tonight's matchup, the ball will absolutely be in the hands of Alyssa Thomas. Not a stranger to elimination games, No. 25 thrives for these types of moments. I can't think of another player to trust in a must win game, who has several skill sets. Hiedeman, Allen, and Hayes all must step up besides Thomas and Bonner.
Why over field goal attempts will hit
With Connecticut's offensive primarily flowing through Alyssa Thomas at the point forward position, No. 25 is averaging 38.4 minutes and 16.5 field goal attempts through two playoff matchups against Minnesota. On the road, Thomas averaged only 12.5 field goal attempts on the road. That's been a different story against the Minnesota Lynx. Thomas averaged 14.5 field goal attempts in four matchups, and with elimination on the line, I expect Thomas to hit this prop, especially with the high volume of minutes played. Given she isn't a three-point threat, I expect her to find her way to the basket, especially given Minnesota was the 8th worst team against points in the paint.
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Connecticut Money Line (-235)
The Minnesota Lynx forced a game three after their defeat over the Sun. Overall, Connecticut is 14-6 on the road, and the Lynx are under .500 at 9-11 at home. Even though the Sun performed inferior on the road, they had stronger numbers at the Target Center.
Despite dropping game two against Minnesota, Connecticut won the regular season series 3-1, and two of those victories came in Minneapolis. In two away games against the Lynx, the Sun averaged 89 points, 34.5 rebounds, 20.5 assists, and 39.6 percent from three. In matchups at home against Minnesota, the Sun only averaged 81 points, 33 rebounds, and 18.9 percent from the three. Yes, you read that correctly, Connecticut shot over 20 percent more efficiently from the three on Minnesota's home court.
Despite the injury to Brionna Jones, Connecticut formulated a plan and were the No. 3 seed in the WNBA. Coach of the year, Stephanie White led the Sun to 27 wins, in which they finished a top defensive team. The playoffs are completely different, and the Sun will have a tough matchup on the road, regardless of their statistics. Minnesota has key pieces around Collier and McBride, including Diamond Miller and Dorka Juhasz.
With the Connecticut Sun one year removed from the WNBA finals, I have full confidence they will win this game outright. With the season on the line, the offensive and defense will flow through Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner tonight. Connecticut was the 5th best in terms of clutch rating this season. The playoffs are all about who's peaking at the right time, and this should be a competitive matchup tonight. If Connecticut can defeat the Lynx on the rebounds, Minnesota was ranked the worst team against opponent second chance points per game (12.3).
Season Statistics & Betting Trends
Connecticut Sun
- CT Sun: 3-2 in their last 5 games.
- 6-4?in their last?10 games.
- ATS Record: 21-17-2
- O/U Record: 22-18-0
- 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 5-4-1 ATS?in their last?10 games.
- O/U?is?1-4 in the last?5 games.
- O/U: 4-6 in the last 10 games.
- 4th in Offensive Rating (103.2)
- 4th?in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (107.8)
- 2nd in Defensive Rating (98.8)
- 3rd in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (92.8)
- 4th in Points Per Game (82.7)
- 10th in Pace: 95.14
- Opponent Points Per Game: 79 (1st)
- Three-Point Percentage: 36% (4th)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs:?46% (1st)
- Rebounds Per Game: 33.6 (8th)
- Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 33 (7th)
- Connecticut ATS won last 10 games: Chicago (-5.5), New York (+6), LA (-6.5, -10.5), Indiana (-10), Minnesota (-8.5)
GAME THREE
— Connecticut Sun (@ConnecticutSun) September 20, 2023
Sun at Lynx8 PM ET
Target Center
Minnesota Lynx
- Minnesota Lynx: 2-3 in their last 5 games.
- 5-5?in their last?10 games.
- ATS Record: 21-18-1
- O/U Record: 23-17-0
- 2-3 ATS in their last 5 games.
- 5-5 ATS?in their last?10 games.
- O/U?is?2-3 in the last?5 games.
- O/U:6-4?in the last?10 games.
- 8th in Offensive Rating (99.8)
- 6th?in Offensive Rating in the playoffs (92.8)
- 10th in Defensive Rating (105.7)
- 6th?in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (95)
- 8th in Points Per Game (80.2)
- 5th?in Defensive Rating in the playoffs (107.8)
- 9th in Pace: 95.84
- Opponent Points Per Game: 85 (11th)
- Three-Point Percentage: 32.5 (11th)
- Three-Point Percentage playoffs:?28.6 (5th)
- Rebounds Per Game: 34.3 (6th)
- Rebounds Per Game playoffs: 33.5 (6th)
- Minnesota: ATS?won last 10 games:? Seattle (-2), Dallas (+6, +6.5), Atlanta (-1.5), Phoenix (-8.5), New York (+9)
1-1. pic.twitter.com/AW3CJ86XTn
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) September 18, 2023
Head-to-head stats: Sun vs. Lynx
Season Matchups:
Game 1:?Connecticut 89,?Minnesota 84 (Minnesota +6, over 159.5)
Game 2:?Connecticut 89,?Minnesota 68 (Connecticut -4, under 158)
Game 3:?Minnesota 87,?Connecticut 83 (Minnesota +12.5, over 161)
Game 4:?Connecticut 79,?Minnesota 69 (Minnesota +11.5, under 164)
Playoffs
Game 1: Connecticut 90, Minnesota 60 (Connecticut -8.5, under 159.5)
Game 2: Minnesota 82, Connecticut 75 (Minnesota +9, under 159)
- Connecticut won the series 3-1
- The Lynx are 3-1 ATS vs. the Sun this season.
- Game Points (AVG) last 10 matchups:?157
- Connecticut average points last 10 games:?80.5
- Minnesota average points last 10 games:?80
Stay tuned for more WNBA and betting related articles.?Click here
Sara Jane Gamelli is a full-time Sportswriter at BallisLife, and Sports Content Creator on Twitch and TikTok. She has a focus on the NBA, WNBA, NCAA Basketball, and the NFL. Sara Jane currently resides in Connecticut with her Cat and Dog. SJ has her undergraduate degree from the University of Connecticut in Economics, with a minor in business administration.
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