Meghan Townsley previews Wednesday\u2019s WNBA matchup between the Connecticut Sun and Toronto Tempo and provides her best pick.<\/p>\n
The Cup continues! Wednesday\u2019s WNBA Commissioner\u2019s Cup slate opens with two teams trending in very different directions. The Sun have struggled to find consistency and operate as a cohesive unit this season, winning just two of their first 13 games. Meanwhile, the Tempo have enjoyed a strong start to their inaugural campaign, posting a winning record through the first month of play.<\/p>\n
Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, with Toronto entering as 7.5-point favorites and the total sitting at 167.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s get into it!<\/p>\n
Sun vs. Tempo Preview<\/p>\n
Playing a season with a young roster that knows its team is moving to Houston in 2027 doesn\u2019t exactly set the stage for a promising campaign. However, the Sun continue to battle despite managing just two wins so far. Aneesah Morrow totaled 28 points and 30 rebounds over her last two games but will miss tonight\u2019s contest due to a leg injury. Veteran Brittney Griner has been on a roller coaster this season, appearing in only six of the team\u2019s 13 games. While she\u2019s technically leading the Sun in scoring at 12.8 points per game, her inconsistent availability hasn\u2019t helped a young roster build much chemistry. In fact, Connecticut ranks last in offensive rating (94.7) and has allowed the most points per game to opponents over its last three contests (88.3).<\/p>\n
Plain and simple, Connecticut doesn\u2019t look like a team built to compete in 2026. That said, there is still plenty of value in watching the development of the team\u2019s young talent. Rookie Le\u00efla Lacan, who has appeared in just four games, has already shown an impressive ability to read the floor and deliver accurate passes while contributing as a scorer. While her three-point shot hasn\u2019t been falling \u2014 she\u2019s shooting just 15.8% from deep \u2014 Lacan hasn\u2019t been afraid to stay aggressive offensively and should continue to improve as she gains experience.<\/p>\n
The Tempo, on the other hand, have been playing some of their best basketball lately, winning three of their last four games while averaging 88.5 points per game during that stretch, the fourth-best mark in the league. Veterans Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey continue to prove they were essential additions in the expansion draft. Sykes is leading the charge with 20.1 points per game and 1.5 steals, while Mabrey adds 17.6 points and 3.8 assists per contest. Nyara Sabally is also off to an impressive start to her fourth season in the W, providing valuable depth with 12.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.<\/p>\n
With plenty of offensive talent, the Tempo have been able to outscore opponents consistently, a necessity given that they currently rank 12th in defensive rating. Unfortunately, rookie Kiki Rice, who had been on a red-hot stretch, will miss her second straight game after suffering a Grade 2 ankle sprain against the Liberty last Wednesday. Even without Rice, Toronto has enough scoring firepower to get past a struggling Sun team while the young guard recovers. Still, the future remains incredibly bright for Rice and a Tempo franchise that appears to have found a cornerstone piece.<\/p>\n
Sun vs. Tempo Pick, Best Bet<\/p>\n
The Sun, plain and simple, don\u2019t have the talent to keep up with a Tempo team built around proven veteran scorers like Brittney Sykes and Marina Mabrey. Toronto has far more offensive firepower and enters the matchup playing much better basketball, so I don\u2019t expect this one to be particularly close tonight.<\/p>\n
Best Bet: TOR -7.5 (-120)<\/a><\/p>\n More WNBA Betting Content<\/p>\n