Charlie Cummings breaks down his pick and prediction for Sunday’s game between the New York Liberty and Connecticut Sun.
Friday’s game between the New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun felt like chalk. Instead, it was one of the biggest upsets of the WNBA season, as the 4-21 Sun triumphed over the 17-9 Liberty. Now we get a rematch on Sunday.
New York is navigating another brutal injury blow. Shortly after Jonquel Jones returned from a lengthy absence, it’ll have to figure out life without Breanna Stewart. The former MVP suffered a bone bruise and will miss the majority of August, according to head coach Sandy Brondello. Losing to the Sun was a sign of the difficult times to come without Stewart.
Will New York rebound and stay in second place in the WNBA playoff race? Or will lightning strike twice for Connecticut?
The Liberty are 12.5-point favorites on the road and hold -625 odds on the Moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The total is set at 171.5 points. Let’s look at the best bets and predictions for this Liberty-Sun contest.
Liberty vs. Sun prediction, pick
The Sun is a known quantity here. Their defense has been rough, and the offense has struggled immensely, until recently. They’ve won two of their last three, and it’s no shock that coincides with Marina Mabrey’s return. She was outstanding in the win over New York, racking up 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. The offense has put up 95, 85, and 78 points over the last three games while the defense has held its own.
This Liberty squad is tough to pin down without Stewart. With her immense defensive responsibilities and lingering ankle issues, Jonquel Jones struggles to scale up offensively. Even with Sabrina Ionescu going crazy offensively, they’ve dropped four games in a row. New York is scrambling for answers as the playoffs approach.
The gulf in talent in this one is immense. But the Liberty are struggling mightily, while the Sun are dragging themselves off the mat. It’s enough to question this large Liberty spread.
Top Pick: Connecticut Sun +12.5 (-110)