Connecticut
Connecticut Sun vs. Minnesota Lynx Prediction, Preview, and Odds – 7-4-2024
A matchup between two of the top teams in the WNBA takes place on Independence Day when the Connecticut Sun (15-4, 2nd East) take on the Minnesota Lynx (14-5, 1st West). The Sun are coming off an 11-point road win over the Mercury, and the Lynx just lost by nine on the road against the Liberty. These teams met once this season already, with the Sun winning by one at home in overtime. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 EST from the Target Center in Minneapolis, and can be found on Amazon Prime Video.
Let’s get into your favorite WNBA picks for tonight’s matchup between Connecticut and Minnesota.
Two Team Race in the East
The Eastern Conference of the WNBA has divided itself into two groups, there’s the Liberty and the Sun, and then there is everybody else. Connecticut is now 1.5-games behind New York for the top spot, but have a full 7.5-game lead over the third place team. They are second in the overall league standings, just a game ahead of Minnesota, highlighting the importance of this game. In their last outing, the Sun beat the Mercury behind 18 points from Brionna Jones.
Jones is a 6’3 forward who is one of five members of the Sun who averages double figures. She is scoring 13.2 PPG while adding 4.9 RPG on the inside. Their top scorer is DeWanna Bonner with 16.2 PPG, she is a 6’4 forward who adds another 6.1 RPG. Bonner can knock down the three, but the top shooter on the team is Tyasha Harris who makes 1.7 threes per game. Harris is a 5’10 guard averaging 11.3 PPG. The key to their team is Alyssa Thomas, she excels everywhere on the floor as the 6’2 forward leads the team with 9.5 RPG, 7.5 APG and 1.6 steals per game, while adding another 12.1 PPG.
The Sun rank 7th out of the 12 teams in the league in scoring by averaging 79.9 PPG, but they have the top defensive unit in the league by only allowing 73.1 PPG. The Sun play at a slow pace, and like to utilize their size on the inside to find shots, rather than launch quickly from deep. The Sun only shoot 17.1 threes per game, this ranks 11th in the league.
Top of the West
The Minnesota Lynx have the best record in the Western Conference, but their lead is narrowing. They are only one game ahead of the Seattle Storm in the standings, as Minnesota has now lost two of their last three games. Minnesota still sits in third in the overall league standings. The Lynx dropped their last game as they took on the top overall seed, the New York Liberty. In that game, Minnesota got 15 points and 10 rebounds from Napheesa Collier, but it was not enough to pull out the win.
Collier is a 6’1 forward putting up strong numbers this season, she leads the team with 20.6 PPG, 10.4 RPG and 2.2 steals per game. Collier has had a double-double in his last three games, including a huge 29-point, 11-rebound game in a loss to Dallas. Kayla McBride is the second scorer on the team, the 5’11 guard is getting 15.8 PPG and 3.7 APG. McBride is the top outside shooter on the team, making 3.1 threes per game on 43.3% shooting from deep. Alanna Smith is the only other Minnesota player averaging double figures, the 6’4 forward is averaging 11.9 PPG and 5.0 RPG.
Minnesota is fourth in the league in scoring at 83.0 PPG, and their defense ranks second by allowing just 74.4 PPG. The Lynx make 9.7 threes per game as a team, this is the third-best mark in the WNBA, and they have the best overall shooting percentage from the outside as they make 38.6% of their threes.
Wednesday’s Top Plays
Rest Of MLB Season – Right Now, You Can Get the Rest Of The MLB Season From Any Of Your Favorite Capper(s) For JUST $299 – CLICK HERE
Same Game Parlay – Get One Same Game Parlay (3 Or 4 Legs) Each Day For One FULL Week. Normally, $10 A Day, So You Save $25 as it is JUST $45 – CLICK HERE
Best Bets for Connecticut Sun vs. Minnesota Lynx
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
Rating:
The Lynx need to live and die by the three-pointer far more than Connecticut does, as the Sun’s style of play is more reliable on a day-to-day basis. Connecticut plays a slow game and pounds the ball inside to their several forwards who can all score around the rim, or grab offensive rebounds for second-chance putbacks. Connecticut has been consistent all season, they have had the same starting lineup for all 19 games, and each starter is averaging double figures. They share the ball well, while dominating the paint, and that type of play travels well. Minnesota lost the first game against Connecticut and only shot 4-21 from deep as the Sun’s defense was able to extend their defense and close out on shooters. The same will happen here as Connecticut is the best defensive team in the league and will keep this close enough to cover or win.
Take Connecticut with the points.
Prediction: Sun +2.5
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Rating:
These are the top two defenses in the WNBA in terms of points allowed per game. Connecticut plays at a slow pace by choice, as their lineup is littered with forwards who can score around the rim including Bonner, Thomas, and Jones. The Sun will not change their strategy, as their advantage in this game is in the post. The Lynx like to shoot from the outside, but they shot 19% from three the last time they played Connecticut. These two teams are also the best defenses in the league guarding the three point shot. Opponents only shoot 27.9% from deep when playing against Minnesota, and 29.3% against Connecticut. These teams will grind it out on the defensive end, as Connecticut takes their time offensively, leading to an under.
Take the under.
Prediction: Under
UNCASVILLE, Conn. (WTNH) — Aaliyah Edwards came off the bench to score a game-high 21 points as the Connecticut Sun defeated the Portland Fire, 90-87, during Camp Day on Tuesday morning at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Thousands of kids were in attendance to watch the Sun hold on to a fourth-quarter lead as the Fire attempted to rally. Connecticut led by 10 at halftime and saw its lead cut to one in the final period.
Brittney Griner added 20 points for the Sun, who ended their three-game homestand with a victory. Olivia Nelson-Ododa went 8-for-8 from the foul line en route to 16 points and Leila Lacan chipped in 14.
Carla Leite led the Fire with 18 points.
The Sun visit Phoenix on Friday for the first of two games with the Mercury.
Florida’s tallest flag pole raises new Stars and Stripes on Independence Day
Florida’s tallest free-standing American flagpole now stands 250 feet tall at Bernice Braden Park in Cape Coral
You might have seen Connecticut’s state flag in government buildings and schools and wondered what the meaning was behind its design.
Adopted by the General Assembly in 1897, the Flag of Connecticut features a navy blue background with a white shield. Three grapevines with purple grapes are on the shield and oak leaves and acorns can be found on the shield’s edge.
Below the shield is a banner which features the phrase “Qui Transtulit Sustinet” written in Latin. According to ConnecticutHistory.org, that phrase translates to “He who transplanted still sustains,” which honors the colonists who moved to the state from England.
Per Encyclopedia Britannica, the three grapevines have two competing interpretations: they represent either the three oldest settlements in the state (Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor) or the three colonies that merged to form Connecticut (Connecticut Colony, Saybrook Colony and New Haven Colony).
Why is the Connecticut flag blue?
According to ConnecticutHistory.org, the blue comes from Connecticut’s Civil War military flags. During the Civil War, Connecticut regiments had flags featuring blue backgrounds. ConnecticutHistory.org reports that when the legislature adopted an official flag in 1897, they kept the color that military tradition had already established.
Origins of Connecticut’s state flag
Per ConnecticutHistory.org, Connecticut did not have an official state flag until 1897. The site reports that in 1895, the Anna Warner Bailey Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Groton pushed for an official flag to display in their new meeting room.
Governor Owen Vincent Coffin introduced a bill on May 29, 1895, which ConnecticutHistory.org says caused the legislature to subsequently form a committee. After several designs were submitted, the Connecticut General Assembly adopted the flag in 1897.
Connecticut’s coat of arms, which includes the shield, grapevines and banner featured on the state flag, was not formally standardized until 1931, according to USASymbol.com. The website also says color standards for the flag came in 1956, when the Secretary of the State’s office developed uniform specifications.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoSouthern California hits hottest day of its extreme heat warning
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoSteve Yzerman out as Detroit Red Wings GM, moves to senior advisor role
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoSupervisors urge California to expand S.F. speed-camera program
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoFive teens injured after crashing carjacked vehicle during Dallas police chase
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoTokyo-style Neapolitan pizza is coming to Miami, led by legendary pizzaiolo chef Bun
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoSEE THE GOOD: Roxbury center reminds young adults ‘You got this’ – Boston News, Weather, Sports | WHDH 7News
-
Denver, CO2 hours ago
Five Points affordable housing building honors Dr. Justina Ford | Rocky Mountain PBS
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoSeattle weather: Hot and sunny day Wednesday, highs in the 80s
