“Sparks heating up. Sun struggling to rise.” That’s the story heading into this Thursday’s non-conference clash as the Los Angeles Sparks travel to Uncasville to face the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on NBCS-BOS and SportsNet LA.
Let’s break down the key storylines, injuries, starting lineups, and prediction for this July 24 WNBA matchup.
Where to Watch
Date: Thursday, July 24, 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
Watch on: NBCS-BOS, SportsNet LA
Streaming: Fubo, ESPN+, Paramount+
These two teams met only weeks ago, with the Los Angeles Sparks pulling off a gritty 4-point win at home. Now, LA comes into this matchup with a three-game win streak, including two victories over Washington and that earlier triumph over Connecticut. Meanwhile, the Sun has lost three straight and is sitting at the bottom of the league with a record of 3-19.
Sparks Record: 9-14 (10th overall, two games out of the playoff picture)
Sun Record: 3-19 (13th, last in the standings)
Injury Report
Connecticut Sun
Marina Mabrey (knee): OUT
Saniya Rivers: Active (leads team in steals)
Los Angeles Sparks
No major injuries reported
Probable Starting Lineups
Connecticut Sun
G – Bria Hartley
G – Saniya Rivers
F – DeWanna Bonner
F – Tina Charles
C – Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Los Angeles Sparks
G – Kelsey Plum
G – Lexie Brown
F – Dearica Hamby
F – Rae Burrell
C – Azurá Stevens
Team Insights
Los Angeles Sparks
Points per game: 83.7 (4th in WNBA)
Points allowed: 86.8 (12th)
Three-point shooting: 35.1% (2nd in WNBA)
Key Players:
Kelsey Plum: 19.7 PPG, 5.8 APG, 2.5 3 PM
Dearica Hamby: 17.5 PPG, 7.8 RPG
Azurá Stevens: 14.7 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 1.2 BPG
The Los Angeles Sparks may be leaky on defense, but their offense is humming. Kelsey Plum is succeeding in a lead role after years of sharing touches in Las Vegas, while Hamby continues her All-Star-caliber form even if the league didn’t identify her this season.
Connecticut Sun
Points per game: 72.7 (13th)
Points allowed: 88.0 (13th)
Three-point shooting: 29.2% (13th)
Key Players:
Tina Charles: 15.6 PPG, 5.6 RPG
Bria Hartley: 8.8 PPG, 3.0 APG
Olivia Nelson-Ododa: 6.0 RPG, 1.3 BPG
Saniya Rivers: 1.8 SPG
The Sun is simply struggling to stay floating. Their offense lacks firepower, and their defense has been porous all season. Tina Charles remains a cheerful place, but at 36, she’s more of a mentor than a long-term solution. With Mabrey out, the burden falls heavily on Hartley and Rivers to generate offense.
Prediction: Can the Sun Snap the Skid?
The Sparks are picking up steam at the right time. Dearica Hamby has been dominant in the paint, Plum is exhausting shots from deep, and Azurá Stevens provides steady production. With a fast pace and deadly perimeter shooting, LA is starting to look like a playoff team, if only their defense can hold up.
The Sun, meanwhile, is in rebuild mode. They’ve been outscored by 15.3 points per game and are losing the rebounding battle nearly every night. Without Mabrey, they lack perimeter creation and floor spacing, which puts even more pressure on Tina Charles inside.
Final Score Prediction: Los Angeles Sparks 87, Connecticut Sun 79
Expect the Sparks to come out pushing the speed and launching, while Connecticut will need a near-perfect game from Tina Charles and a breakout from their young backcourt to stay in it. LA’s scoring depth and rhythm should be enough to secure their fourth straight win, keeping their playoff hopes alive.
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