Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics: Picks, Predictions and Odds

The new-look Connecticut Sun travel to Washington D.C. on Sunday to face the Mystics at 3 pm ET, having made an inauspicious start for one of the league’s most consistent performers over the last decade.

Connecticut has reached the playoffs eight straight seasons, reaching at least the semifinals in the postseason six straight years.

Both of those streaks are in dire jeopardy for a franchise that chose to clean house in the offseason. Gone from last season’s 28-12 squad are head coach Stephanie White, as well as the Sun’s starting five. That included All-Stars Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones, as well as the league’s most improved player, DiJonai Carrington.

Only Marina Mabrey, acquired at midseason from the Chicago Sky, remains from last year’s list of key contributors. She leads this year’s team, now 3-6 overall, in scoring with 17.4 points per game. That includes a season-high 34 on 13-for-22 shooting in an 84-76 victory over the Atlanta Dream Friday, the team’s best performance to date.

After starting the season 0-5, Connecticut has won 2-of-3. Center Tina Charles, an eight-time All-star and the team’s First Round pick in 2010 who returned to the club in the offseason, is second on the team at 16.5 points per game.

Connecticut is taking on a Washington squad that bested them in the season opener, 90-85. The Mystics won their first two games, but have dropped 5-of-6 since. That includes an 86-78 defeat at home to the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty Thursday.

Kiki Iriafen, the league’s Rookie of the Month in May, had 17 points and nine rebounds in the losing effort. She leads the team with 9.9 rebounds per game and is second in scoring with 14.9 points per game. Fellow rookie Sonia Citron, who is averaging 14 points, had 13 against the Liberty on Thursday. The team’s leading scorer, Brittney Sykes (19.6 ppg) had her worst offensive showing of the season, scoring seven points.

These are two squads that may be hovering toward the bottom of the league standings for most of the season, but two that are also showing signs of life with some quality new blood. Who will get the much needed win this evening?

Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics betting picks and predictions

Connecticut Sun +7.5 points (-110)

It’s hard to pick against the Mystics after a solid performance against the Liberty on Thursday. Despite losing by eight, Washington covered the spread. The Sun could not say the same when they suffered a franchise-worst 100-52 beating at the hands of the same Liberty just four days earlier.

But Washington hasn’t won by more than six points this season. And even though the Sun are averaging a league-worst 72.5 points per game, the Mystics are only a few points better at 76.9. 

Charles had 23 points and 10 rebounds in the five-point season-opening loss to the Mystics. Emerging fourth-year forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa (8.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg) had 18 points and 11 rebounds. Outside of Iriafen, who had 17 points and 14 rebounds in her professional debut, Washington’s interior has been fairly impotent offensively.

Our experts expect the Mystics to hold court and improve to 3-2 at home, but are also looking for the Sun to cover that 7.5-point spread as underdogs.  

Over 156.0 points (-110)

Even though they are the lowest-scoring team in the league, the Sun are improving offensively. They are averaging 77 points in their last four contests, and that includes that horrible 52-point effort against New York. With Mabrey clicking, the team is poised to move up the league scoring ladder.

Combine that with the Mystics’ slumping defense – they have allowed more than 83 points in their last four games – and the time is right for another high-scoring affair between these two cellar dwellers. 

Marina Mabrey over 16.5 points (-115)

Mabrey is an enigma. Despite being a consistent scoring threat, she can’t seem to stay with a team. The Sun are the fourth franchise in seven seasons for the former Notre Dame standout. After arriving in midseason from Chicago last season, Mabrey averaged 14.9 points off the bench.

With Connecticut in desperation for both veteran leadership and scoring, Mabrey has stepped up with a career-high 17.4 points per game. And she’s in the process of taking her offensive output to an even greater level. She’s averaging nearly 22 points in her last four contests, including the season-high 34 in the win over Atlanta Thursday.

Look for Mabrey to score more than 16.5 points for the fifth time in seven games.

Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics odds

Connecticut Sun	+250 ML
Washington Mystics	-310 ML
Spread	WAS Mystics -7.5
Total Points	O/U 156.0

Connecticut Sun vs. Washington Mystics player props

Player Points

Mariney Mabrey (CON Sun)	O/U 16.5
Tina Charles (CON Sun)	O/U 16.5
Saniya Rivers (CON Sun)	O/U 8.5
Brittney Sykes (WAS Mystics)	O/U 19.5
Kiki Iriafen (WAS Mystics)	O/U 13.5
Sonia Citron (WAS Mystics)	O/U 12.5

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.