Published Jun 18, 7:58pm ET by
James Tillman - Betting Preview Analyst and Sports Writer
Last updated Jun 18, 7:58pm ET
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Updated Jun 18, 7:58pm ET
One of Friday's WNBA matchups features the Connecticut Sun hosting the Toronto Tempo. Who has the edge in our Sun vs Tempo pick?
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| Connecticut Sun | +1.5 (-108) |
| Toronto Tempo | -1.5 (-113) |
Connecticut notched its second win of the season, beating the Sparks 84-81 on May 17. Since that time, though, this team has dropped each of its last six games. This abysmal stretch includes an 88-81 loss to the Washington Mystics on Wednesday night.
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The Sun were down by seven points heading into the fourth quarter. But a layup by Leila Lecan tied the game at 70 with just under six minutes left in regulation. Unfortunately, Lauren Betts hit a pair of free throws that helped Washington stay ahead down the stretch.
Four players tallied double-digit scoring totals for the home team. Lecan led the starters with 11 points and four assists. Aneesah Morrow was one of the key contributors of the second unit, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Connecticut shot 46 percent from the floor, but struggled from long range, going just 4-for-20 from beyond the arc.
The Sun return home looking to snap its latest skid against a Toronto team also coming off a loss.
Following back-to-back wins against the Sky and Sun, Toronto had dropped three straight. The team's latest setback was a 113-91 loss to the Indiana Fever on Tuesday.
The Tempo kept it close early, trailing 53-50 at the break. But the Fever answered with a 32-23 burst in the third and a 28-18 advantage in the fourth en route to collecting their ninth win of the season.
Laura Juskaite was one of six Tempo players to reach double figures, leading the way with 19 points on an efficient 8‑for‑11 shooting performance. Marina Mabrey added 18 points and seven assists, continuing her steady playmaking role.
Defensively, Toronto struggled to slow Indiana’s rhythm. The Fever shot 52 percent overall and 43 percent from three‑point range, converting 13‑for‑30 from beyond the arc — a key factor in the Tempo’s inability to keep pace.
On the heels of a six-game skid, Connecticut enters this encounter as a 1.5-point underdog. Here's a look at what you need to know for both teams ahead of this contest.
Both teams rank outside the top 10 on defense, creating the potential for a higher‑scoring matchup. From an offensive standpoint, Connecticut sits near the bottom of the league in scoring, while Toronto enters with the fifth‑highest scoring average (88.8 PPG) and the eighth‑best offensive rating. Given those trends — along with the Sun’s recent struggles — the advantage goes to a Tempo squad that has been more consistent on the offensive end in this Eastern Conference tilt.
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Pick
Toronto Tempo (-1.5)
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