Sun vs Mercury Picks and Prediction – 7/2/2024

The Connecticut Sun (14-4) face off against the Phoenix Mercury (9-8) at the Footprint Center. Connecticut, currently 2nd in the Eastern Conference, recently fell to Atlanta, snapping a winning streak with a 78-74 loss. Phoenix, 4th in the Western Conference, comes off a strong 92-78 victory over Los Angeles. This matchup pits two high-performing teams against each other. Take the WNBA by storm with our WNBA picks.

The Connecticut Sun have demonstrated impressive performance this season, boasting a strong record of 14-4. Despite the recent loss to Atlanta, the Sun have been a dominant force throughout the season. DeWanna Bonner leads the team with an average of 16.7 points per game, while Alyssa Thomas contributes significantly with 12.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. The offense ranks 7th in points per game at 80, and field goal percentage is notable at 43.8%, placing them 5th in the league. 

However, the Sun have areas needing improvement, such as free throw percentage, which is relatively low at 75.1%, and three-point shooting, which currently stands at 30.8%. Defensively, the Sun are robust, averaging 8.7 steals per game, ranking 4th in the league, although they struggle with blocked shots, having the lowest average in the league at 2.8 per game.

The Phoenix Mercury, on the other hand, have been gaining momentum with recent strong performances. Led by Kahleah Copper, who averages 22.7 points per game, and Brittney Griner, who adds 19.3 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, the Mercury's offense ranks 5th in points per game at 82. Despite a slightly lower field goal percentage at 42.5%, Phoenix excels in free throw percentage at 78.8% and three-point shooting at 33.3%. 

The defensive stats are also strong, with a high average of 5.1 blocks per game, ranking 3rd in the league. However, turnovers are a concern for the Mercury, as they average 14.6 per game, which could be a critical factor in this matchup.