Liberty vs Sun Betting Odds: Can Connecticut Finally Best WNBA Super Team?

The New York Liberty will look to keep piling up victories when they visit the Connecticut Sun Thursday at Mohegan Sun Arena. New York opened as a 6-point favorite and -240 on the moneyline, with Connecticut priced at +200 and the total at  164.

Read on as we break down the Liberty vs Sun betting odds in our game preview.

Sun Prepped for Stretch Run

After locking up a playoff spot for the seventh straight season, the Connecticut Sun are now concentrating on fortifying themselves for the stretch run. With their 68-64 victory over the Washington Mystics on Tuesday, the Sun improved their record to 23-10. More importantly, they increased their lead for the No. 3 seed to 5.0 games over the Dallas Wings. With only seven games remaining in the regular season, the Sun seem all but locked into that spot.

While Connecticut’s WNBA title odds are only +1600 — a distant third behind the Las Vegas Aces (-220) and New York Liberty (+190) — the Sun remains the biggest threat to knocking off the league’s two “Super Teams.” It’s been that way for quite some time, thanks to the brilliance of forwards Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. The duo has combined for 40.4% of the team’s scoring, while Thomas leads the league in rebounds (10.0) and steals (1.8) per game, according to WNBA stats.

Thomas and Bonner took on greater importance when two-time All-Star Brionna Jones ruptured her Achilles tendon in June, costing her the remainder of the season. The 6-foot-3 Jones was averaging 15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.8 steals, and Connecticut didn’t have another option to account for her presence in the paint.

Thomas has been a consistent stat-stuffer, with seven double-doubles in her last nine games and five triple-doubles overall. One of those triple-doubles (11 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) came in an 89-81 loss to New York on June 27. Keep that in mind when assessing the Liberty vs Sun betting odds.

Stewart, Liberty Keep Powering Up

The New York Liberty continues to build up steam as the playoffs approach. They’ve won seven of their last eight to move within 3.5 games of Las Vegas for the No. 1 overall seed. With only eight games remaining in the regular season, the Liberty (25-7) is highly unlikely to catch them. Still, they’re clearly moving in the right direction in the WNBA power rankings.

New York has the second-best WNBA title odds (+190), and it’s no secret as to why. It has already beaten the Aces twice this season, including 82-63 on Aug. 15 to win the Commissioner’s Cup.

Much of that is because of five-time All-Star Breanna Stewart, who ranks second in the league in scoring (22.6 per game) and is tied for fourth in rebounding (9.1 per game) with Los Angeles’ Nneka Ogwumike. Stewart was a -150 favorite to win WNBA MVP as of last week. However, she’s now a -110 co-favorite with Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson following Wilson’s 52-point performance in Tuesday’s 112-100 victory over the Atlanta Dream. Thomas, meanwhile, remains a distant third at +1600.

Stewart is averaging just 12.6 points over the last three games but scored 42 (one shy of her season-high) in a 100-89 defeat of the Indiana Fever on Aug. 13.

Handicapping the Game

New York has already gotten the best of Connecticut twice this season, having defeated the Sun 81-65 on May 27 and 89-81 on June 27. Stewart — who else? — led the Liberty in scoring both times, with 21 and 24 points, respectively. It’s no secret the Sun will have their hands full with the two-time Finals MVP. They have a stalwart defender in Thomas to guard her, but that doesn’t account for the Liberty’s other threats, including Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones.

The Liberty are deeper and more talented than anyone in the WNBA outside Las Vegas. Connecticut is close, but Jones’ injury has left an obvious void that can’t be filled in the paint. It’s why New York should have the edge in the Liberty vs Sun betting odds, even on the road.

For WNBA picks and parlays, betting odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• Sun vs Mystics Betting Preview: Delle Donne’s Health Uncertainty
• Aces vs Dream Betting Preview: Can Dream Look To Keep Up With Aces?
• Sky vs Dream Betting Preview: Atlanta Trying to Correct Second-Half Woes
• Liberty vs Mercury Odds: New York Stays in Desert; Meets Phoenix
• Wings vs Sun Betting Preview: Connecticut Trying to Stop Two-Game Skid