Sun vs Lynx Betting Preview: Connecticut Holds Comfortable Edge

At 4-1, the Connecticut Sun own the second-best record in the WNBA, trailing only 5-0 Las Vegas, a newly anointed “Super Team.” The Sun will look to keep that momentum rolling when they visit the 0-5 Minnesota Lynx on Thursday.

Connecticut is listed as a 7.5-point favorite. The total is set at 163 after opening at 168.

For a closer look at that matchup, here is our Sun vs Lynx betting preview.

So Far, So Good for Connecticut

The Sun underwent widespread change in the offseason. Curt Miller, the two-time WNBA Coach of the Year, returned to Los Angeles and was replaced by Stephanie White, a former WNBA player who previously was a head coach and an assistant with Indiana.

A few months later, the Sun shipped four-time All-Star and former MVP Jonquel Jones to New York, fulfilling her request to be traded.

Both moves sent Connecticut on a new path, one that the organization hopes will lead it to its first WNBA championship. Getting there, of course, will take time, but the Sun seem to be moving in the right direction. At the moment, Connecticut is right where it was most of last season, sitting near the top of the WNBA standings.

Veteran forward Alyssa Thomas, 31, has been instrumental in the Sun’s success, averaging 14.4 points and a league-best 12.4 rebounds over 36.2 minutes per game. Only one player – Dallas guard Arike Ogunbowale, at 37.8 – has played more on a nightly basis.

At +600, Thomas now owns the fourth-best odds to win MVP, behind New York’s Breanna Stewart (+250), Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson (+350) and Washington’s Elena Delle Donne (+550).

Four-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner is Connecticut’s top scorer, averaging 15.4 points. Joining Bonner in double figures are forward Brionna Jones (14.2) and guard Tiffany Hayes (12.8), who was acquired in an offseason trade with Atlanta.

Slow Going for Minnesota

Not much has gone right for Minnesota this season. At 0-5, the Lynx are one of only two winless teams remaining (Seattle 0-3). On top of that, they’re allowing the third-most points in the league at 87.6 per game. That’s something to consider in our Sun vs Lynx betting preview.

Napheesa Collier is easily Minnesota’s most dynamic player. The fifth-year pro out of powerhouse UConn is averaging a team-high 16.6 points on 42.3% shooting.

She’s also averaging 6.0 rebounds and 3.2 combined blocks and steals, giving the Lynx quality production at forward. Talent is scarce around her, though.

Jessica Shepard is a strong rebounder, averaging 9.2 per game, but she doesn’t offer enough offensively to take pressure off Collier. Diamond Miller, the No. 2 pick in April’s draft out of Maryland, has the potential to step into that role, but she’s shooting just 36.6% over her first five games.

Handicapping The Game

Miller, Minnesota’s fourth-leading scorer (10.4 PPG) is day-to-day after injuring her ankle in Tuesday’s loss to Dallas. Should she miss time, there will be even more pressure on Collier to carry the Lynx. With Minnesota deep into a rebuild, Collier simply doesn’t have enough help.

Connecticut — a +1800 title pick — is deep and experienced, with multiple former All-Stars capable of carrying the load on a given night. This is a mismatch, and that’s putting it mildly.

Based on that, Connecticut should be a comfortable favorite in our Sun vs Lynx betting preview.

For WNBA odds, betting news, analysis and more, visit pointspreads.com

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