CONNECTICUT vs. ATLANTA
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Connecticut's last 10 games
Connecticut is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Atlanta is 1-4-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Connecticut
Atlanta is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
SAN ANTONIO vs. LOS ANGELES
San Antonio is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Los Angeles
San Antonio is 7-14 SU in its last 21 games when playing on the road against Los Angeles
Los Angeles is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio
Los Angeles is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing San Antonio
Sun - Dream Preview
By Associated Press
After back-to-back routs, the Connecticut Sun find themselves on the verge of moving into a first-place tie in the Eastern Conference.
Accomplishing that feat, however, could prove difficult against the red-hot Atlanta Dream, who look like a championship-caliber club following an injury-plagued start to the season.
The Sun hope to avoid a sixth consecutive loss at Philips Arena, while the Dream look to even the season series Tuesday night.
After cruising to an 83-55 victory over East-leading Indiana on Friday, Connecticut (20-12) recorded its most lopsided victory of the year Sunday, 79-48 at Washington behind 24 points and 15 rebounds from All-Star center Tina Charles.
"Tina Charles is certainly a forced to be reckoned with," Mystics coach Trudi Lacey said. "She is a legitimate candidate for MVP."
With 21 double-doubles, Charles is one away from matching the WNBA record she set last season en route to winning rookie of the year honors.
"I want to be there for my team offensively and defensively," she said. "My job is to get rebounds, and it leads to our transition and everything. So, I just go out there with the mindset just to try to get them all."
The Sun, who snapped a season worst-tying four-game road skid Sunday, can catch the idle Fever on Tuesday.
Connecticut sits two games ahead of New York and Atlanta (18-14), which secured a playoff berth and a chance to defend its conference title with Sunday's 73-52 victory over Tulsa.
"I think (Atlanta) has a great opportunity," Shock coach Teresa Edwards said. "They proved they could be successful last year. If they build on this game today, they're in a great place for the playoffs."
Since losing nine of 12 to open the season while Angel McCoughtry and Sancho Lyttle both missed time, the Dream have gone 15-5 and won five of the last six.
"We just had to stay patient," said McCoughtry, who ranks second in the league with 20.8 points per game. "It was hard to get our rhythm with the injuries. ... We have our chemistry back.
"It's been a struggle. But we figure it would be more sweet if we win a championship because of our struggle. That would be the perfect (way) to winning it."
Atlanta, which dropped both road meetings in the series this season, has won a season-best five straight at home, including 94-88 in overtime against Connecticut on Aug. 19.
The Dream have taken four of seven from the Sun dating to last year while McCoughtry has averaged 27.9 points and scored at least 32 on three occasions.
Connecticut hosts the Liberty in its season finale Sunday, hours before Atlanta concludes its schedule at Indiana.
Silver Stars - Sparks Preview
By Associated Press
With three teams having already secured playoff berths in the Western Conference, there remains but one left to claim.
The San Antonio Silver Stars can secure that fourth and final spot with a win over the Los Angeles Sparks, who look to avoid elimination during Tuesday night's crucial matchup at Staples Center.
San Antonio (15-16), which is two games ahead of fifth-place Los Angeles (13-18) in the West, is on the verge of locking up its fifth consecutive playoff appearance.
"We've got to take care of our own business," six-time All-Star Becky Hammon said. "...We don't want to have someone lose for us to get in, we wanna get there because we're playing well at the end of the year."
The Silver Stars, however, suffered their seventh loss in nine games Saturday, falling 70-60 to Seattle despite a game-high 22 points from forward Sophia Young. Coach Dan Hughes' team was outrebounded 40-21 - an issue Hammon knows needs to be addressed going forward.
"It's very obvious that when we don't rebound, we don't win," said Hammon. "It can't just be the bigs, it's got to be the guards, it's gotta be everybody getting down in there and helping out."
San Antonio's most recent defeat left the door open for the Sparks, who can move within one game of the Silver Stars with a victory. A loss however, would eliminate Los Angeles from playoff contention.
After scoring 27 points in last Tuesday's 68-62 victory over the Storm, Candace Parker recorded 32 on 13-of-25 shooting - but her season high wasn't enough in Saturday's 93-77 loss defeat to Phoenix. Kristi Toliver also came up big, scoring 23 points while the rest of the team was held to a combined 22.
"No telling what is going to happen," said coach Joe Bryant, whose team was outrebounded 46-27 in losing for the third time in four games. "We have to play it out. That's what I told the women. Make sure to keep our heads up high. It's not over until it's over."
The Sparks have dropped two of three meetings with the Silver Stars this year and will likely need to slow down Hammon if they hope to even the season series.
Hammon, who ranks 10th in the league with 15.3 points per game, has averaged 24.0 during San Antonio's two wins versus Los Angeles. The Sparks, however, prevailed 84-74 on July 12 while holding Hammon to five points on 2-of-14 shooting.
Hammon has scored a combined four points while making just 2 of 18 shots during her last two road games. San Antonio has lost three straight and six of seven as the visiting team.
Los Angeles has won four of six at home, where it closes out its season with two favorable matchups against Tulsa and Chicago on Friday and Saturday.
The Silver Stars host Washington on Saturday before concluding their schedule at the Shock on Sunday.