By Tiffany Williams –
LOS ANGELES — Sunday night, the Connecticut Sun (3-18) dropped a hard-fought road contest to the Los Angeles Sparks (7-14), 92-88. With the loss, the Sun fall to 0-1 against the Sparks this season. The teams will meet again on July 24 in Uncasville.
Bria Hartley delivered her most impactful performance since returning to regular minutes, finishing with 25 points, a season-high six assists, and four made threes. She served as the offensive engine early, tallying 12 points and five assists in the first half while keeping the Sun’s offense in rhythm.
Rookie guard Saniya Rivers had a breakout game, scoring a career-high 20 points to go along with six rebounds, three steals, and a block. Her energy on both ends fueled multiple Sun runs, and her ability to create off the dribble — combined with a career-best three made threes — added a dynamic layer to Connecticut’s backcourt. It also marked her fifth game this season with 3+ steals, underscoring her growing two-way impact.
Despite one of their strongest offensive showings of the year — including 50% shooting from the field and a season-high 49 first-half points — the Sun couldn’t get the key stops they needed late. The Sparks closed both the second and fourth quarters on crucial scoring spurts (8-2 in Q2, 6-3 in Q4), which ultimately swung the game.
Defensively, Connecticut struggled to contain L.A.’s frontcourt and transition attack. Azura Stevens powered the Sparks with 21 points and 11 rebounds, exploiting the Sun’s interior defense. Rickea Jackson (19 pts) and Dearica Hamby (17 pts) repeatedly attacked mismatches, while Kelsey Plum added 23 to lead all scorers. In all, Los Angeles had four players finish in double figures and capitalized on second-chance opportunities.
The Sun started strong, hitting 72.7% of their shots early in the first quarter and riding that efficiency to a 30-point opening frame — a season best. But Los Angeles adjusted out of the break, opening the third quarter on an 8-1 run and taking control of the tempo. For Connecticut, slow third-quarter starts and lapses in defensive focus have been recurring issues throughout the season.
Still, there are signs of growth. Rivers’ emergence, Hartley’s return to form, and the improved offensive flow are encouraging. But at 3-18, the Sun continue to search for answers in close games. Sunday’s loss underscored the need for greater defensive consistency, stronger rebounding, and better execution down the stretch. The flashes of promise are there — but translating them into wins remains the next step in this team’s evolution.