By Tiffany Williams –
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Connecticut Sun (3–20) returned from the WNBA All-Star break looking to reset their season but instead fell 101–86 to the Los Angeles Sparks (10–14) Thursday night at Mohegan Sun Arena. The loss dropped Connecticut to 0–2 against Los Angeles this season, with their final matchup set for August 7 in L.A.
The defeat also snapped the Sun’s seven-game home win streak against the Sparks, marking their first loss to Los Angeles in Uncasville since August 28, 2020.
Connecticut debuted a new starting five featuring rookie Leïla Lacan, who made her first career WNBA start. She was joined by Bria Hartley, Saniya Rivers, Tina Charles, and Olivia Nelson-Ododa.
The Sun opened hot, shooting 5-of-5 from the field to start the game and taking a 27–22 lead after the first quarter, powered by nine early points from Charles. But that momentum was quickly erased. Los Angeles responded with a 10–0 run to open the second quarter and eventually took a 45–44 lead into halftime. While the Sun scored 18 points off 10 first-half Sparks turnovers, they struggled to create consistent offense beyond that.
The third quarter unraveled fast. The Sparks poured in 32 points — tying the most Connecticut has surrendered in any third frame this season — and pushed their lead to nine. After opening the fourth on an 8–4 run, Los Angeles closed out the game comfortably.
Statistically, the game told a clear story of contrast between efficiency and missed opportunities. The Sparks shot an impressive 52.4% from the field (33-of-63) and 42.9% from three-point range (12-of-28), while the Sun struggled to find rhythm, finishing just 38.2% (29-of-76) overall and 33.3% (8-of-24) from beyond the arc. Los Angeles dominated the paint with 44 points to Connecticut’s 32, and their bench contributed a substantial 35 points compared to just 14 from the Sun. Despite forcing 14 turnovers and converting them into 23 points, Connecticut failed to capitalize in transition, managing only six fast-break points to the Sparks’ 16 — a telling sign of the Sun’s sluggish pace and offensive inconsistency.
Tina Charles continued to lead the way with her fifth double-double of the season, posting 24 points, 10 rebounds, two assists, and one steal while shooting 10-of-18 from the field. She now sits just three assists shy of 1,000 for her WNBA career.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa added 17 points, four rebounds, and two blocks in 29 minutes. It marked her 10th double-digit scoring game of 2025 — equaling her total from her first two seasons combined.
Bria Hartley contributed 16 points, three rebounds, and two assists before being ejected at the 6:45 mark of the third quarter after picking up two technical fouls. Her departure disrupted Connecticut’s offensive rhythm and shifted momentum toward Los Angeles during a pivotal stretch.
Marina Mabrey returned after missing nine games with a left knee injury, logging seven points, three assists, two rebounds, and two steals in 26 minutes. She showed flashes but clearly needs time to regain her rhythm.
Rookie Migna Touré made her WNBA debut, playing six minutes off the bench. Lindsay Allen, meanwhile, reached a career milestone with her 200th game, recording two points, three assists, two rebounds, a steal, and a block in 10 minutes.
Once known for defensive toughness and rebounding, the Sun gave up 101 points and allowed L.A. to shoot over 50% from the field and nearly 43% from three. Their defense broke down in rotations, struggled to contest shots, and failed to close out properly on the perimeter.
Hartley’s strong first half kept Connecticut within striking distance. Her ejection forced head coach Stephanie White to reshuffle the backcourt, and the Sparks took advantage — stretching the lead beyond reach.
Charles continues to perform at an elite level, but the offense sputters when she sits. No other player has emerged as a consistent secondary scorer. She accounted for 27% of the team’s points Thursday — a heavy lift with little support.
The Sun opened hot but posted just 17 points in the second quarter and 18 in the fourth. Even when generating turnovers, they failed to convert in transition. Rookie guards Lacan and Touré showed promise but lacked command of the offense in key moments.
One bright spot is Nelson-Ododa’s growth. Her scoring touch and defensive awareness are improving, but her effectiveness remains limited without reliable guard play and structure around her.
At 3–20, the Sun are on pace for one of the worst seasons in franchise history. They remain winless against the Western teams since June, and it’s unclear whether the team will commit to developing younger talent in the season’s final stretch. Players like Lacan, Rivers, and Touré need reps — but the current rotation still leans heavily on veterans.
Connecticut and Los Angeles will meet once more on August 7, but the bigger questions for the Sun revolve around direction, identity, and long-term growth.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that Charles is still producing like an All-Star, Nelson-Ododa is emerging, and the team has begun integrating its younger players. But with only nine games left, time is running out to define what the Connecticut Sun want to be.