The New York Liberty have had an up and down season, currently sitting in ninth place in the league with a record of 6 wins and 10 losses. They went through a 1 win, 7 loss slump at the beginning of the season, but have rebounded recently with 5 wins in their last 8 games. However, most of those wins have come against weaker opponents, and performance against stronger teams still leaves something to be desired. Notably, the Liberty's star forward Rebecca Allen will be unavailable for this game due to the concussion protection protocol, which will undoubtedly have an impact on the team's fighting spirit.
In contrast, the Connecticut Sun are more stable, currently ranking second in the league with a record of 12 wins and 5 losses. The Suns were defeated by the Seattle Storm on the road in the last round of games, but they still have a clear advantage in the interior, with a total of 43 rebounds, 13 more than their opponents. In addition, the Suns have an overwhelming advantage of 9 wins and 1 loss in their past 10 meetings with the Liberty, showing their huge psychological advantage.
Considering the recent performances and historical records of the two teams, the Connecticut Sun have some psychological and technical advantages in this game. Despite the Liberty's recent winning streak, they still face a tough challenge against the powerful Sun. Expect this game to be a close contest, with the Suns expected to utilize their inside dominance to control the pace and outcome of the game.
Based on all stats, the projected score for this game is Connecticut Sun 85 - New York Liberty 78. This prediction takes into account the Suns' home-court advantage, interior strength, and the Liberty's lack of key players.
