Washington after a collapse against the league’s worst defense: prediction for Connecticut Sun vs Washington Mystics - 18.06.2026
Connecticut Sun
Washington Mystics
On Thursday night, the WNBA regular season action heads to Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, where the Connecticut Sun host the Washington Mystics. The visitors come in as -4.5 favorites, and this status is justified not just by their roster, but by Connecticut’s deep issues on both ends of the floor.
Connecticut Sun: the season is falling apart and the defense can’t hold up
The Connecticut Sun lost to the Indiana Fever 75-85, once again showing why their season started off so painfully. The team sits at 2-13, averaging just 77.9 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot 47.4% from the field - one of the worst marks in the league.
The Sun’s main problem is the lack of a reliable defensive foundation. Connecticut gives up 89.1 points per game, consistently loses the battle for shot quality, and isn’t making up for it with efficient offense: the team struggles from the free throw line, is inconsistent from beyond the arc, and rarely gets easy buckets when it counts.
Washington Mystics: stinging blowout and a chance to bounce back quickly
The Washington Mystics enter this matchup after a tough 64-86 loss to the New York Liberty. The team shot just 33.8% from the field, hit only 7 of 25 three-pointers, and struggled at the free throw line - making just 9 of 16 attempts.
Still, the Mystics have reasons to expect a response. Washington works the boards well, grabbing 35.4 rebounds per game, and can force opponents into mistakes, but the main challenge is cutting down on their own turnovers: 16.3 per game is simply too many and disrupts the offensive flow, making it hard to maintain tempo.
Match facts
- The Washington Mystics lost to the New York Liberty 64-86, shooting just 33.8% from the field.
- The Connecticut Sun hold a 2-13 record and allow an average of 89.1 points per game.
- The Sun allow opponents to shoot 47.4% from the field, while the Mystics average 81.4 points per game.
Washington should punish the weak defense: prediction for Connecticut Sun vs Washington Mystics
Connecticut might try to stay in the game at home by winning the rebounding battle, playing aggressive, and taking better care of the ball, but the Sun’s current defensive level leaves too many gaps for opponents. Even Washington’s sometimes inconsistent offense should find a favorable matchup here: against a team that regularly allows a high shooting percentage, the Mystics should look more confident than they did against Liberty. For Washington, it’s crucial not to get dragged into chaos or hand Connecticut extra possessions through turnovers. If the Mystics play a bit cleaner offensively and exploit the Sun’s weaknesses both on the perimeter and in the paint, their victory looks very realistic.
