Upon re-signing with the Sun, Tina Charles couldn’t help but laugh: “I feel like I’m dreaming.” And why wouldn’t she? A one-year deal brought her back to the franchise that drafted her as the No. 1 pick in 2010. Only now, she’s walking straight into a matchup with the team that once made her its own headliner. The Liberty (her first trade destination) is back on the other side of the table, for the 4th time this season. Moreover, Jonquel Jones, the MVP Connecticut shipped out in 2023, is wearing seafoam now. Natasha Cloud, a Sun asset turned Liberty sparkplug, was once also theirs.

Where to Watch the New York Liberty vs Connecticut Sun?

• Date: Saturday, August 30
• Time: 10:00 PM Eastern Time (ET)
• Venue: Footprint Center, Phoenix, Arizona
• Streaming services: WNBA League Pass, FUBO, YouTube TV
• Cable services: CBS Sports Network, WTHR Channel 13, Spectrum SportsNet

Injury Report

New York Liberty:

Predicted Starting Lineup

New York Liberty:

• Leonie Fiebich: 28.4 MIN, 9.1 PTS, 1.8 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.5 BLK, 3.7 REB
• Jonquel Jones: 27.1 MIN, 14.9 PTS, 2.6 AST, 0.4 STL, 1.2 BLK, 8.6 REB
• Emma Meesseman: 27.7 MIN, 13.5 PTS, 3.9 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.9 BLK, 5.8 REB
• Natasha Cloud: 30.9 MIN, 13.0 PTS, 5.3 AST, 1.3 STL, 0.3 BLK, 4.7 REB
• Marine Johannes: 18.9 MIN, 6.9 PTS, 1.6 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.3 BLK, 2.0 REB

Connecticut Sun: 

• Aneesah Morrow: 17.8 MIN, 7.2 PTS, 0.5 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK, 6.1 REB
• Tina Charles: 28.5 MIN, 16.3 PTS, 1.7 AST, 0.9 STL, 0.5 BLK, 6.0 REB
• Bria Hartley: 22.5 MIN, 9.1 PTS, 3.0 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.0 BLK, 1.9 REB
• Marina Mabrey: 31.2 MIN, 14.5 PTS, 4.0 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.3 BLK, 4.6 REB
• Leila Lacan: 26.2 MIN, 8.9 PTS, 3.8 AST, 2.4 STL, 0.1 BLK, 2.4 REB

How the New York Liberty vs Connecticut Sun Might Go Down…

Taking a broader view, this game between Connecticut and New York comes across as a meeting between two teams residing in entirely different neighborhoods of the WNBA landscape. The Liberty holds the fifth-best record in the league at 22-15. In stark contrast, the Sun is third from the bottom with a 9-27 record. They are battling more for respect than for a playoff spot, even though they have quietly put together a three-game winning streak.

The energy for Connecticut clearly revolves around Bria Hartley. Her 23-point explosion in their most recent game is exactly the type of outing this team requires simply to stay competitive. She will be supported by Tina Charles, who is the Sun’s most reliable scorer (16.3 PPG) and rebounder (6.0 RPG). Also, the newer additions like Aneesah Morrow provide a tough 6.1 rebounds in fewer than 18 minutes of play. Leila Lacan’s defensive presence and length (2.4 steals a game) serve as an X-factor, but this remains a squad that averages only 75.7 points per game and is typically outperformed in shooting (41.2% FG) and rebounding by the league’s better teams.

New York, simply put, possesses greater depth and refinement. Even though not all of their stars are shining, Jonquel Jones is still serving as a defensive anchor inside (8.6 RPG, 1.2 BLK), and consistent wing production from Emma Meesseman and Natasha Cloud. Leonie Fiebich also contributes additional versatility and shooting. They put up 85.7 points per game, rebound more effectively (33.8 RPG), and share the ball more efficiently (21.9 APG). Their only recent flaw has been a lack of rhythm. It shows in the two consecutive losses, which included a confusing defeat against Atlanta.

The history of this matchup also strongly favors New York: they have won two of the three games in this season’s series, one of which was a 100–52 rout. Connecticut’s sole victory came at home back in early August by a score of 78–62, but they now have to play in Brooklyn. There, the Liberty have been much stronger with a 14–5 record.

A win for the Sun isn’t out of the question; they are carrying positive momentum, and both Charles and Hartley are capable of overperforming. But they are confronting a team that is more athletic, has a deeper bench, and holds an advantage in nearly every statistical category. The ESPN prediction model states it plainly: New York Liberty 90.2%, Connecticut Sun 9.8%.