Los Angeles Sparks vs Connecticut Sun Picks and Prediction for Tuesday August 18, 2026

The Los Angeles Sparks travel to Boston to face the Connecticut Sun on Tuesday, August 18, at TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET, with coverage on WNBA League Pass and NBC Sports Boston. Los Angeles enters at 12-22 overall and 7-11 on the road, while Connecticut is 8-25 overall and 5-12 at home. The Sparks are 1.5-point favorites with a total of 172.5. Los Angeles has lost four straight games, while Connecticut has dropped two in a row. The Sun won the first meeting between these teams 84-81, but ESPN's matchup predictor gives Los Angeles a 55.3% chance of evening the season series. Check out our free WNBA picks for more WNBA predictions and betting analysis.

Los Angeles Looks to End a Four-Game Slide

Los Angeles enters Tuesday on a four-game losing streak and is 1-4 over its last five games. The Sparks' only victory during that stretch was an 89-82 road win. Their four losses have come by margins of six, seven, four, and 10 points, leaving Los Angeles at 12-22 overall and 7-11 away from home.

The Sparks average 88.3 points per game while shooting 46% from the field. They also average 31.1 rebounds and 22.1 assists per contest. Defensively, Los Angeles allows 93.0 points per game while averaging 7.6 steals and 3.1 blocks.

Scoring isn't the primary problem for Los Angeles. The Sparks average 9.1 more points per game than Connecticut and have the stronger shooting numbers, but their 93.0 points allowed per game have made it difficult to turn that production into wins. Against a Connecticut offense averaging only 79.2 points, Los Angeles has an opportunity to improve defensively.

Connecticut Needs More Offensive Production

Connecticut comes into Tuesday at 8-25 overall and 5-12 at home. The Sun have lost four of their last five games, including consecutive defeats by scores of 82-75 and 104-69. Their lone victory during this stretch was a 75-72 home win. Connecticut did defeat Los Angeles 84-81 in the first meeting of the season.

The Sun average 79.2 points per game while shooting 43% from the field. Connecticut averages 33.1 rebounds and 19.0 assists per game while allowing 87.2 points. Defensively, the Sun produce 8.0 steals and 4.8 blocks per contest.

Connecticut has the better defensive numbers and a 2.0-rebound advantage per game, but the offensive gap is difficult to ignore. The Sun average fewer than 80 points while Los Angeles is producing more than 88. Connecticut will need its defense and rebounding to slow the pace and prevent the Sparks from turning this into a higher-scoring game.

Los Angeles Sparks vs Connecticut Sun Picks and Prediction

Pick: Los Angeles Sparks -1.5

Los Angeles -1.5 is the side pick. Neither team enters in good form, but the Sparks have the considerably stronger offensive profile, averaging 88.3 points while shooting 46% from the field. Los Angeles has also kept three of its four losses during the current skid within seven points. Connecticut won the first meeting by only three, and with the spread requiring little more than a straight-up Sparks victory, Los Angeles -1.5 is the preferred play.

Pick: Under 172.5

Under 172.5 gets the nod on the total. Connecticut averages only 79.2 points per game, and four of its last five contests have finished with 176 points or fewer. The Sun also allow 5.8 fewer points per game than Los Angeles. The Sparks are capable of pushing the pace, but Connecticut's offensive limitations should make it difficult for both teams to combine for the scoring required to clear 172.5.