Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury preview capsule

Location : Mohegan Sun Arena

Tip: 1 p.m. (Ch. 8)

Previous game’s starters: Mercury, 6-2 F Mikiah Herbert Harrigan (3.2 ppg), 6-9 C Brittney Griner (18.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.1 apg), 6-1 G Kahleah Copper (23.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.3 apg), 6-2 G Bec Allen (7.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg), 6-1 G Sophie Cunningham (8.0 ppg, 2.1 apg).

Sun, 5-10 G Ty Harris (11.1 ppg, 3.0 apg), 5-11 G DiJonai Carrington (13.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg), 6-4 G DeWanna Bonner (17.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg), 6-2 F Alyssa Thomas (11.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 7.9 apg), 6-3 F Brionna Jones (13.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg).

Noteworthy : In theory, a game between the Sun (17-5) and the Mercury (12-11) would feature four members of the U.S. Olympic women’s basketball team in Connecticut’s Thomas and Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner and Copper of Phoenix. Taurasi, however, the former UConn great and the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, heading to her sixth Olympics in Paris, hasn’t played since July 3 due to a left lower leg injury and Griner left Friday’s 95-86 loss at Indiana with a right hip injury. Thomas, however, is the league leader in assists (7.9 per game) and Copper finished with 36 points against the Fever, still providing plenty of marquee material. ... The Mercury finished the game against Indiana with just five players, starting with seven but losing Griner in the first half and Allen to a minutes restriction. Phoenix head coach Nate Tibbetts addressed the dwindling numbers in his postgame remarks. “We’re going through a little adversity here with all of our injuries,” he said. “It could have been easy for us to hang our heads but we continued to fight. ... I’m thankful for my time in the (NBA) D League, to be completely honest. There were some nights we had to play with eight (players), but not a lot of nights where you saw seven being rolled out there like we did (Friday). My hope is that the league will expand the roster sizes. It can be better than what it is.” For Sunday’s game, starters Natasha Cloud (left knee), Griner and Taurasi are listed as questionable, while Charisma Osborne (lower left leg) and Sug Sutton (right hamstring) are still out. ... The Sun are coming off a 71-68 loss to the first-place New York Liberty last Wednesday, in which Bonner had 22 points, nine rebounds and three assists in 40 minutes for her third straight performance with 20-or-more points. ... Bonner (484) is second to Taurasi (548) in most career games played among active players. ... Phoenix’s Allen, who was a member of the Sun roster last season, will also head to Paris for the 2024 Olympics, representing Australia. It is Allen’s second Olympics. ... Connecticut’s Moriah Jefferson remains out, recovering from a right ankle injury, and Tiffany Mitchell (left hip) is listed as questionable. ... The WNBA All-Star Game will be played at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, July 20, in Phoenix.

— Vickie Fulkerson