Previews: Aces seek revenge against Sun

Tuesday night’s slate of WNBA action begins with a good one at 7 p.m. ET as the second-place Sun host the third-place Aces in a rematch of a close game won by the Sun on May 23. That was the game where Connecticut coach Curt Miller made insensitive comments about Liz Cambage’s weight. Miller was fined and suspended for a game that the Sun lost to the Storm.

The Aces are going to want revenge and are still trying to prove that they are the top team in the league. Their back-to-back 100-point efforts against the Fever certainly have them headed in the right direction.

At 8 p.m. ET, the Sparks look to avenge a home-opener loss to the Wings. LA has quietly moved up to 2-2, ahead of the Wings in the standings, even though the Wings have played well against some good teams and still have that blowout win over the Sparks on their resume. This is as good a time as any for Dallas to get back in the win column, seeing as it is playing a team it knows it can beat.

At 8:30 p.m. the Mercury take on the Sky. Phoenix still has that high ceiling that we always talk about and it gave the Aces a good game last Wednesday. However, that ceiling is a little lower without Diana Taurasi, who is still out with a sternum fracture. Chicago has had trouble with turnovers in its two most recent losses and has lost four in a row. The Sky need to stop the bleeding to avoid being in a deep hole when Candace Parker returns from her ankle injury.

In the last game of the night, at 10:30 p.m., it’s. matchup between the league’s best team, the Seattle Storm, and the league’s last-place team, the Indiana Fever. The Fever played the now 5-2 Liberty close in their first two games of the season, making them look like a competitive team. However, their last two games have been blowout losses, albeit to a team in the Aces that is probably the best the league has to offer. Things aren’t going to get much easier going against the Storm, who were underrated to start the season and deserve respect as the defending champs.

Game Information

Las Vegas Aces (5-2) vs. Connecticut Sun (6-2)

When: Tuesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT

How to watch: ESPN3 or NESN+ or MYLVTV

Keys to the matchup: Jonquel Jones will be going up against Liz Cambage again. Cambage is coming off a game where she had five blocks, but J. Jones has been scoring in the 20s of late. Cambage, on the other hand, is playing a different role this year and hasn’t been asked to do a ton of scoring, but she is certainly capable of having a breakout game and has the advantage over J. Jones in the post. The Aces will have to watch out for J. Jones and Connecticut as a team on the perimeter. The Sun are making the fourth most threes per game and are shooting the second-best percentage from distance.

Aces injury report: Angel McCoughtry (out for season; ACL), Kelsey Plum (out; USA 3x3)

Sun injury report: Alyssa Thomas (out for season; Achilles)

Los Angeles Sparks (2-2) vs. Dallas Wings (1-4)

When: Tuesday, June 1 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: College Park Center in Arlington, TX

How to watch: ESPN3 or BSSW+

Keys to the matchup: Erica Wheeler and Kristi Toliver vs. Arike Ogunbowale and Marina Mabrey should be interesting. Wheeler had been struggling, but came alive in the Sparks’ most recent game by abandoning mid-range shots and getting to the basket. Toliver, on the other hand, was held scoreless. Ogunbowale and Mabrey are the best backcourt scoring duo in the league right now and Wheeler and Toliver are going to have to put up some points to match them. It can’t be all Nneka Ogwumike in the post.

Sparks injury report: Jasmine Walker (out for season; ACL), Chiney Ogwumike (questionable, knee)

Wings injury report: Allisha Gray (out; USA 3x3), Satou Sabally (out; Germany 3x3)

Phoenix Mercury (3-3) vs. Chicago Sky (2-4)

When: Tuesday, June 1 at 8:30 p.m. ET

Where: Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL

How to watch: ESPN or TSN3

Keys to the matchup: Can Ruthy Hebard keep her hot streak going against Brittney Griner and Brianna Turner? It will be a tall task, but Hebard has been a steady inside presence this season. Also, can Skylar Diggins-Smith and the Phoenix backcourt disrupt Courtney Vandersloot and force her into an off night like the one she had on Friday? Probably not, because it doesn’t seem like Vandersloot is going to let that happen again.

Mercury injury report: Bria Hartley (out; knee), Diana Taurasi (out; sternum)

Sky injury report: Candace Parker (questionable; ankle), Allie Quigley (out; hamstring); Stefanie Dolson (out; USA 3x3)

Indiana Fever (1-7) vs. Seattle Storm (5-1)

When: Tuesday, June 1 at 10:30 p.m. ET

Where: Angel of the Wings Arena in Everett, Wash.

How to watch: ESPN2 or TSN3

Keys to the matchup: Ezi Magbegor will face Teaira McCowan again and she had some success last time. Kelsey Mitchell will need to get going for Indiana, but the Fever’s defense will also be key. They said they wanted to improve in that area this season, but are second-to-last in points allowed per game. Slowing down the two-headed monster that is Breanna Stewart and Jewell Loyd has to be Indiana’s No. 1 concern.

Fever injury report: Bernadett Határ (out; ankle), Aaliyah Wilson (out; foot)

Storm injury report: Katie Lou Samuelson (out; USA 3x3)