Sun, Sparks set for historic conflict in Boston

Tuesday night’s game between the Connecticut Sun and the visiting Los Angeles Sparks will be historic.

When the teams meet at TD Garden in Boston, 107 miles northeast of Connecticut’s home arena in Uncasville, it will mark the first time the Celtics’ home venue has hosted a WNBA game.

“I think it’s important because New England has a rich sports history,” Sun coach Stephanie White said. “It has a way of backing their teams. If we can expose the WNBA to a group of fans that might not have been exposed before, it’s an awesome opportunity for us.”

There won’t be hundreds of fans rattling around thousands of empty seats. The teams will play in front of a sellout crowd of 19,156, the largest audience to ever attend a Connecticut game.

“Bringing the Sun fan and brand to Boston and moving into a new marketing area — it’s exciting for women’s basketball in general to play at TD Garden,” Sun forward Brionna Jones said.

Connecticut (19-7) stumbled in its last game Sunday, losing 82-70 at the Atlanta Dream. The Sun committed 17 turnovers and hit only 35.4 percent of their field goal attempts.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles (6-21) enters off an 87-71 loss at the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday despite Dearica Hamby’s 15th double-double of the year.

Hamby scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, the latest in a season full of solid performances.

The 10th-year veteran is averaging a career-high 18.3 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, making 50.8 percent from the field and 37.9 percent from the 3-point line.

“Nothing but tremendous since she arrived,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said of Hamby, who is in her second season with Los Angeles.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coaching Dearica … She spoke it into existence that she wanted to be an All-Star, wanted to have a career year,” Miller said.

The Sparks, who have lost four straight games, shot just 40.3 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers on Sunday.

Connecticut earned a 79-70 home win on June 18 in the teams’ lone matchup so far this season. All five Sun starters scored in double figures.

–Field Level Media