Connecticut Sun take on Mystics tonight in Washington

The Connecticut Sun play at the Washington Mystics on Tuesday night (Capital One Arena, 7, NBCSB), their third meeting of the season.

Connecticut hasn't been the same since the last meeting.

The Mystics won, 95-91, on June 12, the beginning of Connecticut's four-game losing streak.

The most costly part of that loss was forward Alyssa Thomas having to leave the game with a shoulder injury and she hasn't played since. She's listed as doubtful for Tuesday's game. She's averaged 12 points and is second in the league in rebounding (9.9 rpg) and ninth in assists (4.2 apg).

Post Chiney Ogwumike also had to sit out an 89-72 loss at the Phoenix Mercury to a knee injury on June 16. She tweaked the knee the night before in a 103-92 loss at the Seattle Storm.

Connecticut (8-5) hasn't helped itself the last five games, either. Point guard Jasmine Thomas, wing Shekinna Stricklen and off-guard Alex Bentley have all shot 33.3 percent or less over that time.

Fouls have been a major issue, too, as opponents have averaged a league-high 23.4 free throw attempts against the Sun.

Ogwumike is second in the league in fouls (49). Starting center Jonquel Jones, an All-WNBA second team pick in just her second season last year, has been seriously limited due to fouling. She has 23 fouls in 89 minutes over the last five games. She only played 25 minutes the previous two games due to 10 fouls.

Connecticut needed reserves Rachel Banham and Brionna Jones to both have career games to beat the one-win Indiana Fever on Sunday, 87-78.

Forward Elena Delle Donne scored 36 and guard Kristi Toliver 25 in Washington's win over the Sun two weeks ago.

The Mystics are 8-5 with three of those losses happening when Delle Donne was out ill.