Struggling Sun play at Los Angeles tonight

Very little has gone right for the Connecticut Sun the past few weeks.

Connecticut has been shorthanded and has lost six of its last eight games headed into tonight's game at the second-place Los Angeles Sparks (Staples Center, 10:30, WCCT-20).

Starting forward Alyssa Thomas has missed the Sun's last seven games to a shoulder injury and is listed as doubtful for today.

Connecticut (9-7) was able to overcome starting post Chiney Ogwumike missing all of last season due to Achilles surgery as it finished with the league's fourth-best record (21-13) and ended a four-year playoff drought. It's been unable to do the same without Thomas. The Sun's last six losses have happened since her shoulder popped out during a 95-91 loss to the Washington Mystics (June 13). She was second in the league in rebounding (9.9 rpg) and ninth in assists (4.2) prior to her injury.

Starting guard Courtney Williams missed the Sun's 84-70 loss at the Seattle Storm on Sunday due to a personal issue and still wasn't with the team as of Monday. She's the team's third-leading scorer (12.3 ppg) and rebounder (6.0 rpg).

Los Angeles (12-5) was favored to win the WNBA title this season in the league's preseason GM poll. It trounced the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday 87-71 to stop a twogame losing streak. Those two losses coincided with post 2016 WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike missing three games to a back injury. She had 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds versus the Aces.