Sports News

Connecticut Sun (9-27, 7-9 Eastern Conference) at New York Liberty (22-15, 11-5 Eastern Conference)

New York; Monday, 7 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Connecticut Sun visits the New York Liberty after Bria Hartley scored 23 points in the Sun's 94-84 victory over the Chicago Sky.

The Liberty have gone 11-5 against Eastern Conference opponents. New York is second in the WNBA with 21.9 assists per game. Natasha Cloud leads the Liberty averaging 5.3.

The Sun have gone 7-9 against Eastern Conference opponents. Connecticut is ninth in the WNBA with 8.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Aneesah Morrow averaging 1.9.

New York averages 9.8 made 3-pointers per game, 1.6 more made shots than the 8.2 per game Connecticut allows. Connecticut averages 6.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.0 fewer made shots on average than the 8.3 per game New York allows.

The teams play for the fourth time this season. The Liberty won the last matchup 87-78 on Aug. 3, with Sabrina Ionescu scoring 36 points in the victory.

TOP PERFORMERS: Ionescu is averaging 19 points and 5.3 assists for the Liberty. Jonquel Jones is averaging 16.8 points over the last 10 games.

Tina Charles is averaging 16.3 points and six rebounds for the Sun. Marina Mabrey is averaging 14.5 points over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Liberty: 5-5, averaging 82.5 points, 32.8 rebounds, 22.4 assists, 5.7 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 82.4 points per game.

Sun: 4-6, averaging 78.3 points, 31.5 rebounds, 19.3 assists, 9.9 steals and 4.0 blocks per game while shooting 43.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.9 points.

INJURIES: Liberty: Breanna Stewart: out (leg), Nyara Sabally: out (knee).

Sun: None listed.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Rashid Khan will lead a spin-heavy Afghanistan at the next month’s Asia Cup with uncapped mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar also named in the 17-member Twenty20 squad on Sunday.

Khan was named captain and is joined by Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Mohammad Nabi as the other seasoned spinners for the Sept. 9-28 tournament in the United Arab Emirates, where pitches are expected to help slow bowlers at Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Afghanistan hasn’t played a T20 since beating Zimbabwe in December last year. Afghanistan will tune-up for the Asia Cup by playing a triangular series which begins at Sharjah from Aug. 29 and also features UAE and Pakistan.

Ghazanfar hasn’t played a T20 international but has impressed in his brief ODI career, grabbing two five-wicket hauls in 11 games. He’s been playing in a number of T20 leagues around the world -- notably the Indian Premier League.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, Azmatullah Omarzai, Naveen Ul Haq and Gulbadin Naib are the four pace bowling options in the Afghanistan squad.

The return of Zadran strengthens its batting line-up with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Sediqullah Atal providing firepower upfront with Karim Janat and Zadran in the middle-order.

Afghanistan is placed in a tougher Group B along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. India, Pakistan, Oman and UAE are in Group A. Afghanistan will take on Hong Kong in the opening game of the tournament at Abu Dhabi on Sept. 9.

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Squad: Rashid Khan (captain), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Darwish Rasooli, Sediqullah Atal, Azmatullah Omarzai, Karim Janat, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Mohammad Ishaq, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, AM Ghazanfar, Noor Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Naveen Ul Haq, Fazalhaq Farooqi

Reserves: Wafiullah Tarakhil, Nangeyalia Kharote, Abdullah Ahmadzai

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket