LAS VEGAS (Interstat) — The Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury, two teams mired near the bottom of the WNBA standings, meet Sunday at Michelob Ultra Arena in a neutral-site clash that could offer a brief respite from disappointing seasons. Connecticut (6-18) visits as the designated road team, while Phoenix (8-17) is listed as the home side. Both clubs have struggled to find consistency. The Sun have won two of their last three games, most recently defeating Portland 90-87 on July 14. The Mercury, meanwhile, have lost four straight, the latest a 104-100 defeat at Minnesota on July 13. The matchup features two of the league’s most accomplished players, albeit in unfamiliar uniforms. Brittney Griner, the longtime Phoenix star, now anchors the Sun’s frontcourt. The 6-foot-9 center has been Connecticut’s most consistent performer. Over her last five games, Griner averaged 17.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists, including a 29-point, 10-rebound outburst in a 90-89 win over Minnesota on July 6. She followed that with 20 points, four rebounds and six assists in the win over Portland. On the Phoenix side, Alyssa Thomas, a former Sun cornerstone, has been the Mercury’s engine. The 6-foot-2 forward posted 19 points, eight rebounds and 12 assists in the loss to Minnesota, her third double-digit assist game in her last four outings. However, Thomas has struggled with efficiency, shooting just 7-of-20 in a 58-106 blowout loss at Las Vegas on July 11. The teams last met Friday, a 0-0 result listed in the record (presumably a postponed or canceled contest). Interstat’s game simulator projects a tight finish, with Connecticut winning 100-99. For Connecticut, the game is part of a stretch before a three-game series at Washington from July 26-28. For Phoenix, Sunday opens a two-game set at Los Angeles on July 21-22. Both teams need wins to climb out of the league’s cellar, where they sit 11th and 10th, respectively, ahead of only the expansion Toronto Tempo.