Very little has gone right for the Connecticut Sun three games into the season.

Connecticut ranked last in both field goal and free throw percentage prior to Wednesday’s WNBA games and second-to-last scoring. No one has struggled more than All-Star Alex Bentley, who’s been the team’s best shooter. The defense hasn’t been much better, either.

A visit from the unbeaten Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday won't help things. The game is at Mohegan Sun Arena (7 p.m.)

“We know we’re going up against Murderers’ Row,” Sun coach Curt Miller said, referring to the Sparks as well Connecticut's upcoming road trip against the loaded Phoenix Mercury and improved Seattle Storm.

Miller knew the start of the season wouldn’t be easy for Connecticut as it’s had to learn the new system. The first-year head coach has been lauded for his offensive mind by the likes of Geno Auriemma and Los Angeles coach Brian Agler, but the Sun’s offense has been as blah as it’s been the previous three seasons.

“I don't think there's just one thing (wrong),” Miller said. “The system is all-new and we’re trying to get people in position to succeed. I think we’ve turned the ball over too much. The ball sticks at times in certain player’s hands, and it when it sticks, we end up taking poor shots or have had a poor shot selection. ... My coaching staff and I have just as much responsibility as the players.”

Connecticut looked to improve its shooting via April’s draft and used the fourth overall pick on Minnesota’s Rachel Banham. Banham scored 3,093 career points, the seventh-most across all divisions in NCAA history, and a career 39-percent 3-point shooter. Miller also wanted to groom her to be a point guard.

Banham has averaged 10.3 minutes and 4.3 points, while starting point guard Jasmine Thomas has averaged a team-high 33.7 minutes.

“We love Rachel,” Miller said. “I think she’s more comfortable at the two guard right now, but she’s good with the ball in her hands. One of the strengths of San Antonio (which the Sun beat on May 19) was the quickness of (guards) Moriah Jefferson and Sydney Colson. And one of the concerns for us against Washington (last Saturday) was its ability to bring (guard) Bria Hartley off ball screens. So we tried to protect her and get her matchups to be successful. ... A lot of it is just me being willing to roll the dice and play her for extended minutes and play through (rookie) mistakes."

Los Angeles (4-0) has looked like the biggest threat to WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx and has won by an average of 20 points. It’s been led by forwards Candace Parker (20.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg, 4 apg) and Nneka Ogwumike (16.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg). Guard Kristi Toliver has averaged 14.3 points and made 52.6-percent of her 3-pointers, too.

The Sparks are in the second year under Agler, one of the best coaches in women’s basketball. He won two titles in the now-defunct American Basketball League and coached Seattle to the 2010 WNBA title.

“Obviously I’m biased having been there last year working with the majority of the players (as an assistant)," Miller said, "but I truly thought L.A. was the best team in the second-half of the season last year, but they never got completely healthy enough to get past Minnesota. They’ve just taken that and built on it.

“The play of Candace Parker and Nneka has been off-the-charts, but what I appreciate watching them play is the defensive intensity led by (guard) Alana Beard. She’s single-handedly changed the outcome of games. She’s so disruptive. … What she’s doing has been fun to watch.”

n.griffen@theday.com