By DJ Harding
The Connecticut Sun suited up for the second game of the 2024 regular season once again on their home floor. The Sun began the season with a 21 point win over the Indiana Fever before facing the Washington Mystics.
When asked about keeping the momentum Coach Stephanie White told me pregame “We have to play to our standard no matter how many eyes or watching or no matter the opponent.” White then said “Without the external hype you have to find the hype internally.”
Washington traveled into Connecticut with a record of 0-1 after losing their season opener at home to the New York Liberty.
Even though Washington was on the road; it was a bit of a homecoming for Aaliyah Edwards. Edwards, a rookie, was drafted sixth overall from UConn and was playing her first game back in Connecticut since playing for the Huskies.
Edwards had six points and one assist in 18 minutes of play during her return to Connecticut.
Going into tonight’s game both Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Moriah Jefferson were on the injury report for the Connecticut Sun. Coach Stephanie White told reporters pregame “I expect them to play tonight.”
Nelson-Ododa finished the night with eight points. While Jefferson ended with eight points as well adding three steals.
Brionna Jones, still battling back from injury was once again on a minutes restriction as Coach White aired the same sentiment from Tuesday’s home opener saying “She’ll continue to be on a minutes restriction and we are playing the long game.”
Coach White also commented on Jones’s performance in the season opener saying “ I think Brionna played great that first game. A lot of fun having her back out there.”
Jones scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds in the win.
The game began with a back and forth feel as the Mystics took the lead by the end of the first quarter but not by much as Washington led 20-18. Karlie Samuelson led all scorers with eight points after the first quarter.
Samuelson had 18 points which led the Mystics in scoring. Samuelson also had three rebounds and four assists in the loss.
Connecticut kept the game close and would tie it up going into the half with the score at 36 a piece. Dijonia Carrington led the Sun with 10 points at the end of the second quarter.
Carrington ended with 21 points and added four boards to her performance.
Carrington commented on her performance and told me postgame “These are things I have in my bag and now with more opportunities and more confidence it’s helping. I have to be more efficient as well though.”
Coach White also commented on Carrington’s performance saying “Dijonai was great for us on both ends.”
Washington would once again hold the lead after three quarters of play going up 56-52. Going into the fourth quarter no team held a bigger lead then six points with the game winnable by either team with 10 minutes left in regulation.
The Sun early in the fourth quarter struggled before with eight minutes left going on a 15-0 run to go from down six points to ahead by nine giving them their largest lead of the night.
The Mystics didn’t go down without a fight but in the end the Connecticut Sun went on to win 84-77.
Coach White postgame said “we had an average first three quarters and we were able to gut it out in the fourth.” Coach White continued saying “winning games in this league is hard.”
DeWanna Bonner called it a ugly win saying “Washington always plays us tough.”
Carrington also talked about the win postgame saying “Like Bonner said it ain’t always going to be pretty.”
Bonner led all scorers with 22 points adding six rebounds to her performance. 14 of Bonner’s 22 points came in the fourth quarter.
Bonner spoke on her performance “I had to do something. I feel like the first three quarters weren’t my best so I had to turn it up or sit down.”
Alyssa Thomas led all players in rebounds with 11 on her way to what was her second straight double-double to begin the season with 13 points. Thomas also had six assists which left her four shy of another triple-double.
Connecticut did have a poor shooting night and as Bonner put it postgame “We need to get in the gym.”.
The Sun will have a few days to get in the gym before playing their first road game of the season facing the Indiana Fever who they played in their season opener.
The game itself takes place on Monday May 20.
With tip-off in Indiana is scheduled for 7:00 PM EST.
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