By DJ Harding
The Connecticut Sun returned home after getting their fifth win of the season on the road in Chicago versus the Sky.
The Sun went into tonight’s game with a record of 5-0 going undefeated so far this season. With the league’s best record Connecitcut would face the Phoenix Mercury.
When asked about the importance of this game Coach White responded by saying “This is the most important game because it’s the next game.”
With this battle comes the battle of the two longest tenured players Diana Taurasi and DeWanna Bonner.
Coach White pregame was asked about the two veterans and said “Those two keep finding the fountain of youth.” Coach White continued by saying ‘Great to see what they continue to do with their age.”
Taurasi, a UCONN Alum, came back to play in the state where she spent her college days finishing with six points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Bonner found herself in another battle as well as this game featuring the battle of players of the week Bonner was awarded Eastern Conference Player of the Week while Kahleah Copper was awarded Western Conference Player of the Week.
Copper ended with seven points in what was a rough night.
Bonner had 19 points which led all scorers. Bonner also reached 7,000 career points making her the fifth player all time to do so.
Bonner spoke postgame about the achievement saying“I didn’t even know it was going to happen but it was cool given the week that we have and to have it at home.” Bonner added “It was perfect timing for me and this team.”
Coach White said pregame when asked about the keys to winning “We have to keep them off the three point line.” Coach White also added “We have to make them work.”
Phoenix indeed had to work and struggled from the field with 23.8 percent from the field and 3.7 percent from three point range. The Mercury shot a rough 1-27 from three point land which is the lowest percentage in a game in WNBA history.
The Game began with a tight battle with the Sun barely holding onto a lead with the score at 15-13 through the first quarter. Brionna Jones and Natasha Cloud led their respective teams with six points each.
Cloud scored nine points in the loss, while Jones scored 16 points in the win.
Connecticut began to pull away in the second quarter with a 13 point lead going into halftime. Alyssa Thomas was on pace for a triple double with six points, five rebounds, and six assists.
Thomas didn’t reach triple double status but had 10 points, eight assists, and six rebounds.
Out of the half the Sun lead only grew as after three quarters the Sun held onto an 18 point lead. The Mercury had no player with over 10 points after three quarters as Phoenix was trailing 35-53.
The Sun closed out the game winning 70-47 winning by 23 points which is their biggest win of the season just far.
Coach White said “we both missed a lot of shots and it wasn’t pretty but it was a quality win against a tough opponent.”
Thomas postgame said “I don’t think our starts have been well but if we can’t score we gotta make sure they can’t score.”
Cloud, Taurasi, and Copper have averaged a combined 60 points per game going into tonight and only combined for 22 points in the loss.
Connecticut has achieved their best start to a season in franchise history with this 6-0 start. The Sun will now get a few days of rest before suiting up Friday to play the Dallas Wings with the chance to improve to 7-0.
Tip off is scheduled for 7:30 PM EST.
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