By DJ Harding
The Connecticut Sun returned home after winning two games on the road. The Sun would face the Atlanta Dream for the third time this season, an opponent they faced last time they were home on Friday June 28th which resulted in a 78-74 loss.
Coach Stephanie White spoke pregame on facing the Dream last time versus playing them today saying “We improved offensively since we last played Atlanta I think we bounced back very well.”
Also different from last game to this game would be injuries as Atlanta was missing three players they had last time the two teams faced off.
Ariel Powers, Jordin Canada, and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus all were out with injury along with Rhyne Howard who missed the previous matchup as well.
For Connecticut Moriah Jefferson is still out with an ankle injury which had kept her sidelined from action since June 12th.
Coach White also mentioned what it would take to win their third straight game saying “Have to play well consistently for 40 minutes.”
The first quarter was a tale of two parts as before the 6:15 minute mark of the first Connetciut found themselves down 6-4 with Nia Coffey scoring all six points for the Dream.
Coffey had nine points by the end of the quarter but after a clock malfunction the Sun outscored the Dream 16-10 to end the quarter. DeWanna Bonner scored eight points leading the Sun going into the second with a 20-16 lead.
Coffey finished the night with 11 points in the loss, only scoring two points in the rest of the game after the first quarter.
Bonner meanwhile had 23 points which led all scorers in her first game back in Connecticut since being named an All-Star. For Bonner this will be her sixth all-star game.
Bonner achieved a career high in three’s with seven of them in the win. Bonner spoke on the achievement saying “I’m in the gym constantly shooting threes.”
Photo By:Tammy McManaway
Joining Bonner in Phoenix will be Brionna Jones on Team WNBA who is making her third appearance. On the other team but traveling with them to Phoenix will be Alyssa Thomas who is playing for Team USA and appearing in her fifth all-star game.
Jones spoke on the all star nod “to be able to recover and play at an all-star level is a bit mind blowing but I’m grateful.”
Coach White talked about Jones saying “I’m proud of her cause that’s not an easy injury to comeback from.”
Jones by the end of the game scored 11 points and grabbed four rebounds.
Photo By:Tammy McManaway
Alyssa Thomas had a near triple double in the win with seven points, seven rebounds, and nine assists.
Connecticut used the second quarter to extend their lead from four to ten points. The Sun led 34-24 behind 22 points from their big three of Bonner, Jones, and Thomas.
For Atlanta meanwhile Coffey and Allisha Gray each had nine points going into the half combining for 18 of the Dream’s 24 points.
Gray scored 19 points leading the Dream in scoring, Gray is also the lone all-star selection for the Atlanta Dream and will be on team WNBA with Bonner and Jones.
This will be Gray’s second appearance in an all-star game. Gray made her first all-star appearance last year.
The Sun came out of the half and blew the game open giving themselves a 67-49 lead by the end of the third quarter.
Despite the rough quarter from Atlanta, Tina Charles scored 11 of her team’s 25 third quarter points giving her 13 points up to that point.
Charles stayed at 13 points as she didn’t suit up in the fourth quarter.
Jones spoke about playing against Charles and said “I’ve had my battles playing against Tina.”
In the fourth Connecticut closed out the game and went on to win 80-67.
Tiffany Mitchell off the bench scored 13 points in the win as the Sun bench outscored the Dream 22-17.
Photo By: Tammy McManaway
“She’s been great at attacking closeouts and going downhill.” Coach White told the media postgame about Mitchell’s performance.
Bonner spoke postgame and said “we needed this win and it shows the character of this team that we wanted to win.”
“Proud of our group and we have improved over the last three games.” Said Coach White after the game. Coach White continued saying “big win for us.”
Connecticut will now get a few days off before playing the New York Liberty who beat them in their last matchup during the commissioners cup.
Both teams are at a record of 17-4 which is tied for the league best. So both teams will be battling for the best record in the league on Wednesday with tip-off schedule for 11am.