By Tiffany Williams –
The Connecticut Sun played against the Minnesota Lynx in game three of the WNBA Semifinals at Mohegan Sun Arena. Unfortunately, the Sun lost the game with a score of 90-81, putting the Lynx in the lead for the series at 2-1. The Lynx will have the opportunity to close out the series in game four on Sunday.
All five Connecticut starters achieved double-digit scores in the game. Brionna Jones led the team with 21 points, four rebounds, and five assists, marking her first double-digit performance in the 2024 postseason and her first 20+ point postseason performance since August 21, 2022.
DeWanna Bonner contributed 16 points, eight rebounds, one assist, and one steal, surpassing Candace Parker for second place in all-time scoring in WNBA postseason history with a total of 1,159 points from 85 postseason appearances.
Marina Mabrey recorded 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one block in 36 minutes of play, despite struggling with her shooting, going 6 for 20 from the field and 1 for 11 from beyond the three-point line. Alyssa Thomas added 13 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, while DiJonai Carrington also scored 13 points, along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Carrington has now achieved double-digit scores in all five of the Sun’s postseason games.
Connecticut achieved a 41.1% shooting percentage (30-73), while Minnesota achieved a 57.4% shooting percentage (35-61), marking the highest field goal percentage that the Sun have allowed in franchise postseason history.
Despite being outscored by Minnesota in points in the paint (48-44), fast break points (5-3), and bench points (11-4), Connecticut managed to outscore Minnesota in second chance points, with a score of 17-8.
Following their loss, Connecticut Sun Head Coach Stephanie White said, “It was a tough one for us. They got to do pretty much whatever they wanted to on the offensive end of the floor. I felt like we didn’t do a good enough job as coaches of preparing us to play today. That’s on us. We got outplayed, we got out executed, and got out coached. You’re playing with an opportunity to go to the WNBA Finals. We’ve got an opportunity still in front of us. Our back is against the wall. We know that we have to be better.”