Alyssa Thomas Pops in 21, Sun Stop Dream

Alyssa Thomas takes it to the hole for two of her game-high 21 points. The
Sun defeated Atlanta, and are now tied with the Dream, 1.5 games out of a
playoff position. (Photo courtesy Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images)

By Bob Phillips

BRADENTON, Fla.—Alyssa Thomas led all scorers with 21 points, and the Connecticut Sun beat the Atlanta Dream 93-82 at “The Wubble” at IMG Academy on Monday night. Jasmine Thomas had 15 points and seven assists, DeWanna Bonner scored 12 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had three steals and Brionna Jones scored 11 points with four boards and three steals for the Sun.

Shekinna Stricklen, who started all 34 regular season and eight playoff games for the Sun last season before signing with Atlanta as a free agent, led the Dream with 18 points. All of her points came from beyond the three-point arc, and all came in the first half. Kalani Brown (13 points) and Courtney Williams (12) also scored in double digits for the Dream, who fell to 2-6. Williams had spent the past four seasons with the Sun, also starting all regular and postseason contests last year, before being traded to Atlanta in a three-team transaction with Phoenix in the mix. Last postseason, Williams averaged 17.9 points, 5.8 boards and 4.4 assists.

Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas combined to score 26 points in the first half as Connecticut built a 56-46 lead. The Sun put it away in the third quarter by holding the Dream to 15 points.

The Dream lost guard Chennedy Carter in the first quarter with an ankle injury. Atlanta’s rookie star was averaging 19.4 points per game, but was scoreless in three minutes before leaving the contest.

Bonner’s nine rebounds moved her to the No. 20 spot on the WNBA all-time list. The Sun improved to 2-6 and are now tied with the Dream, 1.5 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot.

“You know what? People may call us crazy, but we’re going to the damn beach,” Sun head coach and general manager said after the game. “We’re going to have fun, and we’re going to forget about basketball for a day and then we’ll get back to it. These guys need a break. The schedule is brutal.”

Because of the delayed start to the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams are playing a game every two or three days this season.

Speaking of which, after they get back from the beach, the Sun will prepare to take on the 3-5 Dallas Wings. The game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

—Staff Reports