MAAC Suspends Fall Sports Competition

By Bob Phillips

 

EDISON, NJ—The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference followed the lead of the Ivy League (Yale) and cancelled fall sports competition compliments of the coronavirus pandemic. Other conferences calling off fall athletic competition include America East (University of Hartford), the Atlantic 10, the Colonial Athletic Association, the Mid-East Athletic Conference (MEAC), the Patriot League and the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). If enough D1 conferences opt to throw in the towel for fall sports, the NCAA could call off its fall championships at the Board of Governors’ meeting scheduled for next week (Aug. 4).

Fairfield and Quinnipiac are the two Connecticut schools that compete in the MAAC. Marist, Canisius, Siena, Iona, Monmouth, Niagara, Manhattan, Saint Peter’s and Riders are the other MAAC members.

“The decision to cancel fall sports was made with student-athletes being top of mind,” said MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor (@MAACCommish). “It is difficult to put into words how I feel for all of the student athletes, coaches, and administrators who put in so much work on a daily basis. Health and safety protocols have been of the utmost priority the last several months, but unfortunately, there are too many factors that prohibit the MAAC and its institutions from safely delivering a competitive atmosphere that these individuals deserve.”

Football is not a MAAC sport, but the conference’s decision shutters competition in men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country. For the complete statement, click HERE.

The conference left open the door that its fall sports competitions could be moved to the spring if the pandemic eases its heinous grip around our collective throats.

“The MAAC Executive Committee will explore with the Committee on Athletic Administration(COAA) the goal of providing the student athletes with a schedule of contests among conference members in the spring of 2021 in accordance with each institution’s procedures and applicable state regulatiosn,” said Ensor.

—with staff reports

Fowles, Collier Lead Lynx Over Sun in Opener

The Connecticut Sun dropped their season opener to the Minnesota Lynx,
77-69. All games are being played in the so-called "Wubble" in Bradenton,
Fla.

Photos by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images

BRADENTON, Fla.—It may have taken a while thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the WNBA season finally got started this weekend and, as with virtually every WNBA game played, there were plenty of Connecticut connections. Led by Sylvia Fowles’ had 17 points and 18 rebounds, the Minnesota Lynx rallied from an 11-point second-half deficit to defeat the Connecticut Sun, 77-69, on Sunday. Former UConn star Napheesa Collier scored nine of her 11 points in the final five minutes. Shenise Johnson scored 13 points for Minnesota and another former Husky, rookie Crystal Dangerfield, had 10 points in her WNBA debut for the Lynx.

Alyssa Thomas led Connecticut with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals. DeWanna Bonner, a three-time All-Star who signed as a free agent with the Sun this offseason, added 19 points, eight rebounds and three steals.

Collier hit a 3-pointer and, after the Sun's Brionna Jones made a put-back layup to make it 65-all, Dangerfield made another 3 to give Minnesota the lead for good with 3:21 to play.

The Lynx missed their first 11 3-point shots before making four of their last six over the final 10-plus minutes.

The Sun return to action on Tuesday in a replay of last year’s WNBA Finals with the Washington Mystics. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m. (ET) and the game will be televised on NESN+ and NBC Sports Washington.

THE SKINNY

Seattle Storms Past Libs

Sabrina Ionescu had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in her WNBA debut.

In the day’s other action for Connecticut sports fans, UConn legend Breanna Stewart poured in 18 points, grabbed eight boards and picked up four steals in her first WNBA game since leading Seattle to the 2018 championship, helping the Storm sail past the New York Liberty 87-71. It was the season opener for both teams. Stewie missed all last season after tearing her Achilles tendon while playing for her Russian club team in April 2019.

Jewell Loyd scored 14 points and the Storm’s other UConn legend—Sue Bird (who also missed the 2019, because of a knee injury)—added 11 points, hitting 3 of 5 from 3-point range, and also chipped in with five assists for Seattle.

Sabrina Ionescu, the overall No. 1 pick in this year’s WNBA Draft, had 12 points, six rebounds and four assists in her WNBA debut. While those numbers look good on paper, we all know looks can be deceiving—particularly when you consider the former Oregon superstar went 4-for-17 from the floor (.235), including 0-for-8 from beyond the arc. She also committed four turnovers. Layshia Clarendon led New York with 20 points.

Loyd hit a trey, then converted a conventional three-point play before Stewart made a layup to put Seattle up 34-26 and the Storm led the rest of the way. Jordin Canada scored six points during a 14-4 run to open the fourth quarter that gave the Storm their largest lead when she found Stewart for a 3-pointer that capped the spurt and made it 80-61 with 4:44 to play.

New York’s Kia Nurse— another former UConn star—left the game early in the second quarter because of an ankle injury and did not return.

The 2020 WNBA season, delayed and shortened by the coronavirus pandemic, will be played in a bubble—which players coaches and WNBA aficionados are referring to as “The Wubble”—at the IMG Academy.

THE SKINNY

—Staff Reports

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Sun Announce 2020 Schedule

UNCASVILLE—The Connecticut Sun released their 2020 regular season schedule today. (Editor’s Note: All times mentioned in this story will be Eastern Time.)

The schedule has been decreased to 22 regular season games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 24th WNBA season will take place in Bradenton, FL, at IMG Academy and each team will see a game slate that features each opponent twice. The Sun will have plenty of national exposure this year with at least 10—and possibly 11—games being televised on either ESPN, ESPN2 or CBS Sports Network (CBSSN).

After advancing to the 2019 WNBA Finals, the Sun open the 2020 campaign with a game against Minnesota on Sun., July 26, at 12 p.m. This will be the first of three Sun games to be broadcast on ESPN/ESPN2. The team will then face the Lynx and former Sun guard Rachel Banham again on Aug. 1 at 4 p.m.

Connecticut will have two additional games during the month of July. On Tues., July 28, at 7 p.m., the Sun will face the Washington Mystics for the first time since game 5 of the 2019 WNBA Finals. They will then face Los Angeles on Thurs., July 30, at 10 p.m. on ESPN. Connecticut will see the Sparks and Lynx again approximately a month later on Aug. 28 and 30, respectively. 

The month of August will also consist of games against Seattle, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, Indiana, Las Vegas, New York, and Phoenix. Matchups against the Storm will take place on Tues., Aug. 4, at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 and Sun., Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. On Thurs., Aug. 6, at 8 p.m. and six days later on Wed., Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. on CBSSN, the Sun will face the Dallas Wings. Connecticut will see a similar turnaround against the Chicago Sky tipping off on Aug. 8 and again on the 14. 

A highly anticipated match-up vs. the Atlanta Dream is scheduled for Monday, Aug. 10. The Sun will take on Courtney Williams and Shekinna Stricklen at 6 p.m. They will face each other later in the season on Fri., Sept. 11, at 7 p.m.

For the first time during the 2020 season, the team will see action against Indiana, Las Vegas, New York and Phoenix. The matchup with the Fever will be held on Tues., Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. and the contest against the Aces is scheduled for Thurs., Aug. 20 at 10 p.m. The Sun tipoff against the Liberty on the 22th at 4 p.m. and the Mercury on Aug. 26 at 10 p.m. All four games will be aired on CBSSN.

Connecticut will close out the season with its second round of matchups vs. New York, Las Vegas, Indiana, and Phoenix. Tues., Sept. 1, will feature a matchup against the Liberty at 7 p.m. on CBSSN while on Thurs., Sept. 3 the Sun will face the Aces at 8 p.m. On Sat., Aug. 5 and Wed., Aug. 9, the Sun will compete against the Fever and Mercury.

The official 2020 WNBA season will tipoff on Saturday, July 25 with a matchup between the Seattle Storm and New York Liberty at 12 p.m. on ESPN. The Sun’s local television schedule will be announced in the coming days. For up to date information on the season or the Connecticut Sun, visit ConnecticutSun.com.

For the complete Connecticut Sun season, click HERE.

—Staff Reports