Sky Falls for the Sun

The Sun's DeWanna Bonner tries to take the ball from former UConn star
Azura Stevens in yesterday's 100-93 loss to Chicago.

By Bob Phillips

Bradenton, Fla.—In the game of basketball, offense generates excitement, but defense wins games. Yesterday, the Connecticut Sun showed plenty of the former, but none of the latter, dropping a 100-93 decision to the Chicago Sky at “The Wubble” at IMG Academy.

It was Connecticut’s best offensive performance of the season, surpassing the 91 points scored against the Dallas Wings last time out. It was also the team’s worst defensive effort of the season. Previously, the most points given up by the Sun was 94 to the defending champion Washington Mystics in the second game of the season.

Point guard Jasmine Thomas led the way for Connecticut, putting up 22 points—tied for game high with Chicago’s Allie Quigley. In all, six Sun players scored in double digits, including DeWanna Bonner and Kaila Charles (15 points each), New Haven native Bria Holmes (12), and Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones (11 points apiece). For Chicago, Cheyenne Parker (20 points), Kahleah Copper added 17, and Diamond Deshields put up 14.

While the final score may have indicated a competitive game insofar as it wasn’t a blowout, the fact is that Connecticut never led in the contest, and the game was tied just once after the opening tip. The Sky led by the narrowest of margins, 23-22, at the first turn, and took a 52-46 lead into the locker room at intermission. The Sky lead grew to 79-71 at the third pole, and the Sun were only able to chip one point off the lead in the fourth quarter.

“The difference was putting them on the free-throw line,” said Jasmine Thomas after the game. “We fouled a lot. They got a lot of free throws. And then turning it over and they scored off those turnovers. If we take care of [the basketball] and don’t foul as much I think it’s a different outcome.”

Valid points all. Chicago took 32 shots from the charity stripe, converting on 29 of them. The Sun turned the ball over 19 times. They did, however, force 21 Chicago miscues. The Sun were also out-rebounded 29-21.

“It snowballed,” said Connecticut head coach and general manager Curt Miller. We were fouling. You run them off the three-point line, they’re going to attack you [inside]. It creates more space for them to play through Parker [the Sky’s center]. She got to the line 12 times herself [and converted all 12]. You pick your poison with them. [And] we couldn’t catch a break with the officials—a big part of the story.”

The Sun, which started out with such high hopes, is turning into an unmitigated disaster. Connecticut falls t0 1-6 and hopes to right the ship on Monday when they take on the Atlanta Dream. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. ET.

With staff reports