Sun Stop Sky, Advance to Finals vs. Vegas

By Bob Phillips

CHIGAGO—Revenge is sweet. The Connecticut Sun, looking to avenge last year’s loss to the Chicago Sky in last year’s WNBA playoffs, did so in fine style with a 72-63 win to clinch a spot in the Finals. The Sun, who finished one game behind the Sky in the regular season standings, were 0-4 vs. the Sky during the regular season, and were down by 11 points in the fourth quarter last night.

“We come up here every year and Chicago kicks our [butt],” Sun forward DeWanna Bonner the No. 5 pick in the 2009 WNBA draft by the Phoenix Mercury said. Bonner earned two WNBA championships during her time in Phoenix.

The Sun raced out to an early lead and held a 24-16 advantage at the first turn. But the Sky total reversed that in the second period and the teams were tied at 40-40 entering the locker room at halftime.

Then, in the third quarter, things took a significantly bad turn for the Sun, who scored only eight points in the frame and trailed 58-48 entering the fourth quarter. A 10-point deficit to the No. 2 seed in the tournament on the opponent’s court is not the greatest position to be in—unless you play defense like the Connecticut Sun. Connecticut’s defense cranked in up in the fourth quarter, holding Chicago to five points while the Sun offense scored 24, resulting in a nine-point Sun victory.

“You have to believe,” said Connecticut star Janquel Jones, last season’s MVP, about her team’s approach after being held to eight points in the third quarter. “We’re going to play our style of basketball. Just the resilience of this team to come out here and play good basketball and be tough.”

“When adversity hits, sometimes we fold,” added Natisha Hiedeman. “Not no more. We're not folding no more. As you all saw[after] the third quarter, we picked up right back up once again. Now we're going to the championship. Job not done yet.”

JJ put up her trademark double-double with 15 points and 10 boards in just over 31 minutes played. Indeed, the Sun ended th contest on an 18-0 run, the longest scoring run to finish a playoff game in WNBA history. All five Connecticut starters scored in double digits including 15 from DeWanna Bonner, 14 from Natisha Heideman, and 12 points apiece from Alyssa Thomas and Courtney Williams.

Chicago’s Kahleah Copper led all scorers with 22 points, while Emma Meesseman added 14 points and Courtney Vanderslooth put in 12 for the Sky. One of the keys to the Sun’s victory was their ability to hold Chicago center Candace Parker to seven points on 28.6 percent shooting in 33 and a half minutes of play.

“It’s one of the biggest disappointments I’ve had professionally,” Sky head coach James Wade said. “It’s hard to put into words. This is going to hurt for a long time.” Chicago was attempting to become the first team to repeat as WNBA champions since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02.

The Sun now head to Las Vegas where they will challenge the Aces, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, in the WNBA Finals. The best-three-of-five series begins on Sunday, and tip-off for Game One will be at 3 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ABC.

For the Finals, Games 1 and 2 will be played in Vegas, with games 3 and 4 (if necessary) in Connecticut. If a fifth game is necessary, it will be played in Vegas.

“There will be a new champion in this league,” Sun coach Curt Miller said. “There will be a first-time franchise champion. There will be a new coach, once again, that will be a first-time champion.”