Sun Sail To Victory Over Lynx

By Bob Phillips

Lindsay Whalen (13) chases the Sun's Jasmine Thomas on Friday night.
It was the final regular-season appearance in Connecticut for Whalen,
a former Sun star.

UNCASVILLE — The Connecticut Sun locked up a home playoff game Friday night, rolling to a 96-79 victory over the Minnesota Lynx before 7,089 fans at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday night. Besides the obvious importance of the game for the Sun and their fans, it was also the final regular season appearance at the Mohegan Sun for former Sun star Lindsay Whalen, who will be retiring after this season concludes.

Jonquel Jones led the Sun with 26 points, and tied her career-high with five made three-pointers. In the past two games, Jones has made 18 of 23 shots from the field—including 9 of 13 from downtown—and has averaged 26.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in those games. Alyssa Thomas flirted with her first career triple-double with an 18-point, 8-rebound, 8-assist performance. Courtney Williams, with 13 points and 8 boards, and Layshia Clarendon (14 points, 5 assists), also had big nights for the Connecticut offense.

The Lynx, meanwhile, Minnesota were led by Sylvia Fowles with 25 points. UConn legend Maya Moore and Seimone Augustus chipped in with 12 points each, and Cecilia Zandalasini added 10 for the defending WNBA champs, who fell to 17-16.

The Sun popped in 35 field goals and added 25 assists to the bottom line, setting new single-season franchise marks in both categories with 644 assists and 1,112 made field goals and 644 assists. That broke the old franchise standards were 630 assists set in 2006 and 1,098 made field goals last year. In addition, with the win the Sun now have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since 2011-12 while completing a 3-0 regular-season sweep of the Lynx.

The Sun trailed 28-22 rounding the first turn, but cut the Minnesota advantage to three, 46-43, heading into the locker room at intermission. Connecticut was led by Alyssa Thomas, with 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. She then went on to post a red-hot 5-for-6 performance from the floor in the third quarter as Connecticut opened a 72-67 rounding the third pole. Clarendon, who had her best night in a Sun uniform, ignited a 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter with a layup. The sixth-year pro out of California also had a pair of free throws, while Jones knocked down a a three-pointer. 

The Sun built a 14-point advantage, 81-67 with 6:48 remaining in regulation, and never looked back. With the win, Connecticut improves to 20-13 and is guaranteed to finish the regular season no lower than sixth place overall, which translates into a single-elimination home game on Tuesday night.

“They came out with a real intensity about them to start off that half and give them credit for that,” said Whalen, the Minnesota native who returned to her home state after leading the Sun into the championship round vs. the Sacramento Monarchs in 2005.” We were down six mid-way through third, [and] coach called timeout. Then it just continued for them.

“They have a very talented team—a lot of really good players, and they have really found this year how to play together,” continued the former Gopher superstar. “I give them credit for a really good performance tonight, and I thought we still had some good looks.  If we see them next week in the playoffs there are some things we improve on and see what happens with the rest of this week.”

The Sun close out the regular season on Sunday when they celebrate Fan Appreciation Day at Mohegan Sun Arena vs. Los Angeles Sparks. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m., and the game will be televised on NBC Sports Boston, and streamed on the Sun’s Twitter page.

—with staff reports

Stassi Signed By Giants

NEW BRITAIN—New Britain Bees team officials have announced that infielder Brock Stassi has had his contract purchased by the San Francisco Giants organization. He will report to Triple-A Sacramento of the Pacific Coast League.

This season, Stassi appeared in 40 games for the Bees, hitting .361 with five home runs, four triples, 11 doubles, 36 RBI, 32 runs scored, and a .458 on-base percentage.

The 29-year-old began his professional career with the Philadelphia Phillies after being selected in the 33^rd round of the 2011 amateur draft. Prior to this season, he spent his entire professional career in the Phillies organization, reaching the Major Leagues in 2017. The slugger appeared in 51 games during his MLB career, collecting two home runs, seven RBI, six runs scored, and drawing 12 walks. His most impressive minor league campaign came in 2015 with Double-A Reading (Phillies), where in 133 games he posted a .300 batting average with 15 home runs, 32 doubles, 90 RBI, 76 runs scored, and a .394 on-base percentage. Over the course of 663 career minor league games, Brock has comprised a .260 batting average with 48 home runs, 103 doubles, 307 RBI, and 278 runs scored.

“Brock has been an impact player in the Atlantic League since joining our team in June,” said Bees general manager Brad Smith. “It’s great for him to receive this opportunity and wish him the best of luck in his journey going forward.”Stassi is the fifth Bees player to have his contract purchased during the 2018 season.

All New Britain Bees transactions are presented by ACES. ACES is dedicated to enhancing and transforming lives through education, innovations, and leadership. Visit https://www.aces.org/ for more information.

The New Britain Bees, members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, play their home games at New Britain Stadium. For information on tickets packages, group outings and sponsorships call 860-826-BEES (2337) or visit NBBees.com.

—Staff Reports

Sun Stumble, Sunk by Sky

By Bob Phillips

Rachel Banham (1) drives past Chicago's Jamierre
Faulkner. The Sky broke the Sun's five-game winning
streak with a 97-86 victory over Connecticut.

CHICAGO—George Harrison once made the profound spiritual statement that “All Things Must Pass,” and so it was last night for the Connecticut Sun, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end last night. The Sun, who entered the game as one of the two hottest teams in the league (along with Eastern Conference rival Washington) saw their five-game winning streak snapped by the most unlikely of opponents.

Courtney Vandersloot led all scorers with 20 points and dished out 15 of Chicago’s 35 assists—tying a WNBA single-game team record set by the Minnesota Lynx last season—to lead the Sky to a 97-85victory over the Connecticut Sun before 5,976 fans at Wintrust Arena Friday night. Allie Quigley added 17 points, while former UConn star Stefanie Dolson dripped in 16 for Chicago. Diamond DeShields chippped in with a 12-point, seven-rebound. Six-assist effort, while rookie Gabby Williams, another former UConn star, scored 11 points, and Kahleah Copper added 10 for the Sky, who improved to 11-19.

Chiney Ogwumike led Connecticut with 18 points to lead Connecticut, followed by Jasmine Thomas (14), Jones (13), and Shekinna Stricklen, a former No. 2 overall pick by the Seattle Storm, added 12 for the Sun, who fell to 17-13.

Chicago, which tied the record set by the Minnesota Lynx last season, called a timeout with 15.5 seconds remaining and a nine-point lead to draw up a potential record-breaking play. Sun coach Curt Miller, who was was visibly upset, could be heard on the sideline calling the timeout ''bush league.”

Quigley hit a three-pointer to cap a 9-2 opening spurt and the Sky never trailed after that. Following a traditional three-point play by Copper, capping a 12-4 run that pushed the Chicago lead to 13 with three minutes left in the first quarter, back-to-back baskets by Deshields gave the Sky their biggest lead of the game at 61-41 early in the second half.

Stricklen hit three from beyond the arc in a 57-second span, and Jones scored 10 points during a 24-7 spurt that cut Chicago’s 20-point advantage down to three, 72-69, early in the fourth quarter. But the Sky stopped the bleeding by going on a 13-3 run, upping the lead to 13 points, and they never looked back.

The Sun will have an opportunity to avenge the loss tomorrow as the two teams will once again meet tomorrow, this time at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Both teams have a lot to play for. The Sun currently are tied with Minnesota for the No. 5 playoff spot, though own the higher slot when tiebreakers are factored into the equation. Connecticut is currently one game behind No. 4 Los Angeles, and one-half game ahead of No. 7 Phoenix in the WNBA postseason pecking order.

The Sky, meanwhile, still entertain playoff hopes—albeit extremely remote. Chicago trails Dallas by 3.5 games for the No. 8 (and final) playoff spot. Tip-off is at 3 p.m. For tickets, click HERE. Fans unable to attend can catch the game live on NBC Sports Boston or WNBA League Pass.

Honoring Holly

Sunday will mark the second time that the Sun will be wearing special commemorative uniforms that will be auctioned off to benefit the Norma Pfriem Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital. Holly Rowe, the  popular ESPN personality, will be honored at halftime when she is presented with the Margo Dydek Award. Download the DASH app HERE or visit the auction website HERE. The auction will run through the end of Sunday's game.

—with staff reports

Sun Clip Wings, Make Playoffs for Second Straight Year

Courtney Williams of the Sun applies the defensive clamps
to former South Carolina star Allisha Gray.

By Bob Phillips

ARLINGTON, TX—Oops, they did it again!

After missing out of the playoffs for four straight years, the Connecticut Sun finally made it back to the postseason for the first time since 2012—Mike Thibault’s last season on the Connecticut bench. Well, that dry spell is in the Sun’s rear-view mirror. To illustrate that point, Alyssa Thomas scored a season-high 22 points to lead the Sun past the Dallas Wings, 101-92, before 3,483 fans at College Park Center. In the process, Connecticut qualified for the postseason for the second straight year

It’s no coincidence that the Sun’s return to prominence coincides with the arrival of head coach and general manager’s Curt Miller, who went through one “adjustment” season, but now stands at 39-25 (and counting) over the last two campaigns.

Wednesday’s contest was yet another offensive clinic for Connecticut, which reached the 100-point plateau for the second straight game—and a franchise record sixth time this season. Indeed, the Sun, who banged home 46 field goals in their last outing vs. Las Vegas at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday, added 40 more buckets against the Wings, and threw in 25 assists for good measure.

It was the fifth straight win for the Sun, who improved to 17-12, and the fourth win in a row over the Wings (14-15) dating back to last year. And while we’re talking offense, the Sun are averaging 97.6 points on 39.6 field goals and 23 assists per game during the current winning streak.

Ayssa Thomas was not alone in the Sun’s offensive barrage on Wednesday. Indeed, five Sun players scored in double digits: Jasmine Thomas had 17 points and tied a season-high with nine assists, matching the assist total she had in the first meeting with the Wings (7/22). Jonquel Jones had 17 points off the bench and Chiney Ogwumike popped in 13 points and grabbed five boards.

In addition, Courtney Williams had her third double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. She has now matched her single-game career-high of 10 rebounds four times this season. Finally, in addition to her game-high 22 points, Alyssa Thomas added five rebounds, four assists and three steals to her bottom line.

Liz Cambage led the Wings with a 29-point, nine-rebound effort, followed by Skylar Diggins-Smith (18 points), Azura Stevens (15 points, nine rebounds) and Theresa Pleisance (13 points, six boards).

Connecticut, which held a 28-22 advantage at the first turn, took control of the contest in the second period in which they outscored the home team 20-10 to take a 48-32 lead into the locker room at intermission. Coming off a career-high 30-point performance against Las Vegas three nights earlier, Jasmine Thomas led the Sun with 10 points and five assists in the first half.

"We’ve got to move the ball to the basket—go hard to the basket and finish,” said Dallas head coach Fred Williams. “We’ve got to put down free throws too.”

Without question, Williams’s team was losing in the paint to Connecticut, which, in large part, limited the bigger, stronger Wings to just 10 second period points, and he said that had to change as well.

“That’s a huge key for this game," continued Williams. "We talked about it before the game. We’ve got the size… Let’s get the ball in there and pick-and-roll instead of popping out.”

How bad was Dallas outplayed in the second period? The Sun bench outscored the entire Wings team in the second stanza by a 14-10 margin.

And the Connecticut dominance continued in the third period. Indeed, the Sun led by as much as 22 on several occasions, and carried an 80-60 lead rounding the final pole. Connecticut led by a seemingly comfortable 15 points with just 2:29 remaining in regulation, but the home team turned up the heat to make things interesting by going on a 9-0 run to cut the Sun advantage to six, 96-90, with 42.7 ticks left on the clock. But the Sun slammed the door at that point and emerged victorious.

For Ogwumike, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft out ot Stanford, it will be her first trip to the postseason having sat out all of last season with a foot injury. To say she is jacked would be an understatement of massive proportions.

"I think it's just finding our confidence, finding our edge," said the 6-4 forward after the game on her team's current play. "We don't have one bona fide superstar, so we depend on each other," she modestly continued. "We have to keep playing unselfishly."

It was Connecticut’s fifth straight victory—tying the Sun with Washington for the longest current winning streak in the league. The Sun, who are in the No. 5 overall spot in the WNBA standings, one-half game behind No. 4 Los Angeles and 1.5 games behind Thibault’s Washington Mystics, have now won seven of their last 10 games.

The Sun now move on to the Windy City where they will play former UConn stars Stefanie Dolson, Gabby Williams, and the 10-19 Chicago Sky on Friday night. Tip-off is at 9 p.m. ET, and the game will be televised live on NBCSB and streamed on WNBA League Pass.

—with staff reports