Despite consecutive losses on the road against two of the Western Conference’s top teams in Las Vegas and Seattle, the Connecticut Sun remain confident in their ability to win a WNBA title.
“We have a chemistry that’s been around for a long time,” forward DeWanna Bonner said. “Other teams are going to start finding their chemistry; they’re going to get better. We’re going to get better; we have to get better.”
Connecticut will try to resume its winning ways Thursday night when it makes the trip to Washington for a matchup with the surging Mystics.
The Sun (13-3), who trail New York by a game in the Eastern Conference, haven’t played since a 72-61 loss Sunday in Seattle. They got into trouble when they allowed 26 second-quarter points, erasing a six-point first-quarter lead, and simply couldn’t make up ground in the second half
Alyssa Thomas did her part with 14 points, 14 rebounds and three steals but Connecticut struggled to make shots, going 25 of 67 from the field and 2 of 14 on 3-pointers.
Five players are averaging in double figures for the Sun, led by Bonner at 16.3 ppg.
Meanwhile, Washington (4-13) has won four of its last five games, including a weekend sweep of reeling Dallas. After a 97-69 rout on Saturday, the Mystics used a big third quarter to post a 92-84 decision on Sunday.
Five players scored in double figures for Washington, led by Stefanie Dolson’s 18 points. It also got another boost off the bench from Emily Engstler, who after scoring a career-high 23 points on Saturday came back in the rematch to add 13, going 3 for 3 on 3-pointers.
“At the end of the day, whatever allows me to get better is what I’m going to do,” Engstler said. “Staying ready is really my main goal of the year and doing everything I can to help the team when needed.”
Connecticut has won the teams’ first two meetings this year, including a 76-59 decision on June 4 at home.
–Field Level Media
