After dropping three consecutive games, the Connecticut Sun are looking to finish strong, and that bid starts with a home game Saturday afternoon against the Phoenix Mercury in Uncasville, Conn.
Connecticut (10-31), is 5-5 in its last 10 games and has given up 88 points or more in all three of its losses during this skid.
“We have to play with more energy, more consistency,” Sun head coach Rachid Meziane said after Wednesday’s 88-64 road loss to Chicago. “We have to put players who want to win on the floor. Now, it’s about saving our image.”
It won’t be easy facing the playoff-bound Mercury (27-14), who have won six in a row.
One of their keys to success has been the way they handle themselves in pressure moments, including in Thursday’s 75-69 win over the Washington Mystics. Satou Sabally hit a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left to help seal the deal.
“I’ve been super proud of our composure at the end of games,” Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts told reporters. “We’ve been in a bunch of tough games here down the stretch. And for a group like us-this is our first year together-we need these types of games. I think it builds confidence when you’re in these situations.”
Phoenix scored 80-plus points in its first five wins on this current streak, and Kahleah Copper has led the way in three of those wins — including scoring 18 against the Mystics. She’s averaging 16.1 points per game.
Sabally is pacing the Mercury with 16.3 points per game while Alyssa Thomas has put herself in the MVP discussion, averaging 15.9 points, 9.2 assists and 9.0 rebounds.
Tina Charles leads the Sun at 16.4 points per game. Marina Mabrey ranks second in scoring (14.1) and first in assists (4.0) per game.
The Mercury are looking for a season sweep of the Sun, winning 83-75 on June 18 and 82-66 on Aug. 5.
–Field Level Media
