Uncasville, CT (September 1, 2024) – The Connecticut Sun secured a hard-fought victory over the Seattle Storm in an intense matchup. This win ties the regular season series between the two 19-13 winning teams at 1-1, setting up a highly anticipated decider on Tuesday night. The Sun, demonstrating resilience, improved to 2-1 on the season when playing with no rest. Coach White says we had to be physically and mentally locked in.
Brionna Jones was the standout performer, delivering a season-high 26 points, along with six rebounds, one assist, and two steals. This game marked her second 20+ point performance of the season. Marina Mabrey provided strong support, contributing 15 points, one rebound, and one assist. This game continued her streak of impressive performances, marking her fifth consecutive double-digit scoring effort and seventh such game since joining the Sun. DiJonai Carrington also played a crucial role, adding 14 points, three rebounds, and three steals, extending her streak to five games with at least two steals. Ty Harris chipped in with 13 points, while Veronica Burton matched her season-high with 11 points, two assists, and two steals in just 20 minutes off the bench.
Connecticut dominated for most of the first three quarters, with the Sun outscoring the Storm in every period except the fourth. Seattle made a late push, closing the gap to just three points (89-86) with 23.4 seconds remaining. However, free-throw shooting proved pivotal down the stretch, as Connecticut attempted a WNBA season-high 38 free throws, making 26 of them. The Sun’s 19 free throw attempts in the fourth quarter alone were just one shy of the franchise record for most attempts in a single quarter. Despite shooting just 68.4% from the line, the Sun’s overall shooting was efficient, with the team converting 54.2% of their field goals. In contrast, the Storm were held to 42.9% shooting from the floor.
Jewell Loyd led the way for Seattle, scoring 24 points and adding five rebounds, two assists, and three steals. Nneka Ogwumike added a double-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, two assists, and two steals. With the win, Connecticut also showcased their dominance in other key areas, including fast break points 10-8 and bench production 28-6.
Post game Brionna Jones said she doesn’t feel she is at 100% but coach Stephanie White Says welcome back. She also speaks about Veronia Burton being a tough guard and another lock down defender. The Sun look face the Storm again Tuesday September 3rd at 7pm.