Uncasville, CT (September 3, 2024) – The Connecticut Sun faced a tough loss at home, falling to the Seattle Storm 20-13 with a final score of 71-64. This loss means the Sun drop the 2024 regular season series to the Storm, 2-1, marking the first time since 2021 that Connecticut has lost a regular season series to Seattle.
DeWanna Bonner led the Sun with a stellar performance, bouncing back from a four-point outing in Sunday’s game to score a team-high 26 points. She also added seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. This game marks the 16th time this season that Bonner has led the team in scoring, and her 11th game with 20 or more points. Brionna Jones was the only other Sun player to reach double figures, scoring 21 points and contributing four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Jones’ performance followed her season-high 26-point effort on Sunday, and it marks her 25th double-figure scoring game of the season, tying her with Bonner for the team lead. Together, Bonner and Jones combined for 47 of the Sun’s 64 points.
However, despite the strong performances from Bonner and Jones, the Sun struggled offensively, shooting just 41.4% (24-58) from the field. Their 64-point output was the second-lowest of the season, with the lowest also coming against Seattle on June 21 in a 61-point effort. Connecticut has been held under 70 points just five times this season, and they now hold a 2-3 record in those games. The lack of offensive production was a key factor in the loss, as the Sun couldn’t find their rhythm against a tough Seattle defense. Seattle, on the other hand, enjoyed a balanced scoring attack, led by Skylar Diggins-Smith, who finished with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. Jewell Loyd added 17 points and nailed all three of the Storm’s three-point field goals. Despite shooting just 17.6% 3/17 from beyond the arc.
The game started strongly for Connecticut, with the Sun jumping out to an 8-0 lead, forcing Seattle into an early timeout just over two minutes into the first quarter. However, the Storm responded by outscoring the Sun 13-10 for the remainder of the quarter, trimming Connecticut’s lead to five points heading into the second period. This momentum shift allowed Seattle to gradually take control of the game, ultimately securing the win.
In the post-game interview, DeWanna Bonner, “I love my teammates, I love my locker room, I’ve gained friends for life. I want to hang a banner here. I want to win, so I’m willing to do whatever I’ve got to do to win!” Head coach Stephanie White acknowledged the team’s struggles, stating, “Tonight was a tough loss. We weren’t consistent, had too many turnovers, and didn’t knock down open shots. The offense just wasn’t there.” The Sun will prepare to face the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, September 6th, at 7:30 PM.
