Uncasville, CT (May 28, 2024)—The Connecticut Sun achieved a historic milestone by defeating the Phoenix Mercury with a 70-47 victory, marking the first time in franchise history that they have started a season with six consecutive wins. This impressive streak is now the longest win streak to begin a regular season for the Sun, demonstrating their formidable presence in the WNBA this year.
DeWanna Bonner, recently named Player of the Week, was instrumental in the Sun’s victory. Bonner not only led her team with 19 points but also reached a significant personal milestone by scoring her 7,000th career point. She joins an elite group of players, including Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, Tina Thompson, and Tina Charles, as one of only five players in WNBA history to achieve this feat. Bonner’s all-around performance included three rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block. Adding to the historic night, DeWanna Bonner joined Tamika Catchings as one of only two players in WNBA history to record 7,000 points, 2,800 rebounds, and 1,000 assists in a career.
Supporting Bonner, Brionna Jones contributed 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, three steals, and two blocks in just 18 minutes of play. Alyssa Thomas also had a standout performance, filling the stat sheet with 10 points, six rebounds, eight assists, one steal, and one block in 24 minutes, showcasing the depth and versatility of the Sun’s core.
The Sun’s defense was particularly noteworthy, as they held the Mercury to their worst field goal percentage in franchise history. Phoenix managed to convert only 23.8% of their shots, going 15-63 from the floor. Their three-point shooting was even more dismal, with just one successful shot out of 27 attempts, a 3.7% success rate—their lowest non-zero percentage from beyond the arc ever. The Sun’s defense stifled the Mercury, holding them 41 points under their season average of 88.2. Coach White said give credit to our attention to detail but a lot of it went to missed shots and those nights will happen.
No Mercury player scored in double figures, a rare occurrence in the WNBA. Natasha Cloud led the Mercury with nine points, while Kahleah Copper, who entered the game as the league’s leading scorer, was limited to just seven points. This defensive dominance marked the first time since 2016 that a WNBA team completed a game without a player scoring in double digits.
The Sun’s 23-point margin of victory was their largest of the season, and they enjoyed their largest halftime lead, up by 13 points at the break. This 6-0 start ties the 2010 Atlanta Dream for the sixth longest win streak to begin a regular season and places the Sun among an elite group of 13 teams in WNBA history to achieve such a start. Connecticut recorded a season-high 23 assists and tied their season-high with 38 rebounds, emphasizing their cohesive team play. In a show of depth, all 11 players on the Sun’s roster scored in the game. Forward Queen Egbo recorded her first minutes in a Sun uniform, contributing two points and two rebounds.
Post-game, Alyssa Thomas emphasized the need for the team to stay focused and not get comfortable despite their historic start. DeWanna Bonner reflected on her 7,000-point milestone, noting its perfect timing for the momentum. Coach White expressed pride in her team’s ability to find various ways to win. The Connecticut Sun will look to extend their winning streak as they face the Dallas Wings on Friday, May 31st, at 7:30 PM on Ion Television.
