Sun out to avenge loss to slumping Dream

Field Level Media|published: Sat 6th July, 14:32 2024

Phoenix Mercury forward Natasha Mack (4) gets her hand on the ball while Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) drives in the paint on July 1, 2024 at Footprint Center in Phoenix.

In contention for the league's best record, the Connecticut Sun host the reeling Atlanta Dream on Sunday in Uncasville, Conn.

Entering Saturday, the Sun (16-4) trailed only the New York Liberty (17-3) for the No. 1 overall seed in the WNBA, while the Dream (7-12) hope to climb back into the playoff picture after a dreadful month.

Connecticut topped the Minnesota Lynx 78-73 on Thursday, aided by DeWanna Bonner's 24 points and Alyssa Thomas' 13 points, 14 assists and 10 boards -- her WNBA-best 10th career triple-double.

The Sun trailed by 10 in the third quarter but rallied for their second straight win and third consecutive road victory.

"I'm really proud of our group," Connecticut head coach Stephanie White said. "Tough, gutsy win on the road. We had to be really locked in and focused for 40 minutes defensively, and I was really happy with how our team was able to do that."

Connecticut's last loss was on June 28, when it fell at home to the Dream 78-74.

Bonner leads the team with 16.6 points per game, followed by DiJonai Carrington's 13.4. Thomas averages 12.1 points and a team-leading 9.6 rebounds.

After a promising 4-2 start, the Dream have dropped 10 of 13 games and three straight following the four-point win against Connecticut.

Last time out, the visiting Dream couldn't finish off the last-place Dallas Wings, losing 85-82 on Friday.

Allisha Gray led the way with 19 points and eight assists, while Haley Jones added 16 points for an Atlanta team without star Rhyne Howard since June 19. Howard, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, is out indefinitely with a left ankle injury.

In Dallas, Atlanta turned the ball over a season-high 29 times. The Dream also shot just 12-for-19 (63.2 percent) from the free throw line.

"We have to be able to handle physicality," Atlanta head coach Tanisha Wright said. "You can't win a lot of games when you have 29 turnovers, you allow 38 points off those turnovers, don't make free throws. We need to get some toughness in us, go to Connecticut and try to get a win."

Gray leads the team with 15.9 points per game. Tina Charles adds 14.1 points and a team-leading 9.1 rebounds.

--Field Level Media

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