Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts tagged as “Connecticut Sun”

ICYMI: Fever defeated the Sun in OT, in a come from behind win after being down by 21-points ( 99 – 93)

In a stunning display of resilience, the Indiana Fever secured a historic 99-93 overtime victory against the Connecticut Sun. Trailing by a franchise-record 21 points early in the third quarter, the Fever mounted an improbable comeback.

Fever’s rally was led by a red-hot Kelsey Mitchell, who scored 34 of her career-high 38 points in the second half and overtime. Mitchell’s clutch shooting, including back-to-back three-pointers to start the extra period, fueled the comeback. Aliyah Boston also played a pivotal role, notching her 15th double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds, a new franchise record. Lexie Hull, despite missing her first three shot, hit a corner 3-pointer with 44.9 seconds in OT to give the Indiana Fever a 7 point lead and eventually beat the Connecticut Sun 99-93.

Despite the heroics, the win was bittersweet as the Fever’s Sophie Cunningham left the game in the second quarter due to a knee injury and did not return.

Full Game Highlights

The win gives the Fever enough cushion as they face the Lynx in the next two games starting this Friday, while the Sun plays at Washington on Tuesday.

Fever are now down with 4 players; Caitlin Clark (groin injury), Sydney Colson (ACL tear in her left knee), Aari McDonald (right foot broken bone) and now Sophie Cunningham.

Indiana Fever defeat Connecticut Sun to advance to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals (88 – 71)

After a very physical game, the Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun (88 – 71). The win assures the Fever a spot in the Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

It was a close game in the first half but in the second half, Indiana managed to build an 8-point lead entering the 3rd quarter then tension started to build between Clark and Sun guard Jacy Sheldon, after Sheldon “accidentally” made contact with Caitlin Clark’s face during a play, leading to a shove from Clark and a subsequent push to the ground by Marina Mabrey. After a lengthy review, Sheldon was assessed a Flagrant 1 foul, while Clark, Mabrey, and Tina Charles each received technical fouls.

In the final minutes of the game, there was tension between the two team in the final minute of the game. With the Fever comfortably ahead, Sophie Cunningham committed a hard foul on Sheldon, leading to a scuffle that resulted in Cunningham’s ejection with a Flagrant 2, and ejections for Sheldon and Lindsay Allen of the Sun for escalating the altercation. Fever coach Stephanie White later expressed frustration with the officiating, citing a perceived lack of control throughout the game and the season.

In the end, the Indiana Fever’s strong offensive execution and defensive tenacity, especially in the third quarter, proved too much for the struggling Connecticut Sun. The win, combined with an Atlanta loss, means the Fever will now face the Minnesota Lynx in the Commissioner’s Cup Final on July 1st.

Game Highlights

Indiana will travel to San Francisco to face the Golden State Valkyries this Friday, while the Connecticut Sun will host the Phoenix Mercury this Thursday.

Sky’s Angel Reese records first triple-double in a win against the Connecticut Sun (78 – 66)

Angel Reese just recorded her first triple-double, powering Chicago Sky in a win against the Connecticut Sun (78 – 66). Angel Reese had 11 points, 11 assists and 13 rebounds for her first triple-double, she is the second youngest WNBA player to record a triple-double, second only to Caitlin Clark, who did it twice in her rookie year at 22 years old.

Helping Reese is her former LSU teammate, Hailey Van Lith who had a career night with 16 points and 5 rebounds from the bench. Kamilla Cardoso added 10 points and 7 rebounds, while Kia Nurse and Ariel Atkins chipped-in 11 points and 10 points, respectively.

It was a close game with Sky leading just 7 points entering the 4th quarter but that’s where separated themselves scoring a 19 points in the period but limiting Sun to just 12 points. Marina Mabrey lead the Sun with 22 points, making 5 three-pointers, with 5 rebounds. Veteran Tina Charles added 19 points and 6 rebounds, and Jacy Sheldon had 12 points. No other Sky player scored more than 6 points.

This is a much needed win for the Sky if they want to be one the playoff team. Chicago will be hosting Washington while Connecticut will travel to Indiana this Tuesday.

Minnesota Lynx forces a “Winner-Takes-All” Game 5 of WNBA Finals behind Bridget Carleton Free Throws (82 – 80)

WNBA;

Bridget Carleton made two free throws with 2 seconds left, and the Lynx beat the New York Liberty 82-80 on Friday night. The teams will meet Sunday night in New York in the first Game 5 of the Finals since 2019, when Washington topped Connecticut.

All of Minnesota Lynx starting five scored in double-digits; Kayla Mcbride, lead the team with 19 points, Courtney Williams added 15 points and 7 rebounds, while Napheesa Collier chipped-in 14 points and 9 rebounds with 4 assists and 4 steals. Both Alanna Smith and Bridget Carleton scored 12 points apiece but it was Carleton final free throw that sealed the game for the Lynx.

It was a close game and the largest of any team is just 6 points and there have been 14 lead changes and 13 ties.

Lynx was able to contain Liberty stars Breanna Stewart and Sabrina to a combined 21 points, and limit their impact to the game. Lynx appeared happy to just let other Liberty players score particularly Jonquel Jones, who scored a game-high 21 points and 8 rebounds.

Game 5 of the WNBA Finals will this Sunday, October 20, 2024 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY.

Here’s the high-lights of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.

WNBA to change Game Format of Playoffs and Finals of 2025 Season

WNBA just announcedx that they will change the game format of First Round of the WNBA Playoffs and the WNBA Finals.

The league said “the WNBA Board of Governors has approved a new, best-of-seven format for the WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV, effective with the 2025 season, replacing the best-of-five format. The Board has also approved a 1-1-1 setup for the best-of-three First Round of the WNBA Playoffs presented by Google, with the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 3 and its opponent hosting Game 2 – a change from the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 2 and its opponent hosting Game 3.

Currently, the First Round of the WNBA Playoffs is 2-1. From a financial perspective, the current 2-1 format benefits the higher-seeded team. This is because they host the entire first round, assuming they sweep the series. This gives them an advantage in ticket sales, broadcast revenue, and other game-related income.

A good example, is the first round series between the Connecticut Sun and the Indiana Fever. The Fever got swept in the series, since the first two games was hosted by the Sun, both games got an attendance of total of 17,820. If there was at least 1 game being played in Indiana, them being the most popular team because of Caitlin Clark, we can assume that the attendance will be similar to their last home game in the regular season, with an attendance of 17,274.

The WNBA announced an increase in regular-season games to 44 per team starting next season, up from 40 games in the past two seasons. This is to accommodate the addition of the Golden State Valkyries as the league’s 13th franchise. Each WNBA Teams have played 40 regular-season games in each of the last two seasons.

“We are seeing an incredible demand for WNBA basketball, as reflected in the number of cities pursuing expansion franchises, fans attending games and engaging with our social and digital platforms in record fashion, and game broadcasts and streams being consumed like never before,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The incredible demand for WNBA basketball makes this the ideal time to increase the regular season to 44 games per team and expand the WNBA Finals presented by YouTube TV to a best-of-seven series,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “These changes will create more opportunities to watch the best players in the world compete at the highest level and give our fans a championship series format that they are accustomed to seeing in other sports.”

Minnesota Lynx eliminate the Connecticut Sun to advance to the 2024 WNBA Finals (88-77)

via ESPN;

Collier had 27 points on 10-for-16 shooting and 11 rebounds and Courtney Williams contributed 24 points and both-ends-of-the-court energy to lead the Minnesota Lynx past the Connecticut Sun 88-77 and into the WNBA Finals for the first time in seven years on Tuesday night.

Collier, the WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, added four blocks in a vintage all-around performance.

They will face the NY Liberty who eliminated the defending champs, the LV Aces, two days ago.

Game 1 of the WNBA Finals is scheduled this Thursday, October 10, 2024, and will be hosted by the NY Liberty in Barclays Center.

Connecticut Sun sweeps Indiana Fever, will face Minnesota Lynx in the 2024 WNBA Semifinals (87 – 81)  

ESPN;

Alyssa Thomas and the Connecticut Sun were happy to finally close out an opening round series at home in two games.

Thomas had 19 points and 13 assists to help the Sun sweep Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever out of the playoffs with an 87-81 win Wednesday night.

Compared to Game 1, Indiana’s “Big 3” played a much better game; Caitlin Clark scored 25 points and 9 assists, Aliyah Boston had 16 points and 19 rebounds, while Kelsey Mitchell added had 17 points but committed 5 turnovers. But it was Sun’s veteran players who carried the team with five players scoring in double digits points.

Connecticut Sun will now face Minnesota Lynx, who swept the Phoenix Mercury, this Sunday, September 29, 2024 at the Target Center, Minneapolis.

Connecticut Sun defeated Indiana Fever in their First Playoff Game since 2016 (93 – 69)  

Branden Kaneshiro, writing for The Lead;

The Sun cruised to a 93-69 victory in Game One. Led by a triple-double from Alyssa Thomas and 22 points on 63.6% shooting from DeWanna Bonner, the Sun completely outmatched the Fever.

The offensive firepower was not all that went well for Connecticut in game one. The Sun’s defense was their key to victory on Monday. Connecticut was able to contain Mitchell and Clark to 45% and 23.5% shooting, respectively. If the Sun can replicate their defensive success in game 2 (and the rest of the playoffs) they will be a hard team to beat.

It was not just Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell, who had a bad Game 1, as a team Indiana Fever shot 27-67, 40.3%!!! from the field and 6-28, that’s a measly 21.4%, from the three-point line, the Fever did manage to reduce their turnover to just 13 TO.

Game 2 will be this Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

2024 WNBA Playoff Bracket, First Round starts on the 22nd of September

Now that the 40 games WNBA regular season is done, we now have the complete picture of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs.

  • New York Liberty (1st) vs Atlanta Dream (8th)
  • Minnesota Lynx (2nd) vs Phoenix Mercury (7th)
  • Connecticut Sun (3rd) vs Indiana Fever (6th)
  • Las Vegas Aces (4th) vs Seattle Storm (5th)

This is the mechanics of the 2024 WNBA Playoffs;

Top eight teams with the highest winning percentage (regardless of conference) will qualify for playoffs. Bracket is NOT divided by East/West. First Rounds will be 2-1 (first two games hosted by the higher seed). Semi-Finals and Finals will be 2-2-1 (higher seed hosting the first two games and final game, if necessary).

First Rounds will start this Sunday, September 22, 2024.