Connecticut Sun (9-7) vs. Washington Mystics (10-7)
Mohegan Sun Arena
Saturday, July 8th, 7:00 p.m. ET
Watch Live on CSN
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Last Game: The Connecticut Sun won 89-56 over the San Antonio Stars at AT&T Center on July 5th. The Washington Mystics fell 88-80 to the Phoenix Mercury at Talking Stick Resort Arena on July 5th.
Players to Watch: Connecticut – Jonquel Jones leads Connecticut this season in both scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (12.0 rpg). She posted eight points, eight rebounds and two blocks in Wednesday’s win over San Antonio. Jasmine Thomas leads the Sun in assists (5.4 apg) and is second in scoring (15.0 ppg). She had 10 points, eight assists and three rebounds against the Stars. Alyssa Thomas ranks second on the team in both rebounding (6.2 rpg) and assists (5.1 apg) and is third in scoring (13.9 ppg). She added 13 points, eight rebounds, seven steals and five assists in the game.
Washington – Elena Delle Donne leads Washington this season in scoring (19.3 ppg) and is second in rebounding (6.6 rpg). She posted 15 points, five rebounds and three assists in Wednesday’s loss to Phoenix. Tayler Hill ranks second on the Mystics in scoring (14.1 ppg) and is tied for the team lead in assists (2.8 apg). She had four points, and three assists against the Mercury. Krystal Thomas leads the team in rebounding (7.5 rpg) and added six points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in the loss.
Noteworthy:
• The Connecticut Sun narrowly fell 78-76 to the Washington Mystics in their first meeting earlier this season on May 31st at Verizon Center.
• Shekinna Stricklen (20 points, five rebounds), Jonquel Jones (14 points, 13 rebounds) and Lynetta Kizer (12 points, eight rebounds) led the Sun in the game.
• Tayler Hill (18 points, eight assists), Elena Delle Donne (13 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks) and Krystal Thomas (11 points, nine rebounds) led the Mystics in the win over Connecticut.
• Shekinna Stricklen tied her career-high with six made three-point field goals on her way to a season-high 20 points against Washington (5/31).
• Tayler Hill dished out a career-high eight assists against Connecticut (5/31).
• Elena Delle Donne’s five blocks against the Sun (5/31) was a season-high.
• Connecticut has won three-straight and eight of their last 10 games.
• The Sun are second in team scoring average (86.6 ppg) and leads the league in three-point percentage (.440).
• Jasmine Thomas was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played June 26th through June 2nd. She ranks fifth in the league in assists (5.4 apg).
• Jonquel Jones was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Month for games played in June. She currently leads the WNBA in rebounding (12.0 rpg).
• Rachel Banham collected a career-high four rebounds against San Antonio.
• Alyssa Thomas recorded a career-high seven steals in the win over the Stars.
• Elena Delle Donne is currently fifth in the league in scoring (19.3 ppg). She also ranks second in free-throw percentage (.971).
• Krystal Thomas ranks ninth in the WNBA in rebounding (7.5 rpg).
Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller
On where they go from here after three straight wins:
“The thing we’re proudest of now is, if you take Minnesota out, that was our sixth road win, which is the second most in the league early in the season. Coaches don’t talk about it much, but the players have a drive for the playoffs this year. If we are going to squeeze into the playoffs, you have to steal a road win here and there, and for us to have the second most in the league right now is big for us. Now we go home, and we have to play well at home. We have a big game against Washington, one of the premier teams, with all that talent, in the league, so it will be a big challenge in a quick turnaround.”
Next Game: The Connecticut Sun tip-off against the Seattle Storm at Key Arena on Wednesday, July 12th at 3:00 p.m. ET.