Connecticut Sun (14-9) vs. Phoenix Mercury (13-10)
Mohegan Sun Arena
Friday, August 4th, 7:00 p.m. ET
Watch Live on CSN
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Last Game: The Connecticut Sun won 89-73 at home over the Indiana Fever on July 30th. The Phoenix Mercury won 81-64 at home over the San Antonio Stars on July 30th.
Players to Watch: Connecticut – Jonquel Jones leads Connecticut this season in both scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (11.3 rpg). She posted 14 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in Sunday’s win over Indiana. Jasmine Thomas leads the Sun in steals (1.8 spg), is tied for the lead in assists (5.0 apg) and is second in scoring (14.7 ppg). She had 15 points and four assists against the Fever. Alyssa Thomas is also tied for the lead in assists (5.0 apg), ranks second in both rebounding (6.4 rpg) and steals (1.7 spg) and third in scoring (13.9 ppg). She added 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds and four steals in the game.
Phoenix – Diana Taurasi is second on Phoenix this season in scoring (18.7 ppg) and third in assists (2.7 apg). She posted 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in Sunday’s win over San Antonio. Danielle Robinson leads the Mercury in both assists (4.1 apg) and steals (1.3 spg), and is fourth in scoring (8.2 ppg). She had 10 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals against the Stars. Monique Currie ranks third on the team in scoring (9.7 ppg) and added 20 points, three rebounds and three assists in the game.
Noteworthy:
• The Connecticut Sun were 1-2 against Phoenix last season.
• The Sun have won eight of their last 10 games, and are now 13-4 since their 1-5 start to the season.
• Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller was named the WNBA Coach of the Month on Tuesday for games played in July.
• The Sun lead the WNBA in three-point percentage (.405), are second in scoring average (86.7 points per game) and third in rebounding (35.87 rebounds per game).
• Connecticut had a season-high nine steals in the first half and posted their 10th game of the season with 20 or more assists against the Fever.
• Jonquel Jones leads the WNBA in rebounding (11.3 rpg). She recorded her 13th double-double against Indiana, and has now posted 19 double-figure scoring efforts and 15 games with double-figure rebounds on the season.
• Alex Bentley made a season-high three three-pointers against the Fever.
• Alyssa Thomas is ranked fifth in the league in assists (5.0 apg).
• Jasmine Thomas is sixth in the league in assists (5.0 apg).
• Phoenix allows the lowest three-point percentage (.293) and second lowest assist average (15.83 apg) in the league to their opponents.
• Brittney Griner will sit out Friday’s game due to a left knee bone bruise and right ankle sprain.
• Diana Taurasi is ranked seventh in the WNBA in scoring (18.7 ppg). Back on June 18th, she surpassed Tina Thompson, becoming the WNBA’s all-time leader in scoring (7,703 career points).
• Monique Currie made a season-high four three-point field goals in Sunday’s win over San Antonio.
• Danielle Robinson currently needs three rebounds to reach 500 career rebounds.
Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller
How do you plan on keeping your momentum in the final stretch of the regular season?
“Well, we’ve got to do the little things. We’re not going to talk about end results, not going to talk about wins and losses as much as the process to get us there. We’re scout heavy, we’re going to focus on other teams’ schemes, we’re going to focus on our own schemes, and we’re going to try to peak at the right time. If there’s anything I’ve done as a head coach through my career, it’s finding ways to peak at the right time. We finished strong last year. We have an opportunity, if we can get hot in August, that’s our goal, because I really feel like you have to try and peak at the right time with the playoffs looming in September.”
Next Game: The Connecticut Sun will host the Seattle Storm at Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday, August 8th at 7:00 p.m. ET. Get tickets.