Connecticut Sun (15-9) vs. Seattle Storm (10-15)
Mohegan Sun Arena
Tuesday, August 8th, 7:00 p.m. ET
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Last Game: The Connecticut Sun won 93-92 at home over the Phoenix Mercury on Friday, August 4th. The Seattle Storm fell 87-80 in overtime to the San Antonio Stars at AT&T Center on Saturday, August 5th.
Players to Watch: Connecticut – Jonquel Jones leads Connecticut this season in both scoring (15.7 ppg) and rebounding (11.4 rpg). She posted 19 points and 15 rebounds in Friday’s win over Phoenix. Alyssa Thomas leads the Sun in assists (4.9 apg), ranks second in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and third in scoring (14.1 ppg). She had 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals against the Mercury. Jasmine Thomas is second on the team in both scoring (14.7 ppg) and assists (4.8 apg) and added 15 points in the game.
Seattle – Breanna Stewart leads Seattle this season in both scoring (20.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg). She posted 32 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals in Saturday’s loss to San Antonio. Jewell Loyd ranks second on the Storm in scoring (17.4 ppg) and assists (3.5 apg). She had 16 points, two rebounds, seven assists and a steal against the Stars. Sue Bird leads the team in assists (6.7 apg) and added four points, two rebounds, six assists and two steals in the game.
Noteworthy:
• The Connecticut Sun look to complete the season series sweep over Seattle after winning 96-89 at home on June 29th, and then 83-79 at KeyArena on July 12th.
• Jasmine Thomas (22.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 6.0 apg), Jones (13.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 1.5 bpg), and Alyssa Thomas (15.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 7.0 apg) have led the Sun in the first two meetings of the season with Seattle.
• Stewart (22.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg), Loyd (19.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.5 apg) and Bird (15.5 ppg, 6.0 apg) have been the top performers for the Storm in the two games thus far.
• Jasmine Thomas netted a career-high 29 points against Seattle on June 29th.
• Shekinna Stricklen tied a 17 year-old franchise record with a career-high seven made threes on her way to a season-high 21 points in the win over Seattle on July 12th.
• Alyssa Thomas set a career-high in assists with nine against the Storm on June 29th.
• In Friday’s win, the Sun had six players in double-figure scoring for the first time since winning at Minnesota 98-93 on June 17th.
• Connecticut had 53 points in the first half on Friday, a new first-half season high. The previous high for a first half was 49 at Chicago on May 28th.
• Jones posted her fourth straight double-double (14th of the season) in the win over Phoenix. She leads the WNBA in rebounding (11.4 rpg).
• Alex Bentley scored a season-high 16 points against Phoenix.
• Stewart’s 32 points against San Antonio was a season high. She currently ranks third in the WNBA in scoring (20.6 ppg) and fifth in rebounding (8.5 rpg).
• Loyd is ninth in the league in scoring (17.4 ppg).
• Bird ranks third in the league in assists (6.7 apg).
Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller
On the Matchup between Alex Bentley and Diana Taurasi
“There are not very many people like Diana (Taurasi) in the league. We tried different things. I thought Alex did as good a job as she could on most plays. All you can hope is that you make her take tough shots. I even talked a little to her (Taurasi) to try and remind her that she was old and getting tired and she just laughed at me. We tried a little of everything. She (Taurasi) is just a fantastic player and it’s a pleasure to coach against her, but sometimes when you play through such a great player, when someone has to step up and make the play, that maybe they will miss for you. That was our message; that maybe someone else will miss since Diana was making all of the big ones.”
Next Game: The Connecticut Sun tip-off against the Dallas Wings at Mohegan Sun Arena on Saturday, August 12th at 7:00 p.m. ET. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit www.connecticutsun.com. Get tickets.