Bonner and Jones combine for 47 of Sun’s 64 points
Uncasville, CT (September 3, 2024)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (24-9) fell to the Seattle Storm (20-13), 71-64, at home in Uncasville. With the loss, the Sun drop the 2024 regular season series to the Storm, 2-1. It marks the first time Connecticut has dropped a regular season series to Seattle since the 2021 season, after sweeping them in 2022 and 2023.
After going for just four points on Sunday afternoon’s contest with the Storm, DeWanna Bonner notched a team-high 26 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal and one block to lead the Sun in tonight’s game. It marks the 16th this season Bonner has led the team in scoring and her 11th 20+ point outing on the year.
Brionna Jones was the only other member of the Sun in double-figures, tallying 21 points, four rebounds, one assist and one steal in the effort. Her outing follows season-high 26-point effort in Sunday’s game and marks her 25th double-figure scoring effort of the season (leading the team- with Bonner).
The Sun shot 41.4% (24-58) on the night while the Storm went 46.8% (29-62) from the field. Connecticut’s 64 points mark the team’s second lowest point-production of the season. Their lowest outing was 61 points, also against the Storm on June 21 in Seattle. The team has only gone for less than 70 points in a game five times this season, with a record of 2-3 in those games.
Seattle saw a balance scoring attack in the game, led by Skylar Diggins-Smith who finished with 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block on the night. Jewell Loyd added 17 points, nailing all three of the Storm’s three-point field goals. The Storm went 3/17 (17.6%) as a team in the game.
Game Runs:
1H: An 8-0 start by the Sun forced the Storm into a timeout with 7:50 to play in the first quarter of the contest. Seattle closed the quarter outscoring Connecticut, 13-10, to close the Sun’s lead to five heading into the second, 18-13. 14 of the Sun’s 18 first quarter point came in the paint, as they outscored the Storm, 14-4, in the lane through ten minutes of play. The Sun led by as many as nine in the second quarter, but the Storm finished the half on a 14-2 run to take a 34-31 lead over the Sun into the locker room.
2H: Connecticut was able to tie the game twice through the third quarter, but Seattle won the quarter, 21-17, to take a seven-point lead into the fourth. The Sun trailed by as many as 11 in the fourth but were able to cut the Storm’s lead to three, 63-60, with 3:18 to play in the game. Seattle finished the game on an 8-4 run to defeat Connecticut, 71-64, holding the Sun to just one field goal in the final minutes of the contest.
Notes:
- DiJonai Carrington finished with nine points, seven rebounds, one assists and one block in the game. She entered tonight’s contest going nine straight games with at least one steal, but failed to pick one up this evening.
- Alyssa Thomas finished six points below her scoring average, notching four points, along with six rebounds, seven assists and two steals. It was her 21st outing with 7+ assists in a game this season, which leads the league (tied with Caitlin Clark).
- Ty Harris scored a season-low two points in the game, but matched her season-high with seven assists.
- The Sun led by as many as 12 points in the game and entered the contest 19-1 when leading by 10+ in any contest, including 11-0 at home. The team now moves to 19-2 when leading by 10+ points and 11-1 at home.
- Both teams turned the ball over 15 times, with the Sun tallying 18 points off turnovers and the Storm tallying 17 points off turnovers.
- Tonight marked the Sun’s second straight effort shooting under 70% from the free throw line, as the team went 64.7% (11/17) on the night.
- Connecticut notched a season-low two bench points in the game.
| Team | Score | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | PTS | REB | AST |
| CON | 64 | 18 | 13 | 17 | 16 | Bonner- 26 | Carrington/Bonner-7 | Harris/Thomas- 7 |
| SEA | 71 | 13 | 21 | 21 | 16 | Diggins-Smith- 18 | Williams/Ogwumike- 6 | Williams- 5 |
NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun host the Las Vegas Aces on Friday, September 6 at 7:30 PM ET at Mohegan Sun Arena.