Sun drop third-straight contest for first time since 2021

Uncasville, CT (August 18, 2023)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun fell to the Dallas Wings, 95-75. The Sun and Wings split the regular season series, 2-2.

The result marks the Sun’s third straight loss for the first time since the 2021 regular season where the team dropped three in a row from June 13-June 19. The team has not lost four in row since the beginning of the 2020 regular season.

The Sun was led by DeWanna Bonner who finished with a double-double, notching 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.

1Q- Connecticut opened the contest outscoring Dallas, 13-5, heading into the first media timeout. Alyssa Thomas led all scorers with four early points. The Wings finished the quarter on a 13-8 run to cut the Sun’s lead to three, 21-18, heading into the second. DeWanna Bonner tallied five points, two rebounds and one assists in the first quarter to lead Connecticut.

2Q- The Sun outscored the Wings, 13-11, to begin the second, taking a 34-29 advantage with 5:58 to go in the first half. Ty Harris had six of Connecticut’s 13 points in the opening minutes of the quarter. The Wings responded on a 6-0 run forcing the Sun into a timeout with 4:25 to go in the second, taking a 35-34. Dallas finished the half on a 11-6 run out of Connecticut’s timeout to take a six-point advantage into the locker room, 46-40. The Wings outscored the Sun, 28-19, in the second quarter.

Thomas and Bonner each had nine points apiece to lead the Sun in scoring after twenty minutes of play. After only shooting 37.5% in the first quarter, Dallas began to click offensively in the second, shooting 61.1% (11-18) compared to Connecticut’s 41.2% (7-17) effort in the quarter.

3Q- Dallas opened the second half outscoring Connecticut, 8-5, to push their lead up to nine, 54-45, with 4:39 to go in the third. The Sun gave up six offensive rebounds in the opening minutes of the third, resulting in five Wings second-chance points. Connecticut was able to close the quarter on a 18-12 run to cut Dallas’s lead to three, 66-63, heading into the fourth. Bonner notched 14 of her 25 points in the third to pace the Sun.

4Q- The Wing outscored the Sun, 10-4, to push their lead back up nine, 76-67, with 5:44 remaining in the fourth. Connecticut continued to struggle on both ends of the floor and dropped the fourth quarter to Dallas, 29-12. The Wings went on a 27-8 run over the last 7:30 of the contest, to take home the 95-75 win over the Sun. Dallas’s 29 fourth-quarter points are the most Connecticut has let up in a closing quarter this season.

Dallas was led by Arike Ogunbowale who notched 30 points, including going 7-9 from beyond the arc.

Connecticut shot 38% (27-71), while Dallas was 48.6% (36-74) from the floor on the night.

Sun Notes:

• Alyssa Thomas filled the stat sheet with 15 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
• Tiffany Hayes added 13 points and four rebounds.
• DiJonai Carrington and Ty Harris each added six points off the bench.
• Tonight, DeWanna Bonner moved into 13^th all-time in games played in WNBA history, tying Rebekkah Brunson (453).
• Both teams grabbed 16 offensive rebounds on the night. However, Dallas was able to capitalize more, outscoring Connecticut on second-chance opportunities, 19-7.
• The 20+ point loss marks the Sun’s first 20+ loss since 2021 when they lost to Seattle by 22 on 8/12/21.
• Ogunbowale’s seven three-point field goals marks a new opponent individual season high against Connecticut.
• The Sun’s three three-point field goals tie their season low.
• Connecticut has dropped their past two contests by 10+ points each, making it the first time the team has lost back-to-back games by double digits since the 2018 season.

NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun head to the Windy City to take on the Chicago Sky on Sunday, August 20 at 5:00 PM ET/4:00 PM CT.