GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- The Connecticut Sun defeated the Las Vegas Aces in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals, 105-76, on record setting outing.
- Alyssa Thomas recorded a WNBA Finals first-ever triple-double with 16 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and one block. Her 15 boards marks a new postseason career high.
- Thomas is also the first player to record a triple double in both a regular season contest and postseason contest in a single season.
- The Sun’s 105 points, 43 field goals and 32 assists all mark new franchise records in a postseason contest.
- Connecticut dominated the paint in this evening’s win, outscoring Las Vegas, 64-26. 64 paint points marks a new WNBA Finals record.
- With four rebounds in the win, Jonquel Jones moved into second all-time in franchise history in postseason rebounds. She now has grabbed 237 boards in 25 playoff game appearances.
- Jones led the Sun with 20 points, five rebounds, four assists and one steal in the win.
- Jackie Young finished with 22 points, two rebounds and two assists to lead the Aces in the effort.
- The Aces opened the contest on a 9-2 run, forcing the Sun to take an early timeout with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter. Jones got Connecticut on the board sinking two free throws in the opening stretch.
- The Sun answered on a 9-6 run to cut the Aces’ lead to four, 15-11 with 4:58 to go in the first quarter. Natisha Hiedeman nailed Connecticut’s first triple on that run.
- Connecticut finished the first quarter on a 23-4 run to take a 34-19 lead into the second. The Sun’s 34 points marks a WNBA Finals record for most points in the first quarter of play.
- The Sun shot 82.4% (14-17), while holding the Aces to 47.1% (8-17) from the field through ten minutes of action.
- Connecticut opened the second quarter on a 5-0 run, forcing Las Vegas to burn another timeout with 8:33 remaining in the first half.
- Sun held Aces scoreless from 2:02 in first quarter until 6:18 in second quarter.
- After leading by as many as 23, the Sun took an eleven-point lead over the Aces into the locker room, 53-42.
- Hiedeman led Connecticut with 11 points, two rebounds, six assists and one steal in the first half. A’ja Wilson notched 14 points, three rebounds, three assists, one steal and two blocks to lead Las Vegas.
- The Sun outscored the Aces in the paint (26-14), in second chance points (5-0) and from the bench (11-0) in the first half. Both teams tallied five fast-break points.
- Connecticut dished out 19 assists first-half assists which marks a new WNBA Finals record for most assists in a half.
- The Sun led the Aces, 69-57, with 4:09 remaining in the third quarter. Jones notched seven of Connecticut’s 16 points to open the second half. Kelsey Plum had nine of Las Vegas’ 15 points in that stretch out of the break.
- Las Vegas outscored Connecticut, 27-24, in the third quarter cutting their lead to eight, 77-69, heading into the fourth.
- The Sun opened the fourth on a 6-0 run to extend their lead back up to 14, 83-69. DeWanna Bonner had four of Connecticut’s six in that stretch.
- Connecticut did not let up, outscoring Las Vegas, 28-7, in the fourth quarter and keeping their season alive with a 105-76 victory in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
- Natisha Hiedeman dished out a postseason career-high nine assists.
- Bonner finished with 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals in the victory.
NEXT GAME
The Connecticut Sun host the Las Vegas Aces in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday, September 18 at 4PM ET at Mohegan Sun Arena. The Sun will look to even the series and force a Game 5 in the best-of-three Finals series.