GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• The Connecticut Sun defeated the Washington Mystics, 79-71. Sun Assistant Coach Chris Koclanes picked up his first career win, acting as head coach in replacement of Head Coach Curt Miller who was out due to health and safety protocols.
• Connecticut moves to 6-2 on the season, while Washington falls to 6-3.
• Alyssa Thomas led the Sun tonight, notching her 30^th career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. She also dished out six assists in the win.
• DeWanna Bonner and Courtney Williams also tallied 14 points each in the victory.
• With 14 points tonight, Bonner passed Angel McCoughtry for 15^th in scoring in WNBA history. She now has 5,810 points in 13 seasons in the league.
• With five rebounds tonight, Jonquel Jones moved into fourth place in total rebounds in franchise history. She now has 1,414 rebounds in her career with the Sun.
• Connecticut trailed Washington 13-8 heading into the first media timeout. Williams had four points in the opening five minutes to lead the Sun. Washington forced Connecticut into five turnovers during that beginning stretch.
• The Sun finished the first quarter on a 13-10 run but trailed the Mystics 23-21 after ten minutes of action. Williams and Bonner led Connecticut with six points each.
• Connecticut shot 64.3% (9-19) to start the game, while holding Washington to 47.4% (9-19).
• The Sun opened the second quarter on an 8-0 run, taking a 29-23 lead with 7:12 to play. Connecticut held Washington scoreless in the second quarter until the 5:03 mark.
• Connecticut took a 41-37 lead into the locker room, outscoring Washington 20-14 in the second quarter. Brionna Jones led the way with 12 points, five rebounds and one steal off the bench in the first half for the Sun.
• In the first two quarters, the Sun outscored the Mystics in second-chance points (10-4) and bench points (16-10), but the Mystics had the edge in points in the paint (22-20) and fast break points (8-5).
• Connecticut shot 17-33 (51.5%) from the floor in the first half, while Washington shot 14-34 (41.2%).
• The Mystics opened the third quarter on a 12-9 run. Kennedy Burke led Washington in that stretch, scoring six of her 13 points in the opening minutes out of the locker room.
• ­The Sun answered and finished the quarter up 57-54. Washington outscored Connecticut 17-16 in the third. Thomas led the Sun with 6 of her 14 points in the third quarter.
• The fourth quarter was a back and forth battle, but Connecticut was able to pull away to a 79-71 victory, outscoring Washington, 22-17, in the final ten minutes of action.
• Jones finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and one steal on the night, off the bench.
• The Sun were a force on the glass, out-rebounding the Mystics by 22, 41-19.
• Connecticut shot 49.1% (28-57) on the night, while holding Washington to 40% (28-70) shooting.
• The Mystics outscored the Sun in the paint (36-30) and on the fast break (10-7). Connecticut had the edge in second-chance points (15-6).
• The Connecticut Sun move to 3-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play, taking home another $2,000 for the League of Women Voters of Connecticut.

NEXT GAME

The Connecticut Sun head out west on Tuesday, May 31 to take on the Las Vegas Aces to begin their four-game road trip. The matchup will be the Sun’s first of two contests against the Aces next week. The team will play four games in six days away from home. Connecticut went 3-0 against the Aces during the 2021 season and have won six of the last ten, dating back to the 2018 season.