Minneapolis, MN: The Connecticut Sun (15-4) travel to Minneapolis to take on the Minnesota Lynx (14-5) in an Independence Day matchup on Thursday, July 4 at 8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT at the Target Center. The Sun are 2-0 against the Lynx this season, winning 83-82 in overtime on May 23 in Connecticut. The game will air on NBC Sports Boston and stream live on Prime Video.
Storylines:
Last Time Out:
Last time out on Monday night, the Connecticut Sun picked up an 83-72 road win over the Phoenix Mercury. Brionna Jones led the way with 18 points, seven rebounds, one assist and one steal. DiJonai Carrington was also a spark offensively for Connecticut adding 16 points and eight rebounds. Alyssa Thomas notched her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, one steal and two blocks. The Sun moved to 2-0 against the Mercury this season.
Sun All-Stars:
Connecticut Sun guard-forward DeWanna Bonner and center Brionna Jones were named 2024 AT&T WNBA All-Stars for Team WNBA, the league announced on Tuesday. This is the sixth WNBA All-Star selection for Bonner (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) and third selection for Jones (2021, 2022, 2024). Sun forward Alyssa Thomas joins the WNBA All-Stars who comprise the USA Basketball Women’s National Team and earns her fifth WNBA All-Star nod (2017, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024).
Making an Impact:
The Sun signed third-year guard Veronica Burton to a rest of season contract on June 5, 2024 and she is finding her groove with Connecticut on both ends of the floor. Over the Sun’s last three games, she has averaged 8.0 points, 2.0 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 20.3 minutes per game off the bench. Burton also currently leads the team in field goal percentage, shooting 66.7% from the field over 10 games played.
Starters Getting it Done:
The Sun’s five starters- Ty Harris, DiJonai Carrington, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones are all averaging 10+ points per game through 19 games this season. The Sun are the only team in the league with all five starters averaging in double-figures scoring. The starters currently account for 82.6% of Connecticut’s scoring in 2024, making up 66.0 of their 79.9 points per game.
Opponent History:
Connecticut is 31-26 all-time against Minnesota during the regular season, including an 13-15 record on the road. The Sun have also won four straight regular season matchups against the Lynx in Minneapolis, with their last loss coming on May 30, 2021. The Lynx are coming off a 76-67 loss to the New York Liberty on Tuesday, July 2. Kayla McBride led Minnesota with 17 points, while Napheesa Collier notched a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Head Coach Cheryl Reeve is in her 15th season with Minnesota and is 17-20 all-time against Connecticut during regular season play.
Sun-Lynx Connections:
- Sun guard Rachel Banham played four seasons for the Lynx from 2020-2023 before signing back with the Sun as a free agent this season. She is from Lakeville, Minnesota and played for the University of Minnesota.
- Sun guard Tiffany Mitchell played for the Lynx during the 2023 season. The Sun acquired Mitchell in a trade with the Lynx in January 2024 that sent guard Natisha Hiedeman to Minnesota. Hiedeman played for the Sun from 2019-2023.
- Lynx guard Courtney Williams played for the Sun from 2016-2019 and in 2022.
- Sun guard Moriah Jefferson played for the Lynx in 2022.
- Lynx guard Bridget Carleton was originally drafted 21st overall by the Connecticut Sun in the 2019 WNBA Draft.
- Sun forward Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Lynx forward Dorka Juhász played one season together the University of Connecticut (2021-22). Lynx forward Napheesa Collier and Sun guard Moriah Jefferson also played one season together at UConn (2015-16).
- Sun guard DiJonai Carrington and Lynx forward Alanna Smith played together at Stanford University (2016-2019).
- Sun forward Alyssa Thomas will suit up alongside the Lynx’s Napheesa Collier on the U.S. Women’s National Team at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve will coach the team.