GAME RECAP: Sun Back in the Win Column, Defeat Fever, 89-72

Five Connecticut players finish in double-figures.

Uncasville, CT (June 10, 2024)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (10-1) defeated the Indiana Fever (3-10), 89-72 at Mohegan Sun Arena. Connecticut moves to 3-0 against Indiana in 2024, with their final regular season matchup coming in August. The Sun have won 11-straight games against the Fever, dating back to the 2021 season. They have also held the Fever winless at Mohegan Sun Arena since June 5, 2016.

DiJonai Carrington led the way for Connecticut, tallying a season-high 22 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. DeWanna Bonner added 17 points, going 3-4 from beyond the arc. Brionna Jones and Ty Harris each chipped in 11 points, while Tiffany Mitchell notched 10 points in 21 minutes off the bench in the win.

Alyssa Thomas finished with seven points, a season-high 18 rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Her 18-rebound performance ties Los Angeles Sparks forward Dearica Hamby’s 18-rebound outing (5/21/24 vs. Washington) for most rebounds for a single player in a game during the 2024 WNBA season.

The Sun held a 13-10 lead over the Fever heading into the first media timeout of the contest and finished the quarter on a 13-5 run to take an 11-point edge into the second, 26-15. Connecticut continued their push in the second, outscoring Indiana, 29-20, to take a twenty-point advantage into the locker room, closing the half on a 16-4 run. The Sun shot 61.3% (19-31) in the first half, their highest shooting clip in a single-half this season. Connecticut enjoyed a lead as large as 28 in the third, but Indiana was able to cut it to 24 heading into the fourth, 80-56. Indiana outscored Connecticut, 16-9, in the final quarter, but Connecticut ultimately took home the 89-72 win.

Aliyah Boston led the Fever with her second double-double of the season, notching 14 points and 12 rebounds. She also led the team with a team-high five assists. Caitlin Clark and Lexie Hull each added 10 points in the effort for Indiana.

Connecticut shot 46.2% (30-65), while holding Indiana to 40.3% (25-62) from the floor on the night. The Sun outscored the Fever in the paint (36-28) and on the fast break (15-9), but the Fever had the advantage in second chance points (14-12) and bench points (38-21).

Notes:

• The Connecticut Sun move to 3-1 in Commissioner’s Cup play. With the win, another $3,000 will be donated to Reproductive Equity Now, the Sun’s 2024 Commissioner’s Cup beneficiary.
• Brionna Jones hit her first three-point field goal of 2024 and the fourth of her WNBA career in the win.
• Connecticut scored a season-high 55 points in the first half of play.
• The Sun forced the Fever into 11 turnovers and scored 18 points off of those mistakes.
• Connecticut assisted on 22 of their 30 made field goals.
• The Sun outrebounded the Fever, 41-26.
• Olivia Nelson-Ododa grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
• DiJonai Carrington recorded a career-high tying three steals.
• This marks DeWanna Bonner’s 11^th straight double-digit scoring outing. Her longest streak is 24 straight games (August 8, 2020-May 30, 2021).
• After five consecutive games shooting below 85% from the free-throw line, the Sun went 87.5% (21-24) from the charity stripe on the night.

NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun hit the road to face the Chicago Sky on Wednesday, June 12 at 8:00 PM ET/7:00 PM CT at Wintrust Arena.