Connecticut Sun (4-5) at Minnesota Lynx (9-0)
At Xcel Energy Center
Saturday, June 17th, 8:00 p.m. ET
Last Game: The Connecticut Sun won 96-76 over the New York Liberty at Mohegan Sun Arena on Wednesday, June 14th. The Minnesota Lynx won 91-74 over the Dallas Wings at College Park Center on Sunday, June 11th.
Players to Watch: Connecticut – Jonquel Jones leads the Sun this season in both scoring (15.0 ppg) and rebounding (12.7 rpg). She posted 19 points, 12 rebounds and three assists in Wednesday’s win over New York. Courtney Williams is second on the team in scoring (12.8 ppg) and third in rebounding (4.8 rpg). She had 22 points and six rebounds against the Liberty. Alyssa Thomas ranks third on the Sun in scoring (12.4 ppg) and second in both rebounding (4.9 rpg) and assists (3.8 apg). She added 18 points, six rebounds, five assists and three steals in the game.
Minnesota – Sylvia Fowles leads Minnesota this season in both scoring (21.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg). She posted 30 points, nine rebounds and two assists in Sunday’s win over Dallas. Maya Moore is second on the team in both scoring (14.0 ppg) and assists (4.1 apg), and ranks third in rebounding (5.9 rpg). She had 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal against the Wings. Lindsay Whalen leads the Lynx in assists (5.0 apg). She also added four points, three rebounds and three assists in the game.
Noteworthy:
- Connecticut is 0-2 against the Minnesota Lynx this season.
- Jasmine Thomas (11.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 4.0 apg), Jonquel Jones (11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg) and Alyssa Thomas (6.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.0 apg) led the Sun in their two previous games against Minnesota this season.
- Sylvia Fowles (20.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg, 2.5 bpg), Maya Moore (9.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 2.5 apg) and Seimone Augustus (12.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg) led the charge for Minnesota in the two games against Connecticut this year.
- The Sun are 4-0 this season when they have outscored their opponents from the free throw line.
- Connecticut leads the league in three-point field goal percentage (.411, 58-for-141).
- Connecticut’s win over New York on Wednesday snapped a nine-game losing streak to New York dating back to June 15, 2014 when the Sun won 76-72 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
- Jonquel Jones recorded her fifth double-double of the year finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds. It is her second straight game with a double-double and her fourth in the last five games. Jones currently leads the WNBA in rebounding (12.7 rpg), and set a league-high with 21 rebounds at Chicago (5/28).
- Jasmine Thomas recorded a season-high eight assists, and is now seventh in the league in assists (4.6 apg).
- Rachel Banham had a season-high 11 points going a perfect 3-of-3 from three-point range.
- For the second game in a row and the third time this season, the Sun had at least five players score in double-figures.
- Sylvia Fowles ranks second in the WNBA in both scoring (21.9 ppg) and rebounding (10.1 rpg).
- Lindsay Whalen is currently sixth in the league in assists (5.0 apg).
- Seimone Augustus dished out a season-high nine assists against Dallas.
- Minnesota leads the WNBA in team scoring average (86.7 ppg) and allows the fewest points (72.8 ppg) to their opponents.
- The Lynx made a league-high 41 field goals against Seattle (6/3).
Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller
On his expectations prior to Wednesday’s game against New York
“I did not know what to expect. I thought that we were hungry but I didn’t know if we could repeat and bottle up what worked so well the other night against Atlanta. Our start tonight energized us and energized the crowd giving us some momentum. There was an electricity in the building to start the game with three UConn starters for New York. They truly believe, regardless of the injuries, in who we have in uniform that we can compete, and that is the mindset as a coach that you love your players to have.”
Next Game: The Connecticut Sun tip-off against the New York Liberty at Madison Square Garden on Friday, June 23rd at 7:30 p.m. ET. For more details, visit www.connecticutsun.com.