Dream finish game on 19-2 run to halt the Sun in the closing minutes.
Atlanta, GA (August 18, 2024)- Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (19-7) fell to the Atlanta Dream (9-17), 82-70, in Atlanta. With the loss, the Sun splits the 2024 regular season series with the Dream, 2-2. It also marks the Sun’s first loss to the Dream in Atlanta since the 2019 season.
Alyssa Thomas led Connecticut in scoring in the effort notching 13 points, eight rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block. Brionna Jones added 12 points, eight rebounds, one assist, two steals and two blocks, while Marina Mabrey rounded out the double-digit scorers in the starting line up with 11 points, six rebounds and four assists. After starting 24 games this season, Sun guard Ty Harris made her first appearance off the bench and added 12 points, one assist and two steals in the game.
The Sun trailed the Dream by as many as nine in the first half but were able to cut the deficit to four heading into the locker room at halftime, 38-34. Connecticut and Atlanta traded baskets throughout the third, but Atlanta took a seven-point lead into the fourth, 59-52, after they outscored Connecticut, 21-18 in the quarter. Connecticut began the fourth on a 9-0 run to take a 61-59 lead with 7:57 to play in the contest. The Sun were able to lead by as many as five, 68-63, with 4:51 to play in the fourth, however the Dream ended the contest on a 19-2 run to defeat the Sun, 82-70.
Connecticut shot just 35.4% (23-65) from the field, while Atlanta went 41.3% (26-63) on the day. 25 of the Dream’s 82 points came from the charity stripe as the Sun committed 28 fouls in the game.
The Sun held the advantage on the boards (40-34), in the paint (30-28) and on second chance opportunities (12-10), while the Dream outscored the Sun on the fast break (14-10).
Quotes from Head Coach Stephanie White:
On tonight’s performance: “Certainly disappointed that we didn’t get the win. The combination of our fouls, turnovers and not finishing at the rim hurt us”.
On the new starting lineup and the challenges the change may bring: “We are still trying to evaluate the starting lineup. It’s challenging trying to figure out the best group to start, the right combinations for our rotations and we have to take these next couple of weeks to iron that out.”
| Team | Score | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | PTS | REB | AST |
| CON | 70 | 15 | 19 | 18 | 18 | Thomas- 13 | Bonner- 10 | Thomas- 6 |
| ATL | 82 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 23 | Charles- 22 | Charles- 15 | Canada- 6 |
NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun head to Boston, Massachusetts to host the Los Angeles Sparks at the TD Garden on Tuesday, August 20 at 7:00 PM ET for the WNBA’s first regular game in Boston in league history.