Wings-Sun Preview
Less than a week ago, the Connecticut Sun beat the Dallas Wings for their long-awaited first win of 2020. They won't have to wait long for repeating that accomplishment. The Sun look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season when they try for another victory over the Wings on Wednesday night at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Playing without star forward Jonquel Jones this season, Connecticut (2-6) started 0-5 before rolling to a 91-68 win over Dallas on Thursday. Brionna Jones had 17 points and Alyssa Thomas scored 15 as the Sun broke out to a 23-8 first-quarter lead and shot 54.5 percent in the rout of the Wings (3-5). It provided an important bit of relief for the Sun, who are a season removed from playing in the WNBA Finals. Unfortunately for Connecticut, it was unable to build on that win by following with a 100-93 loss to Chicago. However, the Sun picked themselves back up to win 93-82 over Atlanta on Monday. Thomas (15.4 points per game, 10 rebounds per game) scored 21 and Jasmine Thomas (11.9 ppg) added 15 points with seven assists as the Sun placed four starters in double-figure points while taking advantage of the Dream losing star rookie guard Chennedy Carter to a first-quarter ankle injury. "There's still a lot of basketball to be played," forward DeWanna Bonner, who averages a team-leading 18.8 points, said via the Sun's official Facebook page. That's true, bit there's also much ground for the Sun to make up, as they try to get back in the playoff hunt. Facing Dallas again gives Connecticut a chance to continue their comeback. The Sun have won three in a row over the Wings, who have dropped four of their last five contests following Monday's 91-79 setback to Phoenix. Arike Ogunbowale had 22 points for Dallas, which shot just 37 percent from the floor and 7 of 26 from beyond the 3-point arc. "We've got improvement to make across the board," Wings coach Brian Agler told The Dallas Morning News. Ogunbowale (20.4 ppg) continues to be one of the top players in the WNBA, and the main offensive threat for a Dallas club that ranks near the bottom of the league averaging 80.6 points per contest. Ogunbowale was held below her season average with 17 points against Connecticut last week. However, rookie forward Satou Sabally (12 ppg, 6.8 rpg) recorded her second double-double of the season for Dallas with 15 points and 10 boards on Monday. |