Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the WNBA daily as we try to heal from this pandemic.
The Connecticut Sun bounce back and defeat a strong Aces team.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Brad Horrigan/Hartford Courant.)
Well, we should know by now but this Sun team is a contender.
Again, we didn’t talk about them much before the season started. Especially after they lost Alyssa Thomas.
But so far, here’s what we got.
Jonquel Jones is probably the MVP of roughly the first quarter of the season. DeWanna Bonner is still an all-world player. Brionna Jones continues to improve. Jasmine Thomas has been steady. Natisha Hiedeman is also very improved. Stopper Brianna January continues to be a perimeter hound.
Even with Thomas out, their defense has been outstanding. A 10-2 run late against the Aces on Tuesday showed how much they can clamp opponents down. They’re currently 2nd in defensive rating (behind the disappointing Chicago Sky; MORE ON THEM LATER). The Aces had a three-game win streak stopped because of Connecticut’s defense. They only managed 67 points against them. And in their previous match-up, Las Vegas only scored 65 in another loss. Las Vegas otherwise averages 96.5 points outside of their games against the Sun. Also remember that the Aces survived a defensive struggle against them in the full 5 games in the Wubble playoffs.
The Sun are 7-2 and both of their losses are in overtime. And you can even have the built-in excuse that Curt Miller wasn’t there (as he was serving a suspension; more on this later also) for their game against Seattle. Their loss against Minnesota was more of a surprise as the Lynx had been winless beforehand but Minnesota is actually better than their record indicates.
Still, everyone is talking about the Aces winning the championship. I had said that the Storm needed more respect and they seem to be getting it now. But maybe we should also give a lot of respect to the Connecticut Sun.
Bullet Passes
Liz Cambage and Curt Miller cleared the air before the game. Y’all remember that Miller said Cambage was 300 pounds during the last Sun/Aces game. As mentioned, Miller was suspended a game for that stupid comment. Everything seems to be good now.
Cambage was pointedly booed at during the game. Why? I know there is sports-hate and all but why should she get more jeers for defending herself? Fans suck, man.
Anyway, Liz scored a season-high 28 points. Remember that Cambage has the record for most points in a WNBA game with 53.
That other great team, Seattle, made short work of the Indiana Fever, who are now 1-8. Breanna Stewart scored 28 points in the win. She’s also really good.
Ugly game between the Wings and the Sparks. But, hey, it was nice to see Ty Harris lead the Wings in scoring with 18 points.
Oh. And take a look at this ending between the Mercury and the Sky after the score recap.
WNBA Scoreboard
June 1, 2021
Watch This Play
No Diana Taurasi but the Mercury came back from 10 down with under three minutes left.
The Merc were down two as they got the rebound with about 5 seconds left. They had two timeouts but did NOT call one…
…as KIA NURSE EUROSTEPPED INTO A NEAR-HALFCOURT FLING. You know what happened…
KIA NURSE FOR THE WIN ‼️ pic.twitter.com/OMunTXNbR2
— ESPN (@espn) June 2, 2021
What a game-winner. And what a heartbreaker for the Sky.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the WNBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.
R.I.P. Nala.