close
PhotosWNBA

It’s a Steal (Sun at Wings, WNBA Playoffs; Game 3)

Ross James/ALOST

akoiki-passport2 – by Adesina O. Koiki
A Lot of Sports Talk editor-in-chief

 

ARLINGTON, Texas — In describing her team’s Game 2 defeat that forced a deciding Game 3 away from home, Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas said that her team lost the identity that have made the Sun one of the top teams in the WNBA in recent years, and on the cusp of a WNBA championship. On Wednesday night, no such identity crisis was present as Connecticut not only kept their season alive but stopped an ignominious postseason streak in the process.

Thomas was one of four players who scored in double figures for the Sun, who forced 20 turnovers and scored 20 second-chance points in turning an even game at halftime into a comfortable 73-58 victory over the Dallas Wings in the winner-take-all Game 3 at the College Park Center in Arlington. DeWanna Bonner led all scorers wit 21 points for the Sun while also contributing five rebounds and five assists.

The win gave the Sun franchise just its second victory in nine attempts in winner-take-all contests, and its first victory in such a scenario since Sept. 29, 2004.

Fourteen of the 20 turnovers forced by the Sun were steals, a category that saw Connecticut shockingly amass just one in Dallas’ blowout victory in Game 2 in Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday that forced tonight’s Game 3. Those steals led to 20 points off of turnovers, including a Jonquel Jones fast-break layup off an Odyssey Sims steal of Marina Mabrey to give the Sun their biggest lead of the game at 57-46 right before the third-quarter buzzer.

*Editor’s note: Above the byline is the photo gallery from Wednesday evening’s game, with all photos taken by Dallas-area photographer Ross James. After clicking on the first photo to enlarge the picture, make sure to press the left and right arrow buttons to scroll through the rest of the pictures. There are 30 pictures in total.

Facebook Comments Box
Tags : Connecticut SunDallas WingsWNBAWNBA Playoffs

Leave a Response