The Connecticut Sun might be enduring a losing season, but they aren’t going down without a fight.
Connecticut posted just its sixth win of the year Wednesday night, stopping Chicago 71-62 in a game marked by three ejections after a second-quarter fight. Now, the Sun will try to win consecutive games for the first time this season on Sunday when the Indiana Fever make their only visit of the season to Uncasville.
The Sun (6-26) owned a 21-point lead at one stage despite losing Bria Hartley when she was kicked out after getting into a physical altercation with Rebecca Allen.
Nevertheless, they were able to end a five-game losing streak with a strong defensive effort that forced 19 turnovers, as well as a 17-point effort from Leila Lacan.
“We’ve lost a few games down the stretch like that, having the lead in the first half and then not following through for 40 minutes,” said rookie guard Saniya Rivers. “Playing 40 minutes together is (going to) be very important for us in the future. We just really locked in.”
Veteran center Tina Charles leads Connecticut with 15.9 points per game, while Marina Mabrey adds 14.3.
Meanwhile, Indiana (18-16) offered up a poor defensive effort Friday night during an 88-84 home loss to Washington. The Fever permitted the Mystics to hit 52.7 percent from the field, including 8 of 17 on 3-pointers, and were outscored 22-11 at the foul line.
Injuries are coloring Indiana’s effort. Star guard Caitlin Clark (groin) will miss her 13th straight game Sunday. Add on season-ending injuries to guards Aari McDonald (foot) and Sydney Colson (ACL) and you have a team trying to piece things together on the run.
“I think we have a really good group,” said guard Sophie Cunningham. “We’re still a tight-knit group. We’re adding new players that are amazing, but it’s an adjustment period. The highs and lows, you have to stay steady. Every team faces it.”
Despite all the roster churn, the Fever remain seventh in the WNBA standings. Kelsey Mitchell (19.9 ppg) and Aliyah Boston (15.2 ppg) are their leading scorers with Clark on the shelf.
–Field Level Media
