Connecticut center Brittney Griner claimed the WNBA’s all-time blocked-shots record while the Sun ended a seven-game losing streak with a 92-63 rout of the Chicago Sky on Monday in Uncasville, Conn.
The Sun (3-15) took control in the second quarter, and Griner established the new blocks record in the third period.
Connecticut had not won since May 30, and the team’s two prior wins came by a combined five points, but the Sun had an easy time against Chicago.
The Sun broke a 23-all tie with just over six minutes to play in the first half by going on a 14-0 run. Griner scored twice in that run, and Charlisse Leger-Walker and Kennedy Burke each added five points. Connecticut pushed its edge to 47-30 by halftime and Chicago never pulled within single digits again.
Griner’s fourth blocked shot of the game, recorded early in the third quarter, moved her past Margo Dydek for the league mark with her 878th career rejection. It was her fourth block of the night. Griner tallied 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to go with the four blocked shots.
Leger-Walker put up 13 points and Leila Lacan scored 12 points on 5-for-6 shooting. Olivia Nelson-Ododa notched 11 points and 15 rebounds, and Aaliyah Edwards added 11 points off the bench.
Chicago (4-12) has now lost six games in a row and struggled on offense throughout the game. The Sky avoided a season low in points but did hit season lows in shooting accuracy, connecting on just 17 of 73 attempts from the floor (23.3%) and 4 of 30 (13.3%) from 3-point range.
Sky center Kamilla Cardoso struggled with foul trouble but scored 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting and pulled down 14 rebounds despite only playing 23 minutes. Azura Stevens added 11 points for the Sky, and Sydney Taylor tallied 10 points.
Chicago continues to be without much of its roster, with Courtney Vandersloot, Rickea Jackson and DiJonai Carrington among the injured players not in action.
–Field Level Media
