Are these Connecticut Sun for real? 3 reasons why this could be the year

All year long, the Connecticut Sun were overlooked, the national dialogue primarily centering around last years Finals team (the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty) and an exciting rookie class headlined by Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.

The Sun occupy one of the countrys smallest media market: Uncasville, Connecticut.

Theyve never won a championship.

They have no rookies on the roster, so they didnt benefit quite as much from the WNBAs influx of college basketball fans.

And, once in a while, they even have to share their practice court with a two-year-olds birthday party.

Still, theyre one of just two undefeated teams in the 2024 playoffs, currently holding a 1-0 series lead over the Minnesota Lynx in the semi-finals.

Two more wins and the Sun would head to the WNBA Finals, where theyd face the winner of the other semi-finals series between the Aces and the Liberty (New York currently holds a 1-0 lead on the other side of the bracket).

Theyre overlooked but theyre not fazed.

Theyre used to it.

Its not unfamiliar to us.

It happens to us each and every season, Alyssa Thomas said.

But honestly, we dont care.

We know what weve done all season.

We know what were capable of.

In discussions around who might come away with the WNBA championship, the Sun have often been brushed aside, in part because while theyve won a lot of games, but have never been able to get over the hump.

In 2019, they lost in the Finals to the Washington Mystics.

In 2020, they fell to the Aces on the verge of another Finals appearance.

In 2021, they lost to the Chicago Sky in the semi-finals, and in 2022, to the Aces again in the Finals.

Last year, they succumbed at the hands of the New York Liberty in the semi-finals.

It always feels like theyre right at the precipice of a title, but each time, they fall just short.

But, this year, the Sun just might have all the pieces.

Heres why.

Defense wins championships, and Connecticut has the best in the game The Sun have had the leagues best defense all year, and two of the WNBA s best defenders in DiJonai Carrington (First Team All-Defense) and Thomas (Second Team All-Defense).

It starts with Alyssa Thomas, one of the strongest players in the sport.

On Sunday, Aces head coach Becky named Thomas one of three players she fears defensively (alongside Brittney Sykes and Natasha Cloud).

I dont want them near the play when Im drawing, Hammon said.

Then, theres Carrington, who typically matches up with opposing teams top guards and was awarded Most Improved Player for those efforts.

Brionna Jones remains an elite rim protector, and Veronica Burton and Olivia Nelson-Ododa have been critical off the bench.

In Ty Harriss absence, Burton in particular has been crucial.

Shes an outstanding defender shes small in stature, but her physicality, her ability to play bigger, to give us different looks is important, White said of Burton, who was acquired mid-season after being waived by the Dallas Wings.

Related This year, entering the semi-finals, the Sun were slated to face the red-hot Minnesota Lynx, led by Napheesa Collier who was playing at an otherworldly level.

In the first round, Collier put on a show against the Phoenix Mercury, scoring 38 points on 11-19 shooting in Game 1, only to outdo herself with a 42-point performance (on 14-20 FG) in Game 2.

Another Collier offensive explosion felt inevitable to begin the semi-finals, but the Sun did what they do best: they defended.

They limited Collier to just 19 points on 7-16 shooting.

In the fourth quarter of the Suns 73-70 Game 1 win, the Lynx were held to just 8 points.

This is what our group does, Stephanie White said.

This is a team and a franchise, certainly since AT got here that has hung our hats on defense.

Considering how well she was playing, the fact that Connecticut was able to contain Collier is pretty remarkable.

Holding Minnesota to 8 points and icing them out on the final possession, was textbook Sun basketball.

This is championship-level defense by Connecticut on the last play pic.twitter.com/kvHmZCpqZZ Marina Mabreys volume three-point shooting changes everything Connecticuts one achilles heal was three-point shooting so they went ahead and traded for Marina Mabrey, one of the best volume shooters in the game.

With Mabrey in the lineup, they have accrued a 13-6 record (including a 3-0 playoff record).

Through the postseason, Mabrey has averaged 21.3 points per game, hitting clutch and timely daggers.

Shes hit 4.7 threes per game on 42.4% shooting so far these playoffs.

Ive been trying to get Marina to come here for a while, Thomas said after Sundays win.

Shes a competitor, and thats what we are here.

She wants to win, and shes going to do whatever it takes for the team.

Shes something different that we havent seen in Connecticut in a while.

Prior to the trade, the Sun ranked 10th in the league in 3-pointers made (5.5 per game) and 10th in 3-point percentage (31.4%).

We needed three point shooting desperately this season, Thomas said.

Related Alyssa Thomas is reaching playoff form Through three playoff games, Thomas is averaging 16 points on 52.3% shooting, 11.7 assists, and 8.3 rebounds.

In Sundays 73-70 win over the Lynx, she scored two baskets in the final minute in order to secure the win.

Shes anchoring the defense, while also facilitating on offense.

Shes been with Connecticut for 11 seasons, and early on here in these playoffs, that experience and pride shows every time she takes the court.

Theres a reason they call Alyssa Thomas The Engine and its because she orchestrates everything, on both ends.

Im one of the leaders of this team, Ive been here my whole career, Thomas said in an interview on SportsCenter postgame.

Nothing changes.

Were in the pursuit of a championship.

Game 1 is important, especially on the road.

It started with me today.

Its only been one semi-finals game so far, and these are familiar waters for the Sun.

Right now, it looks likely that the Sun would have to defeat the Liberty to win the championship, and while theyve lost four of their last five games against New York, they were all been single-digit games.

The Libertys offense is high-flying, but if theres a defense that can mitigate the damage, it might just be Connecticuts.

Marina Mabrey will have to continue hitting threes at the rate she has, and Alyssa Thomas will have to continue serving as a triple-double machine.

DiJonai Carrington will need to be productive on both ends, and DeWanna Bonner will need to find her shooting touch and hit the big ones when theyre not falling.

They have all the pieces.

Thomas, Jones, and Bonner will all be free agents this summer, and whos to say if theyll have another chance.

But, if everything comes together as it should, this might just be the year they get it done..

This article has been shared from the original article on sbnation, here is the link to the original article:

https://www.sbnation.com/wnba/2024/10/1/24257511/connecticut-sun-marina-mabrey-alyssa-thomas-dijonai-carrington-wnba-playoffs-minnesota-lynx