The sun has set on Connecticut’s undefeated start to the 2024 season.
In a rematch of last year’s WNBA semifinals, the New York Liberty won their fourth consecutive matchup against the Sun, this one an 82-75 win on the road at Mohegan Sun Arena. It was the Sun’s first loss of the year after starting the season 9-0, the seventh team in WNBA history to do so.
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Now the Liberty are winners of six in a row and claimed a key victory over the rival Sun for the Commissioner’s Cup qualifying.
New York was led by Jonquel Jones, the former Connecticut MVP, who had 22 points, including nine in the fourth quarter as the Liberty outscored the Sun by 10 in the final period to earn the victory. Jones had a game-high four 3-pointers, clearing the paint for the New York guards, in particular Sabrina Ionescu.
Jones continued to torment her former team and was the best player on both ends of the floor. She had a versatile offensive attack, sprinkling in four 3-pointers and five buckets in the restricted area to go along with five assists. Her ability to space the floor allowed her to face up and find cutters, and that extra bit of playmaking was key for a Liberty offense missing starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot.
COAST 2️⃣ COAST @jus242 pic.twitter.com/xl0oXYSDfy
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 8, 2024
Jones also shut down Connecticut with her rim protection. The Sun averaged 22.8 free-throw attempts per game but were down to 17 on Saturday. They also took four fewer field goals in the restricted area than usual. Jones’ four blocks and her general shot deterrence at 6-foot-6 played a massive role in that shot distribution. Connecticut shot 40.8 percent from the field as a team, with the starting frontcourt of DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas and Brionna Jones making 38 percent of their looks. Even DiJonai Carrington, one of the league’s best finishers in transition, couldn’t find a way to score around Jones on the fast break.
Ionescu led all scorers with 24 points, using the threat of her jumper to drive at will into the lane and finish through contact. She also became the fastest player in WNBA history to 300 3-pointers.
The Liberty continued to own the 3-point battle between the two teams. The Sun had better spacing a year ago with Rebecca Allen in the starting five in place of the injured Bri Jones, along with Tiffany Hayes, but managed only four triples compared to nine for New York. Fittingly, it was a Jones 3 that gave the Liberty a four-point lead and put the nail in the coffin with 1:15 to play.
BIG 3 from 3️⃣5️⃣ to tie the score @jus242 pic.twitter.com/bwMpd2YW1M
— New York Liberty (@nyliberty) June 8, 2024
This felt like another semifinal game between the two teams, who treated the matchup with postseason intensity. Liberty coach Sandy Brondello and Sun coach Steph White essentially ran six-player rotations, with Leonie Fiebich and Tiffany Mitchell supplementing the starting lineups. The rest of the bench players combined for about 15 minutes total — for context, three second-unit players on the Sun average at least 14.5 minutes per game.
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But with a burgeoning rivalry fueled by the Jones trade in the 2023 offseason, combined with the stakes of the Commissioner’s Cup, Connecticut and New York put together one of the best games of this young regular season. The Sun are still atop the league standings, but a cushy early schedule is coming to an end, and New York isn’t the only team equipped to chase them down.
Required reading
- WNBA power rankings: Is Chennedy Carter gambling with bright future despite strong start?
- 2024 WNBA TV schedule: Where to watch games this season on Amazon, ESPN and more
- Liberty cruise past Aces in 2023 WNBA Commissioner’s Cup: How New York did it
(Photo: Chris Marion / NBAE via Getty Images)
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Sabreena Merchant is a women's basketball Staff Writer for The Athletic. She previously covered the WNBA and NBA for SB Nation. Sabreena is an alum of Duke University, where she wrote for the independent student newspaper, The Chronicle. She is based in Los Angeles. Follow Sabreena on Twitter @sabreenajm
