The last five games for the Connecticut Sun have been something of a reveal as they face the Minnesota Lynx on the road. After starting 9-0, their first loss came at the hands of the New York Liberty. Then came a short 4 game-winning streak. Now, the Sun has lost 3 of their last 5 games. What once looked like a dominant and perhaps league-leading team has now shown that they are as vulnerable as anyone.
I have often thought that what gets in the way of the Sun is the Sun. While the roster is loaded with talent, there has always been something amiss. Stephanie White is certainly not the issue; she is a skilled and productive coach, a coach that her team seems to respect. Their usual starting five, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas, Brionna Jones, Tyasha Harris, and MIP candidate DiJonai Carrington, are as tight a group as one could ask for. So what is the problem?
There have been times when the Sun has appeared as though they always have something to prove, that they were the underdog, and that the chip on their collective shoulder was not only apparent but vocalized. Perhaps they feel as though they deserve more respect than they get. If that is the case, my response is that no one deserves anything. No one. You get what you earn. To say that the Sun wears it on its sleeve is stating the obvious. Simply put, they can be their own worst enemy.
The Lynx Post-Commissioner’s Cup Championship
The Minnesota Lynx have gone 3-2 in their last five games, including the Commissioner’s Cup. While it may not count in the standings, a win is a win. Their defeat in Dallas immediately after the win at UBS Arena was a hard-fought game. Dallas, who had lost 11 consecutive games, got a huge boost from newly signed Odyssey Sims and managed to cross the finish line six points ahead of the Lynx. Minnesota just got outplayed in the fourth quarter.
True to form this season, the Lynx bounced back with a win at Chicago, although the first quarter of that game belonged to the Sky. They crept back, however, and in the fourth quarter outplayed Chicago 18-5 to secure the 70-62 win. Returning next to New York, this time at Barclays Center, the Lynx looked as though they were about to make it three in a row against the Liberty, but the bottom fell out in the fourth quarter, and the Liberty held Minnesota to 8 points and ended with a 9 point win, 76-67.
⭐ TAKING OVER PHEE-NIX ⭐ pic.twitter.com/vZOjXKqL6B
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 3, 2024
So now, the Sun comes to the Target Center after a road win at Phoenix, and the Lynx will look to maintain their tradition of bouncing back. Their first meeting with the Sun, as we all remember, was a one-point overtime loss. In that game, Diamond Miller was a starter for the Lynx, and Bridget Carleton had yet to put up numbers. Dorka Juhász had yet to return. The Lynx held a one-point lead with 13 seconds left. Bonner hit a pair of free throws, but with one second left, Kayla McBride missed a 16-footer, and the Sun won.
Final Thoughts
The Lynx have shown that they are a legitimate title contender. The Sun has shown that they are as prone to loss as any other team. Have both teams improved? Yes. Has either team lost anything since their first meeting? No. The Sun may not be viewed as unbeatable any longer, but that does not make them any less dangerous. The Lynx have shown the ability to bounce back.
Whether or not being at home will be an advantage for Minnesota remains to be seen. How much that first overtime game is still in their heads is unknown. The Lynx are 9-1 at home, and the Sun are 7-2 on the road. A win for Minnesota ties them with Connecticut. With a surging Seattle and Las Vegas right behind them in the standings, Minnesota will look to hold their place. Connecticut will look to inch closer to regaining its number-one status. It should be quite a battle.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the world of sports.
