The Storm’s Downpour: How Seattle Rinsed the Sun

Uncasville, CT (September 3, 2024) — In a pivotal WNBA matchup, the Connecticut Sun (24-9) fell to the Seattle Storm (20-13), 71-64, at Mohegan Sun Arena. This defeat marks the Sun’s first loss to the Storm in a regular season series since 2021, after sweeping them in 2022 and 2023.

DeWanna Bonner led the Sun with 26 points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. It was Bonner’s 11th game this season with over 20 points, adding to her tally as the team’s top scorer for the 16th time this year. Brionna Jones also made a significant contribution, scoring 21 points with four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. This performance follows her season-high 26-point effort from the previous game.

The Sun started strong, leading by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. Their energy was evident with a dominant 8-0 run early on, but they began to lose ground as the quarter progressed. Seattle’s defense tightened, and a key 3-pointer and steal by Jewell Loyd helped the Storm close the gap with a 14-2 run before halftime.

In the second half, Connecticut struggled to maintain their rhythm. Although Alyssa Thomas made an impact in the fourth quarter, including a steal that triggered a brief 6-0 run, the Sun couldn’t overcome Seattle’s late-game surge. Thomas drew a sixth foul on Storm star Nneka Ogwumike, but missed free throws prevented any last-minute comeback.

Connecticut’s shooting was inconsistent, hitting just 41.4% (24-58) from the field. This was their second-lowest point total of the season, only surpassing their 61-point game against the Storm in June. The team has struggled in games scoring less than 70 points, holding a 2-3 record in those instances.

Seattle saw a balanced scoring attack with Skylar Diggins-Smith contributing 18 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Jewell Loyd added 17 points, including all three of the Storm’s three-point shots. Despite a team-wide 17.6% shooting performance from beyond the arc, the Storm managed to secure the victory.

The Sun’s next challenge will be a crucial home game against the reigning WNBA champions, the Las Vegas Aces, this Friday at 7:30 p.m. as they continue their push for a top playoff position.