Connecticut Sun Outmatched by Dallas Wings, 95-75
August 18, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Connecticut Sun News Release
Uncasville, CT - Tonight, the Connecticut Sun fell to the Dallas Wings, 95-75. The Sun and Wings split the regular season series, 2-2.
The result marks the Sun's third straight loss for the first time since the 2021 regular season where the team dropped three in a row from June 13-June 19. The team has not lost four in row since the beginning of the 2020 regular season.
The Sun was led by DeWanna Bonner who finished with a double-double, notching 25 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
1Q- Connecticut opened the contest outscoring Dallas, 13-5, heading into the first media timeout. Alyssa Thomas led all scorers with four early points. The Wings finished the quarter on a 13-8 run to cut the Sun's lead to three, 21-18, heading into the second. DeWanna Bonner tallied five points, two rebounds and one assists in the first quarter to lead Connecticut.
2Q- The Sun outscored the Wings, 13-11, to begin the second, taking a 34-29 advantage with 5:58 to go in the first half. Ty Harris had six of Connecticut's 13 points in the opening minutes of the quarter. The Wings responded on a 6-0 run forcing the Sun into a timeout with 4:25 to go in the second, taking a 35-34. Dallas finished the half on a 11-6 run out of Connecticut's timeout to take a six-point advantage into the locker room, 46-40. The Wings outscored the Sun, 28-19, in the second quarter.
Thomas and Bonner each had nine points apiece to lead the Sun in scoring after twenty minutes of play. After only shooting 37.5% in the first quarter, Dallas began to click offensively in the second, shooting 61.1% (11-18) compared to Connecticut's 41.2% (7-17) effort in the quarter.
3Q- Dallas opened the second half outscoring Connecticut, 8-5, to push their lead up to nine, 54-45, with 4:39 to go in the third. The Sun gave up six offensive rebounds in the opening minutes of the third, resulting in five Wings second-chance points. Connecticut was able to close the quarter on a 18-12 run to cut Dallas's lead to three, 66-63, heading into the fourth. Bonner notched 14 of her 25 points in the third to pace the Sun.
4Q- The Wing outscored the Sun, 10-4, to push their lead back up nine, 76-67, with 5:44 remaining in the fourth. Connecticut continued to struggle on both ends of the floor and dropped the fourth quarter to Dallas, 29-12. The Wings went on a 27-8 run over the last 7:30 of the contest, to take home the 95-75 win over the Sun. Dallas's 29 fourth-quarter points are the most Connecticut has let up in a closing quarter this season.
Dallas was led by Arike Ogunbowale who notched 30 points, including going 7-9 from beyond the arc.
Connecticut shot 38% (27-71), while Dallas was 48.6% (36-74) from the floor on the night.
Sun Notes:
Alyssa Thomas filled the stat sheet with 15 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals.
Tiffany Hayes added 13 points and four rebounds.
DiJonai Carrington and Ty Harris each added six points off the bench.
Tonight, DeWanna Bonner moved into 13th all-time in games played in WNBA history, tying Rebekkah Brunson (453).
Both teams grabbed 16 offensive rebounds on the night. However, Dallas was able to capitalize more, outscoring Connecticut on second-chance opportunities, 19-7.
The 20+ point loss marks the Sun's first 20+ loss since 2021 when they lost to Seattle by 22 on 8/12/21.
Ogunbowale's seven three-point field goals marks a new opponent individual season high against Connecticut.
The Sun's three three-point field goals tie their season low.
Connecticut has dropped their past two contests by 10+ points each, making it the first time the team has lost back-to-back games by double digits since the 2018 season.
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