Ty Harris leads Solar to win over Lynx, serving to Connecticut keep away from WNBA playoff elimination

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Within the Connecticut Solar’s earlier two video games — each losses towards the Minnesota Lynx — Ty Harris performed a mixed 13 minutes, and was held scoreless, seemingly nonetheless not herself since her return from harm. Harris, who has been one in all Connecticut’s key gamers all season, sprained her ankle simply 4 minutes into the WNBA postseason, lacking the next three video games — all wins. Whereas she made her return on Tuesday, in Sport 2 towards Minnesota, she got here off the bench and performed restricted minutes.

After back-to-back losses, the Solar discovered themselves in a 2-1 collection gap, dealing with elimination towards the Lynx. Forward of a must-win Sport 4, head coach Stephanie White made it clear that Harris was wanted. She’d be again within the beginning lineup instead of Marina Mabrey — and was anticipated to contribute as she has all 12 months.

“We’d like her to be on the market,” White stated pregame. “We’d like her to take photographs for us. We’d like her to be a shot maker for us. We’d like her to be a strong defender for us. So she’s bought to be within the rotation.”

Harris responded. The 5’ 10 guard, one in all Connecticut’s prime shooters all 12 months, exploded for 20 factors — 13 of which got here within the second half. She shot 4-5 from past the arc, liable for half of Connecticut’s 8 whole three-pointers.

“She provides us one other ground spacer, which opens issues up for AT to assault, opens issues up for Breezy when she’s on the ground, on the block, actually makes DB and Marina’s life lots simpler as nicely,” White stated.

“We all know that when Ty is on the ground and pulling down photographs that we now have nice alternatives to achieve success. I’m grateful that she bounced again in the present day and was excellent.”

In flip, the Solar — who appeared torpid and out of focus in Sport 3 — got here away with a 92-82 win.

Turning issues round required a workforce effort. Connecticut trailed by 7 on the half, however responded with an enormous third quarter during which they outscored the Lynx 25-13.

Alyssa Thomas, who shot simply 2-10 within the first half, bounced again with a 14-point second half efficiency to complete the sport with 18 factors on 8/17 capturing. Bonner had one in all her finest performances of the postseason, scoring 18 factors on 8-12 capturing. DiJonai Carrington added 15 factors on 6-10 capturing, whereas Marina Mabrey added 10 factors off the bench.

Ty Harris addresses a raucous Mohegan Solar crowd after the victory.

“We pressured it to Sport 5, and we’re going to do it there.”

The collection will return to Minneapolis, the place the Lynx and Solar will face off in a deciding Sport 5. The winner of that sport will advance to the WNBA finals, which is able to tip off at Barclay’s Heart on Thursday at 8pm ET, since earlier on Sunday, the Liberty defeated the Aces, 76-62, in Sport 4 to cement their spot within the Finals.

An elimination sport at Goal Heart is bound to be a rowdy surroundings, however the Solar are prepared for the problem.

“They’re nice followers,” Bonner stated of the Lynx followers awaiting them in Minneapolis. “They’re championship followers. They’ve gained a number of championships, in order that they’re hungry for one more one. It’s going to be loopy, however I feel we’ve been there — thank goodness for the primary two video games — so we all know what it seems like, and we’ll be ready to deal with that.”