WNBA: Can the Solar compete with the league’s finest groups?

After shedding three of 4 video games, the Connecticut Solar have returned to their profitable methods, reeling off three-straight wins to maneuver to 17-4, matching the New York Liberty for the league’s finest document. The three victories had been propelled by the Solar’s three All-Stars: Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones.

Jones, now a three-time All-Star, posted 18 factors and 7 rebounds to push Connecticut previous the Phoenix Mercury, 83-72. Throughout her 27 minutes on the courtroom, the Solar outscored the Mercury by a team-best 23 factors. Bonner obtained buckets in Connecticut’s victories over the Minnesota Lynx, 78-73, and Atlanta Dream, 80-67. In opposition to the Lynx, the six-time All-Star tied her season excessive with 24 factors earlier than draining a career-best seven triples as she completed with 23 factors towards the Dream.

And thru all of it, Alyssa Thomas—”The Engine,” a five-time All-Star and a first-time Olympian—has remained the driving power for the Solar. After flirting with a triple-double towards Phoenix with 10 factors, 12 rebounds and 7 assists, she accomplished the deed within the win over Minnesota, totaling 13 factors, 10 rebounds and 14 assists. In simply 25 minutes towards Atlanta, she had a tidy stat line of seven factors, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

With three All-Stars, a authentic All-Star snub in DiJonai Carrington and the league’s finest document, all is nice in Connecticut, proper?

Can Connecticut compete with the league’s finest?

Photograph by Ethan Miller/Getty Photographs

It’s price asking how good the Solar are. Sure, the are an excellent common season group, prepared and prepared to grind out wins towards any opponent—nearly.

There’s a obtrusive gap within the Solar’s resume, as they’ve but to beat the championship favorites: the Liberty and Las Vegas Aces. Whereas Connecticut and New York might share matching 17-4 data, the Liberty personal two wins over the Solar. New York not solely dealt Connecticut their first lack of the season, profitable the June eighth battle in Brooklyn, but in addition handed the Solar their first loss at Mohegan Solar Area. Likewise, the back-to-back defending champs smacked the Solar round of their first go to to Las Vegas. Connecticut additionally got here up brief towards one other group with championship ambitions within the Seattle Storm, because the Solar scored a season-low 61 factors of their loss to Seattle.

In a vacuum, none of these losses are significantly regarding. But taken collectively, they increase questions concerning the Solar’s potential to compete with the league’s finest, particularly within the postseason. And particularly on the offensive finish.

Connecticut has a rock-solid protection, trailing solely the Minnesota Lynx with a defensive ranking of 93.6. Their offensive ranking of 102.6 ranks third, suggesting there aren’t any huge issues on that finish. Nevertheless, the Solar common solely 79.9 factors per recreation, which ranks eighth within the league. The Solar rating successfully, however, as a result of they play on the league’s slowest tempo, they don’t rating explosively. The Aces and Storm, in distinction, play on the quickest paces within the league, whereas the Liberty, taking part in at a reasonable tempo, take and take advantage of 3s per recreation. The Solar rank eleventh in each 3-pointers tried and made.

Though many a coach might proclaim, “Protection wins championships,” offensive firepower more and more defines the elite groups in trendy basketball. To date, the 2024 Solar, not in contrast to earlier editions of the group, do no seem to have the additional offensive gear essential to win constantly on the highest degree.

Can Connecticut increase their ceiling?

Photograph by Chris Marion/NBAE by way of Getty Photographs

As assembled, can the Solar discover the offensive fireplace wanted to run with the likes of the Liberty, Aces and Storm?

The Solar are reflection of the strengths and weaknesses of their finest participant: Alyssa Thomas. Whereas she deserves all of the reward and extra for her relentless dedication to claim her will on each side of a recreation, her shortcomings within the offensive halfcourt, largely due her limitations as a shooter, cap the Solar’s ceiling. Brute power, will and need to can result in buckets, however typically not in ways in which trigger dialed in defenses to bend and break down. The transition scoring alternatives the place Thomas and the Solar thrive additionally are inclined to dry up towards higher, extra ready competitors.

Whereas 3-point taking pictures just isn’t the trendy elixir for all offensive ills, high-volume 3-point taking pictures does are inclined to make offense simpler. Whereas it will be unwise to count on, and even to encourage, the Solar to completely swap up their offensive id and start to bomb away from behind the arc, Connecticut has sufficient viable 3-point shooters to include extra long-range taking pictures of their offense, producing not solely extra factors but in addition more room contained in the arc for Thomas and Jones.

All the time a streaky shooter, Bonner should proceed to fireside away, utilizing her quantity, quite than her share, to threaten opponents. Carrington likewise shouldn’t be discouraged by dry spells and maintain working to determine herself as a shooter who should be guarded. Ty Harris has turn out to be a wonderful 3-pointer shooter and ought to be trying greater than 4.3 per recreation. How actual is Veronica Burton’s taking pictures? She’s taken 10 3s and made half of them, giving her a a lot increased share than she posted in her two seasons with the Dallas Wings. She ought to maintain taking pictures with confidence. To date, Rachel Banham is taking pictures a career-worst share from 3, however, when given the chance, she’s confirmed unafraid to maintain launching.

What’s subsequent for Connecticut?

The Connecticut Solar are excellent. However, to win the franchise’s first championship, they should discover a approach to turn out to be nice. Particularly, they should discover a approach to turn out to be an ideal offense.

They’ll have two alternatives to show themselves earlier than the All-Star/Olympic break, twice assembly the Liberty. They host New York on Wednesday, July 10 (11 a.m. ET, League Go) after which shut out the primary half of the season with a recreation in Brooklyn on Tuesday, July 16 (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video). Between these two first-place tilts, the Solar welcome the Mercury to Uncasville on Sunday, July 14 (1 p.m. ET, ABC).