UNCASVILLE, CT — The Connecticut Solar have began the season with a 4-0 report, twice defeating the Indiana Fever, as soon as beating the Washington Mystics and as soon as edging out the Minnesota Lynx. They’ve but to face one of the best groups within the league—particularly the two-time defending champions Las Vegas Aces and the runner-up New York Liberty—however they’ve additionally clearly established themselves as one of many WNBA’s most elite groups by means of the primary two weeks of the season.
The Solar have the second-best offensive ranking within the league (108.3), third-best defensive ranking (98), and second-best web ranking (+10.8). Solely the Liberty have a greater web ranking, aided by a 36-point victory over the Fever.
The Solar’s early-season success could be attributed to a confluence of things, however it wouldn’t be truthful to begin wherever aside from the robust play of its two star gamers, Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner. Listed here are three the explanation why the Solar—one of many least talked about groups on a nationwide stage—is the one undefeated group remaining within the WNBA.
The (traditionally) well-rounded play of Alyssa Thomas
Final 12 months’s MVP runner-up has had an amazing begin to the season, averaging a close to triple-double with 17 factors per sport, 10.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists, two steals and a block. Thomas—the WNBA’s all-time chief in triple-doubles—had an unprecedented season of close to triple-doubles final 12 months, and has made it some extent to keep up that very same stage of manufacturing this season.
With an inflow of media in attendance for Caitlin Clark’s skilled debut, Thomas recorded a triple-double on opening evening in a blowout win in opposition to the Fever, and famous after the truth that she was motivated by the will to show final 12 months’s close to triple-double common was not a fluke.
Thomas was named Japanese Convention Participant of the Week for video games performed from Could 14th to nineteenth, the tenth time she’s been awarded the glory in her 11 12 months profession. “It’s not a shock to any of us that she retains placing up these numbers,” Stephanie White stated.
The timeless scoring of DeWanna Bonner
On opening evening, 36-year-old DeWanna Bonner turned the No. 5 all-time scorer in WNBA historical past, passing Candice Dupree. Regardless of being in her fifteenth season, Bonner is averaging a career-high 21 factors per sport on 46.9 % taking pictures. She’s struggled on 3-pointers—taking pictures simply 15 % from past the arc by means of 4 video games—however has in any other case maintained her scoring prowess. She’s tied for the No. 8 main scorer within the WNBA this season, and has led the Solar in scoring in three of 4 video games.
Bonner ought to be previous her prime, however she’s seemingly gotten higher all through her years within the league. Her skill to proceed producing at this excessive of a stage will probably be important to the Solar’s skill to proceed racking up wins and finally compete for a championship.
Clutch-time heroics
The Solar have received every of their final three video games by seven factors or much less after a number of consecutive gradual stars. Since blowing out the Indiana Fever on opening evening, the Solar have rattled off three shut wins:
- Could 17: 84-77 over the Washington Mystics
- Could 20: 88-84 over the Fever
- Could 23: 83-82 (OT) over the Minnesota Lynx
Towards the Mystics, the Solar scored 15-straight factors within the fourth quarter to tug away for good, finally outscoring Washington by 11 within the interval. Connecticut held a two-point lead over Washington with 1:50 to go, when Tyasha Harris hit an and-one that DeWanna Bonner adopted with a putback shot.
Dealing with off in opposition to the Fever for the second time, Bonner made a go-ahead layup off of a Thomas feed with 41 seconds to play. After Indiana tied it up with an Aliyah Boston pull-up, Harris drew a foul to hit two game-winning free throws. “I acquired to provide it as much as my teammates,” Harris stated. “They instill confidence in me constantly, over and again and again.
Then, in opposition to the Lynx, Rachel Banham made a 3-pointer to tie issues up with 40 seconds remaining in extra time. Bonner finally hit a pair of free throws to win the sport after Napheesa Collier responded for Minnesota. “I do know that employees is super-confident in me and the employees and so they put me in nice positions to get simple appears to be like and get open appears to be like and I’m at all times prepared to shoot it.” Banham stated after opening evening. “So I’m actually grateful to be a part of a system that lets me play very free.”
In all three shut wins, Connecticut’s veteran expertise and steadiness in crunch time helped them outduel their opponents. “We’ve got a veteran group who perceive execution in crunch-time conditions,” White stated. “We’ve acquired versatility, so we’re in a position to transfer gamers round.”
