The Prime Voice
TRENDING
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Los Angeles Sparks
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Los Angeles Sparks
No Result
View All Result
The Prime Voice
No Result
View All Result
Home Connecticut Sun

The Sun fall short in semifinals: Game 5 takeaways

by John Maxner
9 October 2024
in Connecticut Sun
0
The Sun fall short in semifinals: Game 5 takeaways

“They just punched us in the mouth in the first quarter,” Sun forward/guard DeWanna Bonner told reporters postgame. “When you get down like that against the team at home that’s playing really, really well and trying to make it to the finals, it’s hard to dig yourself out of that hole… I think they just kind of punched us in the face, and it was like we got shell-shocked and couldn’t fight back.”

The Sun came out in the second half with more urgency and aggressiveness but it wasn’t enough to advance to the WNBA Finals.


Save 28% on The Next during the WNBA playoffs!

The 2024 WNBA playoffs are here, and we have a reporter in every market ready to bring you the latest coverage of your favorite team. Make sure you don’t miss any of the action by subscribing now and saving 28% in honor of the 28th WNBA season.


Mabrey’s absence felt

Connecticut guard Marina Mabrey went down with an ankle injury with just over eight minutes remaining in the second quarter after landing on a photographer’s foot and twisting it. 

Mabrey is a tough player and often resilient when it comes to almost anything including injury. She was taken to the locker room and returned to the game with nearly four minutes left in the half. Despite making another three-point shot in the half it was clear that she was in a lot of pain as she limped from possession to possession.

 “There’s no question about her [Mabrey] toughness,” head coach Stephanie White told reporters postgame. “She’s one of the toughest kids I’ve ever been around.”

She tried her best to play through the injury but the Sun coaching and medical staff didn’t want to risk any further injury.

“She tried to give it a go, and just didn’t have it. And we’re not going to put her out there risk for further injury, certainly, but we missed having her on the floor tonight. You missed not just what she does from a scoring standpoint, but her energy or toughness, her communication, her ability to just face the floor with her presence. We certainly missed her,” White said.

Also Read:   Breaking down the Connecticut Sun's fight for seeding

Without Mabrey on the floor, it hurt the Sun immensely as they count on her for three-point shooting with a team-high average of 42% from beyond the arc. After falling behind in the first half they would have needed her presence to complete a comeback and put themselves in a position to win. 


Stathead Stat of the Week

The Aces had a .383 eFG% in their Game 4 defeat. That’s the second worst they’ve shot in any game this year, regular season or playoffs.

Stathead is your all-access pass to the Basketball and College Basketball Reference databases. Our discovery tools are built for women’s basketball fans like you. Answer your questions in a matter of seconds.


Carrington’s second-half lift

Sun guard/forward DiJonai Carrington started the second half energized as she put on a defensive clinic and drove to the basket more aggressively. She recorded a postseason career high of 17 points all of which she scored in the second half of game action.

“She struggled a little bit in the first half, but I was so proud of the way that she came out and attacked the rim in the second half, got to the free throw line, she was making things happen,” White said.

Carrington has played all season long with passion and dedication winning the league’s Most Improved Player award and her performance in Game 5 shows that with a healthy offseason, she has the opportunity to become a key piece of the Sun’s roster next season.

“I’m really proud of Nai,” White said. “Nai is a player who I’m not sure she’s had a healthy offseason to really work and grow. She had a little bit of time this year, but, but you can just see she’s got a lot of great gifts, and she works incredibly hard, and she plays incredibly hard, and she does so many things that you can’t teach.”

Also Read:   WNBA Notes: All-Star picks, Storm suffocate Sun, and more!

White always speaks very highly of Carrington and told reporters postgame about the protentional she has for growth.

“I really can’t wait for her to have a healthy offseason so she can just be in the gym and take another step. Her development’s been incredible. Obviously, she’s reaped the benefits of that development, but the ceiling is really high for her. She’s got a lot of growth in her still, and I can’t wait to watch it,” White said.


Want even more women’s sports in your inbox?

Subscribe now to our sister publication The IX and receive our independent women’s sports newsletter six days a week. Learn more about your favorite athletes and teams around the world competing in soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey and gymnastics from our incredible team of writers.

Readers of The Next now save 50% on their subscription to The IX.


No answers for Collier 

Defensively the Sun have struggled to keep Lynx forward Napheesa Collier from getting to the rim. Collier scored 27 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. 

“She’s skilled, she’s got incredible footwork, her pace, her poise, she doesn’t get rushed. You think about how she played in college, and just the development to become a guard, essentially. She shoots the three, she attacks off the bounce. She’s got great post moves, she’s got great touch around the rim. She’s just the combination of everything you want in a player,” White said. 

The Lynx continue to build their team around the superstar as they hope to bring home a fifth championship for the franchise.

The X-factors

Minnesota guard Courtney Williams was the X factor for them as Mabrey was for the Sun. She finished the game with a near double-double after recording 24 points, five rebounds and seven assists.

The game was going to be decided based on the performance of both players but Mabrey’s injury caused her to play only 14 minutes and finish the game with eight points.

Also Read:   WNBA Notes: How the Lynx and Sun offenses work so well

Even without their X factor the Sun came out in the second half with intense defense that frustrated Minnesota on offense as they struggled to score until about five minutes into the third quarter.

“I think it was just, who do we want to be going into that second half? Do we want to come out and fight? We’re not a team that’s going to just lay down and die,” Sun forward Brionna Jones told reporters. “Coming into the second half, we knew that we didn’t give the effort that we needed to in the first half, and we definitely wanted to come out stronger, and be aggressive in the second half. So that’s what we did, just make everything tough for them.”

Although the Sun fell short and weren’t able to advance to the Finals for two consecutive years they have accomplished a lot as a team this season. The team chemistry that they have built is strong and it will be interesting to see what happens during the offseason during the free agency period.

They have dealt with a lot of challenges, from postseason injuries to sharing their practice court with a 2-year-old’s birthday party during the playoffs.

“This year, I think this group, I would say, is resilient. I think there’s a lot of things, a lot of adversity this season, and we stuck together through it all. And I think tonight, we didn’t get it done. We fell short. But I know for a fact that this group was gonna stay together and see what happens,” Jones said.


Your business can reach over 3 million women’s sports fans every single month!

Here at The Next and The IX, our audience is a collection of the smartest, most passionate women’s sports fans in the world. If your business has a mission to serve these fans, reach out to our team at editors@thenexthoops.com to discuss ways to work together.


Related Posts

How Mabrey Can Break a Cycle with Meziane and the Sun » Winsidr
Connecticut Sun

How Mabrey Can Break a Cycle with Meziane and the Sun » Winsidr

29 May 2025
Connecticut Sun look to UConn alums as they rebuild their identity
Connecticut Sun

Connecticut Sun look to UConn alums as they rebuild their identity

25 May 2025
Is 2025 the final WNBA season for Mohegan Sun Arena?
Connecticut Sun

Is 2025 the final WNBA season for Mohegan Sun Arena?

17 May 2025
2025 WNBA season preview: Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun

2025 WNBA season preview: Connecticut Sun

11 May 2025
2025 WNBA season preview: Atlanta Dream
Connecticut Sun

2025 WNBA season preview: Atlanta Dream

10 May 2025
2025 Connecticut Sun Preview » Winsidr
Connecticut Sun

2025 Connecticut Sun Preview » Winsidr

24 April 2025
Next Post
'We had excellent talent, and a good team': What kept the Las Vegas Aces from three-peating

'We had excellent talent, and a good team': What kept the Las Vegas Aces from three-peating

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • 309 Followers

Recommended

Aces add former All-Star Tiffany Hayes to bolster guard depth

Aces Add Scoring Punch with Veteran Guard Tiffany Hayes

12 June 2024
The New York Liberty defeat the Atlanta Dream 78-61 › THE PEACH REVIEW®

Atlanta Dream Fires Head Coach Tanisha Wright › THE PEACH REVIEW®

3 October 2024
Go Watch Series: The Ultimate Guide to Streaming TV Shows Online

Go Watch Series: The Ultimate Guide to Streaming TV Shows Online

27 February 2025
Breaking down the 2025 WNBA Draft for the Las Vegas Aces

Breaking down the 2025 WNBA Draft for the Las Vegas Aces

16 April 2025
Sun head coach and players address hateful comments from fans

Sun head coach and players address hateful comments from fans

26 September 2024
Monique Billings is putting up career numbers with Dallas Wings

Monique Billings is putting up career numbers with Dallas Wings

12 June 2024

About Us

At ThePrime Voice, we are passionate about bringing you the latest and most exciting developments in the world of technology. Our mission is to simplify the complex, making tech news accessible to everyone, whether you’re a seasoned tech enthusiast or just starting your journey into the digital realm.

Categories

  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Las Vegas Aces
  • Los Angeles Sparks
  • New York Liberty
  • Seattle Storm
Locked On WBB: Checking in on the 2024 WNBA draft class

Locked On WBB: Checking in on the 2024 WNBA draft class

31 May 2025
Jewell Loyd, Aces still adjusting as WNBA season kicks off

Jewell Loyd, Aces still adjusting as WNBA season kicks off

31 May 2025
Sarah Ashlee Barker is Not Playing Like a Rookie for the Los Angeles Sparks

Sarah Ashlee Barker is Not Playing Like a Rookie for the Los Angeles Sparks

31 May 2025
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Copyright © 2024 - The Prime Voice. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Atlanta Dream
  • Chicago Sky
  • Connecticut Sun
  • Dallas Wings
  • Indiana Fever
  • Los Angeles Sparks

Copyright © 2024 - The Prime Voice. All Rights Reserved.