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Connecticut Sun defeats Minnesota Lynx in Game 1 of the WNBA playoff series

Vaseline September 30, 2024

Alyssa Thomas scored 17 points and flirted with a triple-double as the Connecticut Sun won Game 1 of a WNBA semifinal series, beating the Minnesota Lynx 73-70 in Minneapolis on Sunday night.

Thomas made the Sun’s final two shots with less than a minute to play and went 8-for-12 from the floor, along with 10 rebounds and nine assists. Connecticut also got 20 points from Marina Mabrey and 10 points and 11 boards from DeWanna Bonner.

The Sun held the Lynx to just eight points in the fourth quarter.

“For us, it really came down to getting stops,” Thomas said. “I’m one of the leaders of this team. I’ve been here my entire career. Nothing changes. We’re aiming for a championship.”

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Napheesa Collier had 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists for Minnesota, while Bridget Carleton added 17 points.

The Sun took a three-point lead, 71–68, with 53.8 seconds left when Thomas hit Alanna Smith with a crossover and drove to the basket from the left wing to connect on a layup. Smith had five blocks on the night but couldn’t catch Thomas as she sank a crucial bucket.

Collier responded on the Lynx’s next possession by sliding a screen, catching a pass from Smith and connecting on a wide-open finger roll. But once again Thomas had an answer, sinking a 15-foot jumper to cut the lead to three points with 12.3 seconds left.

“We really didn’t have any action. I liked the match I had with me. When I saw the opening, I took the shot,” Thomas said.

After a timeout, Minnesota had to settle for a long-range three-point attempt from Collier on the left wing with Bonner draped over her. The shot clattered off the back iron and the buzzer sounded.

“We respect her a lot. We had to make plans for her,” Mabrey said of Collier.

Minnesota even led by five points late in the third quarter after ending the frame with an 11-3 run capped by a 3-pointer from Courtney Williams.

Both teams had 13 turnovers, but the Sun scored 16 points after the Lynx’s mistakes, while Minnesota collected only eight points after Connecticut’s mistakes.

Before the game, Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeve received the WNBA Coach of the Year award, her fourth, and Collier received the Defensive Player of the Year trophy.

Bonner appeared in her 83rd playoff game, making her the WNBA’s all-time leader in postseason games played.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday in Minneapolis.