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Alexa PhilippouESPN
CHICAGO — No team in the WNBA has repeated the championship since. Los Angeles Sparks Did it in 2001-02 and was the 3rd seed Connecticut Sun Using a 22-2 4th quarter run to beat the second seed and defending champions, they ensured the cold streak extended Thursday night in historic fashion. chicago sky Won 72-63 in Winner Takes Game 5 at Wintrust Arena.
Connecticut Earns No. 1 Seed Las Vegas Aces Game 1 of the best-of-5 WNBA Finals airs Sunday at 3:00 p.m. ET on ABC. Both teams are chasing her first WNBA title, giving her a third new champion in four seasons. According to the Caesars Sportsbook, Aces opened as the -250 favorite in the final.
Sky dominated most of Thursday night’s game, beating the Sun by 18 points in the second and third quarters, holding Connecticut to just eight points in the third quarter and leading by 11 with 7:20 remaining in the game. Did.
However, the Suns roared back and claimed their will in both ends, ending the game with an 18-0 run, shocking the Sky and Wintrust crowds. Chicago, usually known for his offensive flow and balanced scoring ability, went scoreless with his 4:46 in the final of the game.
“Maybe he stopped attacking and became more afraid of losing than trying to win,” said Chicago. courtney vanderthroat describes the dramatic shift from Q3 to Q4.
Changing momentum in favor of the Sun Dewana Bonner and-1 with 3:46 left to cut Sky’s lead to 7, in a heated exchange with Chicago’s lead. caria copper — Already called for a technical foul early in the first quarter, he didn’t gain a second this time.
Bonner converted the ensuing free throw and the sun kept rolling off it. His one-out at the 2:00 mark from Jonkel Jones allowed him to take the lead for the first time since the second quarter.
“I think it was a little bit of a calming moment,” Bonner said. “We were thrilled. …We looked up when it happened. That’s the only fire we need.”
The Sun’s 18-0 run is the longest to close out a WNBA playoff game in league history, according to an ESPN Stats & Information study. Skye was held to five points in the final frame, the fewest in the fourth quarter of a winner-takes-all game and the second-lowest in a playoff game in WNBA history.
‘I think it’s a learning experience,’ says two-time league MVP and WNBA champion candace parker Said. “I can’t take my feet off the gas. I think I’ve done a little bit.”
Skycoach James Wade added: I could have done better if I had a bucket, but I didn’t get it. ”
Connecticut has won the most WNBA playoff wins by any team despite recording 23 turnovers. His eight of those occurred in the third quarter, matching the number of points Sun scored in that frame.
“I know people want to tag this group, ‘When it’s easy, Connecticut is really special. When it’s hard, can Connecticut win the hard one?’ won hard,” Sun coach Kurt Miller said. “We had our backs against the wall. There were probably a few plays for the game to open, but they just refused to give in. They had that grit and determination.” That’s what we’re building on.”
Bonner and Jones each led the Sun with 15 points, while Connecticut’s starters each hit double digits—22 in copper led the sky.
Having reached the semifinals for the fourth consecutive season and led the WNBA in non-title playoff wins (36), The Sun Washington Mystics in 5 games. They became his third WNBA team to eject a team from the playoffs in the regular season (4-0), enacting revenge against the same team that eliminated them from the playoffs in last year’s semifinals.
Connecticut’s revival over the past four years has been a struggle. 2021 league MVP Jones opted out of his 2020 bubble season over COVID-19 concerns, becoming a franchise heavyweight Alyssa Thomas Missing much of the 2021 regular season with a torn Achilles tendon and returning to the playoffs, there wasn’t enough time for the team to fully find its identity by turning her back.Longtime point guard Jasmine Thomas Added late season after torn ACL in late May Bria Hartley Just three games into her short-lived career with Connecticut, she suffered the same injury in July.
The Sun faced more adversity in the postseason, needing to get through a first-round elimination game in Dallas and a 4-point lead in Game 3 when the team shot less than 40% on their home court. After a tough loss, they needed to win Chicago and two more games. paint. But after a 104-80 win in Game 4 and the best offense in the postseason, there were signs of a comeback.
“We wanted this. We come here every year and Chicago kicks our ass,” Bonner said. “We lost to them seven times in a row.” It’s like I didn’t understand it, and I think I understood it in Round 4 and went into it with a little more confidence.”
Even after Thursday’s disastrous third quarter and seemingly relinquishing control to hometown Sky, the Sun weren’t ready to end the season just yet.
“We won’t fold anymore,” said the sun Natisha Heidemann Said. “As you can see [after] Third quarter, we quickly got it back and won the game. The work is not finished yet. ”
Chicago, on the other hand, faces an uncertain character.parker and sniper Allie Quigley (both 36-year-old and upcoming free agent) may decide to retire, with three other major contributors, Vandersloot, Emma Miesmann and Azurá Stevens — also up after the season.
“Like every season, I’m going to go back and re-evaluate if I can continue to play at the level I’m maintaining,” Parker said. The thing is, I don’t want to cheat the game, I’m not going to cheat the game, so when I can’t go out and play and be the Candace I want to be, I don’t play.”
Wade added: “I’m proud to have defended the title. I thought we defended it with grace and coolness. I thought they represented the WNBA well. It’s a difficult pill to swallow, but… It’s been one of the most fun seasons I’ve ever had, thanks to the guys in the locker room.”
