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MA ForpelESPN.com
UNCASVILLE, CT — With his back to the wall (again) in the WNBA playoffs, Connecticut Sun Found another gear. Leading the way was a player they called “The Machine.” Alyssa Thomas.
sun on thursday Las Vegas Aces 105-76 in Game 3 of the Best of 5 series after losing the first two games on the famous strip. If anyone thought the Sun would roll over for an ace sweep… well, nobody following the WNBA thought so.
They lost Sunday’s Game 1 and Tuesday’s not-so-close Game 2 at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. But the Mohegan Sun, back in his arena in front of fans, summoned the Mojo he needed to force Game 4 this Sunday here in Connecticut (4 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Aces coach Becky Hammon said of the Sun, “If you can encapsulate Connecticut, they’re physical and very resilient.” There was nothing, they just kicked us in the ass in every possible way.”
Of Thomas, who had 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists, Hammon said: “She’s a beast. . Tough, tough, tough and a playmaker”
At 6-foot-2, Thomas, 30, was the No. 4 pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft from Maryland and made the Women’s Final Four in her senior year.
Thomas is a player that is difficult (if not impossible) to compare to anyone else in the WNBA. Her long-standing shoulder injury (tears on both labrums that haven’t been surgically repaired) prevents her from making any real jump shots, but that doesn’t matter. I’ve come up with my own way of putting it in. She is so cunning and strong that it is difficult to stop her.
Thomas is essentially a point forward, trying to handle the ball and create chances for his teammates. Well, as Hamon said, there’s nothing about Thomas that makes you think you’re going to put out her muscles or outsmart her.
“The amazing thing is that it’s every day. She doesn’t know how else to play,” Sun coach Kurt Miller said of Thomas’ energy. He’s the toughest player I’ve ever coached, but also the most consistent player I’ve ever encountered in terms of effort.”
In the first two games of the Finals, the Sun were inconsistent on several fronts, leaving them in a win-or-go situation. But they had to face it in the first round. Dallas After finishing a best-of-three series and defeating the defending champion in the semi-finals Chicago Twice on Sky’s home court, including the deciding Game 5.
The Aces got off to a 9-2 start on Thursday, but that was the extent of their control in this game. As if a switch had been flipped, the sun’s energy levels surged and he led 34-19 after the first quarter. By the end of the game, all of the Sun’s starters had scored in double digits for him, led by his MVP for 2021. jonkel jones at 20 points.
Dewana Bonnerhelped retain the ace guard after going 2 of 18 from the field in the first two games of the Finals before scoring 18 points in an 8 of 15 on Thursday chelsea gray to 11 points.
But Thomas was the star of the night, with his third triple-double of the season, also a WNBA record. WNBA history has her with 19 triple-doubles, three in the playoffs for her and others for Chicago. courtney vanderthroat and Houston’s Sheryl Swoopes — but they’re becoming much rarer than they used to be.
This reflects the increase in out-of-position play seen by the WNBA as well as the NBA. For Thomas, it’s about her ability to play not only as her true post, but also as someone who can make things happen for herself and her teammates.
And on a night when the season of the sun might have ended, Thomas paved the way, hoping it would continue.
“For me, I approached the game like I would any other game,” Thomas said. “I think we just wanted it. We were struggling offensively. We weren’t really hitting shots, but we were ready tonight.”
