The Connecticut Sun fell to the reigning WNBA champion Chicago Sky on Sunday afternoon by a final score of 76-72 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
With the Game 3 verdict, the Sky took a 2-1 lead in the teams’ second-round playoff series.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Quite frankly, the Sun didn’t deserve to win this matinee matchup and they were fortunate to be within striking distance from wire to wire.
Connecticut was careless with the basketball from the get-go, turning it over 17 times to Chicago’s eight. The Sun also were dreadful in the paint, especially in the first half, as they effectively couldn’t buy a basket down low. This obviously is a recipe for disaster for a team with typically reliable interior forces like Jonquel Jones and DeWanna Bonner.
What largely kept Connecticut in the game was Chicago’s ugly showing from beyond the arc. The visitors only converted on six of their 25 3-point attempts, while the Sun posted a much tidier 5-for-12 mark from distance.
But even with the Sky making plenty of mistakes in their own right, you’re not going to win many games in which you go scoreless for nearly five (!) minutes in the fourth quarter. Jones, the reigning league MVP, was on the bench for most of that stretch, which is an indictment of how out of sorts Connecticut was Sunday. The Sun made things pretty interesting in the final minute, but the Sky leaned on their battle-tested veterans to finish the job.
STARS OF THE GAME
— Candace Parker once again was excellent for Chicago. The 15th-year pro paced her team with 16 points to go along with 10 rebounds. The performance marked Parker’s 27th career playoff double-double, a tie for the most in league history.
— Bonner was the Sun’s best player Sunday. She had a double-double of her own with 18 points and 11 boards.
— Kahleah Copper (15) was a shade behind Parker in points and collected five rebounds.
— Connecticut received a nice lift off the bench from Sixth Player of the Year Brionna Jones, who chipped in 12 points.
WAGER WATCH
Bettors who expected the Sky to win a close game might have been paid out handsomely. There was a +370 price at DraftKings Sportsbook for Chicago to win within a margin of three-to-six points.
UP NEXT
The Sun and the Sky will meet for Game 4 of their second-round series Tuesday night. Tipoff for the do-or-die Game 4 from Mohegan Sun Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET.
