The Connecticut Sun and the Seattle Storm are coming off losses to the two-time defending WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces as they prepare to meet Sunday afternoon in Seattle.
But both teams are still in very strong positions despite the recent setbacks. The Sun (13-2) still have the league’s best record and the Storm (9-6) have the league’s fourth-best record.
“I think we were a little soft, (meaning) reactive on the defensive end,” Sun coach Stephanie White said of her team’s 85-74 loss at Las Vegas on Friday. “We weren’t disrupting anything or disrupting timing.
“They’re back-to-back WNBA champions for a reason. They make you pay for the little mistakes, and they certainly made us pay.”
DiJonai Carrington led the Sun with 19 points and Brionna Jones was the team’s only other double-figure scorer with 18. DeWanna Bonner, who is averaging a team-leading 16.7 points, had six points after making 2-of-10 shots from the field. Connecticut was 16-for-25 at the free-throw line and was outrebounded 42-29.
“I think there’s still some things we’re trying to clean up,” Jones said, “and I think from this game we’re going to learn a lot when we get to watch the film and get back to it.”
Seattle had three days between games to regroup after a 94-83 loss at Las Vegas on Wednesday. The Storm are beginning a nine-game homestand after playing five of six and seven of nine on the road.
“Everybody has their moments in the season when you have to kind of be road warriors,” Seattle forward Nneka Ogwumike said. “That’s something that’s unavoidable. How you respond and how you show up in those times is important.
“I’m looking forward to a nine-game homestand, but that’s also not a guarantee. It’ll give us time at home. It’ll give us time to look in the mirror and to look at film. But at the end of the day, we still have to … play and win these games against some great opponents.”
Seattle took off Thursday before practicing Friday and Saturday.
“For a competitive group and a group that needs to get back on track, it’s about taking a step away sometimes, recalibrating and coming back with a fresh set of eyes and fresh set of lungs,” Storm coach Noelle Quinn said, “take some time away, come back, get refocused and get right back at it.”
–Field Level Media