Connecticut Sun will take on Washingon Mystics at Mohegan Sun Arena on July 3, 10:30 p.m.
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The Connecticut Sun is doing well overall. With a 13-7 record, they are now third in the WNBA rankings. The Sun, however, is now 1-3 since our previous report, winning just once against the struggling Atlanta Dream (71-61) and losing to the Washington Mystics (71-63), New York Liberty (81-77), and Chicago Sky (91-83). This stretch is worrying for a team with championship hopes even if it is neither harmful nor crucial. As a result, it is important to think about the causes of this unimpressive run. Is it mostly incidental or the result of very strong offensive or defensive play? Or do Connecticut’s three losses reveal more serious issues that they need to address if they want to win their first title as a team?
Before June 19, when the Sun lost to the Mystics in a lackluster fashion on national television. There is no doubt that Connecticut has offensive problems. Why then has the Sun offensive so drastically faltered? The Sun’s shooting percentages have drastically decreased over the past four games. The effective field goal percentage is 43.5, while the true shooting percentage is 48.0, ranking #12 overall. The Sun had previously been among the league’s best shooting teams. It would be an understatement to suggest that the Sun’s shooting has degraded. Prior to June 19, the percentages were probably the result of overperformance, helped by an unanticipated league-best 37.2 % from the 3-point range. Connecticut hasn’t shot well from outside the hoop since June 19, managing only 26.0 percent on roughly the same number of tries each game. In other words, the Sun is exerting less pressure on the rim, which releases more pressure on the defenses of their opponents. Fastbreak points have decreased from 12.2 to 9.8 per game (before and after June 19) as a result of the offensive aggression’s decline.
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The Sun have dropped three of their last four games because they haven’t been able to fully use two of their key advantages, controlling the paint and scoring quickly, which were previously driving their top-ranked offense. Brionna Jones, who frequently appears in the Sun’s strongest lineups, may once more merit consideration for the starting lineup. By replacing either Courtney Williams, who can be brilliant and outrageously unreliable or Natisha Hiedeman, who may be overworked as a starter, Jones would offer the Sun a massive starting five that would force opponents to scramble their usual lineups.
The Sun will get their first chance on Sunday to exact revenge on one of their recent defeats in addition to returning to a better version of themselves. At 1:00 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m IST, they welcome the Washington Mystics to Mohegan Sun Arena. Fans can even live stream it on ESPN.
Connecticut Sun: Dijonai Carrington, Jonquel Jones, Courtney Williams, DeWanna Bonner, Alyssa Thomas.
Washington Mystics: Elena Delle, Shakira Austin, Rui Machida, Natasha Cloud, Alysha Clark.
