UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The cheers rained down seemingly as often for defensive stops as they did for made baskets. The Connecticut Sun would expect nothing less.
Their 92-82 Game 4 victory over the Minnesota Lynx began with forward DeWanna Bonner forcing a steal on the Sun’s first defensive possession. It featured roars for fouls drawn by Alyssa Thomas, deflections caused by DiJonai Carrington and even timely 3s from Marina Mabrey and Ty Harris. There were more of those than there had been all series long. Harris, in her return to the starting lineup, finished with a team-high, and career playoff-high, 20 points.
Sunday’s victory might not have been an offensive clinic by any means. But at this juncture in the season, Sun coach Stepphanie White will trade aesthetics for victories.
“Obviously, there’s a sense of urgency,” she said. “You got to play like you were desperate.”
For a while, though, it appeared as if Connecticut’s season might yet again end in the semis. The Sun trailed by nine after the first quarter and by seven at halftime. Minnesota star Napheesa Collier was scoring in a variety of ways — on 3-pointers, in the mid-range and on one particular possession with a baseline-spin blowby past Thomas.
Collier entered Game 4 averaging 26.8 points and 8.6 rebounds this postseason. And yet again, she flourished, finishing with 29 points and 13 rebounds. But the Sun clamped down on those around her. Two other players scored in double figures for Minnesota, but Collier’s fellow All-Star, Kayla McBride, had just five points on 2-of-6 shooting.
“We’ve been so close so many times, I think for me that’s the biggest motivation,” Sun All-Star center Brionna Jones said.
The Sun have made six consecutive trips to this round, but only two Finals appearances with no titles to show for their efforts. Minnesota, meanwhile, is searching for its first Finals berth since 2017.
Sunday’s Game 4 looked different from the opening tip, when Harris was re-inserted into the starting lineup. A first-round ankle injury caused her to miss the end of Connecticut’s series with Indiana and play a more limited role earlier in this series vs. Minnesota. She provided a key spark, making seven of her 11 shots. Following a made 3-pointer with 5:48 to play in the game which stretched the Sun’s lead to 10, she flexed and stuck her tongue out as she skipped back down the floor into her defensive stance.
Fittingly, Connecticut forced a turnover on the ensuing possession, one of Minnesota’s 13 giveaways on the night.
The Sun allowed the Lynx to score only four field goals in the third quarter. And by the time Connecticut’s lead expanded to 15 with 2:51 to play, Minnesota had made only three hoops in the frame.
When the final buzzer sounded, Sun players had a relatively muted celebration. They traded high-fives with each other, tossed a few souvenirs to fans and then walked off.
The winner will take on the New York Liberty in Game 1 of the 2024 WNBA Finals, which begins Thursday.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
Minnesota Lynx, Connecticut Sun, WNBA
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