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Connecticut Sun use fourth quarter to edge out the Seattle Storm

By Natalie Heavren

Connecticut Sun guard Shekinna Stricklen (40) shoots over Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on June 16, 2019. Photo Credit: Chris Poss
Connecticut Sun guard Shekinna Stricklen (40) shoots over Seattle Storm forward Alysha Clark (32) during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on June 16, 2019. Photo Credit: Chris Poss /
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Connecticut improves to 8-1 in 81-67 win over Seattle

UNCASVILLE — Connecticut head coach Curt Miller was impressed by his team’s performance in their 81-67 win over the defending champion Seattle Storm.

“It was our most complete game tonight in terms of there were stretches where our starters were fantastic. And then there were stretches where our bench carried us,” Miller said. “We’ve had different things happen in our wins this season where the bench, they struggled, [or] the starters were good… but that was our most complete game in player personnel.”

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The Sun can score and score quickly

Connecticut saw the Storm cut into their leads twice in the blink of the eye, however, in the fourth quarter, the Sun proved they, too, could score and score quickly.

In just four minutes Connecticut saw their lead go from two to 12, with Alyssa Thomas leading the way. Thomas saw that something needed to change and in less than three minutes made four baskets.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Thomas saw that something needed to change and decided to take action. “[I] tried to bring energy, turning it up on the defensive end and pushed the tempo and tried to get easy scores,” she said.

Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on June 16, 2019. Photo Credit: Chris Poss
Connecticut Sun forward Alyssa Thomas (25) shoots during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on June 16, 2019. Photo Credit: Chris Poss /

If the Sun continue to prove they are capable of going on scoring runs, especially at the end of games, they will be tough to beat. However, the team will have to be careful in the future as other teams may be able to capitalize on Connecticut surrendering two other double-digit leads.

Shekinna Stricklen can make threes

This may seem like a fairly obvious statement about the player that leads the lead in three-point makes and who has made four threes in each of the last three games. However, it’s something that should be said. She was 4-5 from behind the arc against the Minnesota Lynx and started the game 3-4 against the Storm. She finished 4-8 from three Sunday afternoon and also added three steals and three assists.

Connecticut Sun guard Shekinna Stricklen (40) celebrates hitting a 3-point shot during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on June 16, 2019. Photo Credit: Chris Poss
Connecticut Sun guard Shekinna Stricklen (40) celebrates hitting a 3-point shot during the WNBA game between the Seattle Storm and the Connecticut Sun at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA on June 16, 2019. Photo Credit: Chris Poss /

Despite her success, Stricklen refused to take credit for it.

“Honestly, it’s my teammates,” she said following the game. “I fit in with the way AT [Alyssa Thomas] plays. She get it and go, people have to play off of her, you help a little bit, give me a little space, she finds me like that. Courtney’s [Williams] the same way, she penetrates, people help, even a little bit, they kick it to me, my teammates really look for me and they really make it really easy. The way they play their game and how I play off of them. So I give them a lot of credit.”

Until the day comes where teams begin to pay more attention to her, Stricklen should continue to capitalize and provide a consistent threat behind the arc for the Sun, which is just what they need on nights when other starters struggle to get going.

If the Sun can win five games in 11 days they can do anything

In the last 11 days the Sun have played, and more importantly, won five games. They won their four games in the last eight days. After their win in Minnesota on Friday, Connecticut did not practice and did not hold a shootaround Sunday due to the early start. Yet, despite preparing for the versatile Storm with only film, the Sun was able to separate themselves multiple times before winning by 14.

By winning five games in 11 days the Sun have proved that they can win repeatedly in difficult situations. If they can continue to do this throughout the season the Sun might be one of the toughest teams to play in the league.

Connecticut does not take the court again until Friday at home against the Atlanta Dream, a game that could be a statement maker for the Sun who will be well rested for the first time in two weeks.

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