UNCASVILLE — Despite a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback attempt, the Connecticut Sun came up just short against the Minnesota Lynx, suffering a 78-76 loss at Mohegan Sun Arena on Tuesday.
The loss put the Sun out of contention for the No. 2 seed in the WNBA Playoffs, and they need to win their final regular-season game against the Chicago Sky on Thursday to hold on to their No. 3 position. The postseason begins Sunday, and Connecticut will host the No. 6 Indiana Fever in the first round if current seeding holds.
Superstar Alyssa Thomas played every minute of the first three quarters against Minnesota, getting her first rest to start the fourth. She checked back in after three minutes and finished with 18 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, powering the Sun’s late comeback.
“For the other team, having played against her so many times, she’s really aggressive and really intimidating defensively,” said Sun guard Marina Mabrey, who was traded from the Chicago Sky midseason. “You can say you’re not worried about it, but you are. So she gave us that spark, gave us that energy and just that will to win factor. When she does that, everybody kind of jumps on board and tries to everything you can to match that energy.”
Connecticut had four players finish with double-digit points, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Lynx’s weapons. Minnesota was led by former UConn star Napheesa Collier with 25 points, six rebounds and five assists plus a game-high four blocks and two steals.
Napheesa Collier’s stellar play has led the Minnesota Lynx to the top of the WNBA
The Sun fell behind almost immediately in the first quarter as Bridget Carleton opened the game on a 3-pointer for Minnesota, and Collier hit back-to-back-to-back jump…
“No Indian Policing or Politics” sign at the 2023 Friends of the Serpent Mound festival 
