New York Liberty’s Breanna Stewart, who scored a game-high 24 points, elevates for a basket over the Connecticut Sun’s DeWanna Bonner during Tuesday night’s 89-81 win at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.Sarah Gordon/Associated Press
UNCASVILLE, Conn. ― Breanna Stewart, returning to where she made her name as one of the most decorated women’s players at the University of Connecticut, scored a game-high 24 points on 11-for-17 shooting and grabbed 9 rebounds to lead the New York Liberty to an 89-81 WNBA victory over the host Connecticut Sun on Tuesday night at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Courtney Vandersloot added 17 points for the Liberty (10-3) while former Sun player Jonquel Jones added 14 points and 11 rebounds against her former team.
DiJonai Carrington came off the bench to lead the Sun (12-4) with a career-high 23 points on 8-for-11 shooting, hitting all three of her 3-point attempts. Alyssa Thomas (11 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) recorded her fifth career double-double ― and third in seven days ― and capped a 13-0 run that rallied the Sun to an 81-80 lead when she converted a foul-inducing layup with 4:18 left.
The Sun, however, were unable to hold onto that slim margin after going scoreless in the final 3:55 of the game.
The victory moved the Liberty into a tie with Connecticut atop the Commissioner Cup standings in the Eastern Conference. Each team has one game left although New York has the tiebreaker having swept the two games against the Sun. Las Vegas has already wrapped up the Western Conference slot.
Blythe and Charlotte Wessman making journey sticks with Renee Perna and Molly Hanford. (Photograph by Jim Hudgings) 
