The Connecticut Solar aren’t even 1 / 4 of the way in which by way of their 2024 WNBA schedule, however they seem already on observe for an incredible season. At 8-0 and because the league’s solely unbeaten workforce, they continue to be No. 1 in ESPN’s WNBA Energy Rankings.
Connecticut is the seventh WNBA workforce to win its first eight video games of a season; the opposite six all superior to the WNBA Finals. Three of these groups had been from the Minnesota Lynx and three from the Los Angeles Sparks. Of these groups, the 2017 Lynx, 2016 Sparks and 2001 Sparks went on to win the WNBA title.
So whereas the calendar simply turned to June, the Solar already look good for a playoff spot. However Alyssa Thomas, in her eleventh season with Connecticut, is staying pragmatic.
“I believe we do not care concerning the document,” Thomas mentioned. “It is a 40-game season, plenty of basketball to be performed. It is large for this franchise. I have been right here a very long time; to have a begin like that is nice. However the job’s not executed.”
Final week, the Solar had two double-digit wins — vs. the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday and Atlanta Dream on Sunday — and a two-point victory over the Dallas Wings on Friday. DeWanna Bonner totaled 49 factors for the week, main the Solar in scoring in opposition to the Mercury and the Dream. Brionna Jones had 22 to prime Connecticut in scoring in opposition to the Wings.
And Thomas once more wolfed up stats: She was one basket vs. Atlanta and one rebound vs. Dallas from triple-doubles in each these video games. Sunday, she had her 14th profession recreation with 10 rebounds and 10 assists — 10 greater than another WNBA participant in historical past.
Thomas is the one WNBA participant ever with 25 assists and 20 rebounds in a two-game span.
Bonner, the Solar’s prime scorer at 19.0 PPG, retains piling up factors: She now has 7,033 in her profession, fifth in WNBA historical past. Thomas retains being the WNBA’s greatest unicorn together with her success as a playmaking ahead (13.8 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 9.0 APG). And Jones’ comeback from an Achilles harm that minimize quick final season has been simply what Connecticut hoped (13.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 62.2 FG%).
Fellow starters DiJonai Carrington (12.9 PPG, 5.1 RPG) and Tyasha Harris (10.3 PPG, 3.3 APG) are additionally having the perfect seasons of their WNBA careers.
Protection has been a Connecticut staple for a very long time — which has rather a lot to do with Thomas’ decade-plus with the Solar — and once more the Solar lead the league in scoring protection (70.6 PPG) and are greatest within the WNBA in defensive ranking (89.1) and internet ranking (13.3).
In a season by which rookies are one of many WNBA’s greatest storylines, the Solar haven’t any. As an alternative, they’ve plenty of expertise and cohesion.
“This can be a veteran group that’s extremely aggressive,” Solar coach Stephanie White mentioned. “We have been capable of win some shut video games, however we’re nowhere close to the place we must be when it comes to how we’re taking part in. This can be a very in-the-present, task-motivated group.”
Earlier rankings: Preseason | Could 20 | Could 27
Connecticut Solar enhance to 8-0 with win over Atlanta Dream
The Connecticut Solar begin their season 8-0 with a formidable 69-50 level win over the Atlanta Dream.
Earlier rating: 1
This week: vs. WAS (June 4), vs. NY (June 8)
Commissioner’s Cup play opened Saturday and can proceed by way of June 13. The Solar try to make the ultimate within the WNBA’s in-season competitors for the second time. They misplaced to Seattle within the Cup’s 2021 championship recreation. With their win at Atlanta on Sunday, they’re 1-0 in Cup play. Saturday’s showdown vs. the Liberty — the workforce that beat the Solar within the WNBA semifinals final season — is on ABC and ought to be a blockbuster.
Earlier rating: 2
This week: @ LA (June 5), @ PHO (June 6), vs. SEA (June 9)
Coach Cheryl Reeve mentioned this is perhaps the primary time the Lynx are effectively positioned to advance to the Commissioner’s Cup last. This season, the format has modified to 5 video games as a substitute of 10, they usually’re all performed inside a two-week span. It will not be straightforward with three of the Lynx’s Cup video games on the street, together with at Las Vegas. However Minnesota is off to a robust begin. Final week the Lynx fell at house to the Aces, however then received by double digits over Phoenix and Dallas. Napheesa Collier (21.4 PPG, 11.3 RPG) is excessive within the MVP race, and the Lynx lead the league in area aim share (45.9%), 3-point share (38.6%) and assists (24.0 per recreation).
Earlier rating: 6
This week: @ CHI (June 4), @ ATL (June 6), @ CON (June 8), vs. WAS (June 9)
It was a robust bounce-back week because the Liberty went 3-0, with victories over Phoenix, Washington and Indiana. Sabrina Ionescu led New York in scoring twice and Betnijah Laney-Hamilton as soon as. In Sunday’s 104-68 blowout of the Fever, the Liberty shot 57.6% from the sector with 10 gamers scoring, 5 in double figures. The upcoming week might be busy, with three of 4 video games on the street.
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Earlier rating: 7
This week: vs. PHO (June 4), @ LV (June 7), @ MIN (June 9)
After dropping three of their first 4 video games, the Storm have received 4 in a row. Final week, these victories had been on the street at Chicago and Indiana. Skylar Diggins-Smith had a mixed 39 factors and 12 assists whereas capturing 15 of 26 (57.7%). Ezi Magbegor had a mixed 9 blocked pictures and is main the WNBA with 3.0 blocks per recreation.
Earlier: 3
This week: @ DAL (June 5), vs. SEA (June 7), @ LA (June 9)
The Aces misplaced simply six video games all final season, however have already got two defeats in 2024. One got here this previous week at Atlanta, 78-74, a recreation by which the usually stoic Jackie Younger obtained a uncommon technical foul after an change with Atlanta’s Aerial Powers, who additionally was T’ed up. It was that form of odd night time for the Aces, who gave up a 9-2 fourth-quarter run to Atlanta. Nonetheless, Las Vegas additionally obtained a double-digit win at Minnesota final week. And A’ja Wilson stays on a tear for the Aces: She had a mixed 57 factors, 24 rebounds, 8 blocks and 6 assists within the two video games.
Earlier rating: 9
This week: vs. NY (June 6), @ CHI (June 8)
The Dream went 2-1, which included holding Las Vegas to a season-low 36.2% capturing from the sector. Allisha Grey had a career-high six 3-pointers within the victory. Atlanta additionally beat Washington final week, however fell to Connecticut 69-50, by far the Dream’s lowest level complete of the season. Tina Charles was the brilliant spot vs. the Solar, together with her fourth double-double of the season (12 factors, 12 rebounds). Regardless of Sunday’s loss to Connecticut, it was a superb week general for the Dream.
Earlier rating: 4
This week: vs. LV (June 5), @ LA (June 7), vs. PHO (June 9)
It was a irritating week for the Wings, dropping by two at Connecticut and by 11 at Minnesota, however there are some positives. The Solar and Lynx are the highest two groups within the Energy Rankings, so these weren’t dangerous losses. They usually had been the final two of 5 consecutive street video games for Dallas. The Wings play 4 of their subsequent 5 at house. Arike Ogunbowale had 42 factors and 13 assists within the two losses, and nonetheless leads the league in scoring (26.6 PPG).
Earlier rating: 5
This week: @ SEA (June 4), vs. MIN (June 7), @ DAL (June 9)
The Mercury had three street losses however ended with a win at house Sunday. Phoenix began the week with a dreadful 70-47 loss at Connecticut by which the Mercury had been a WNBA-historically dangerous 1 of 27 from 3-point vary and in addition shot a franchise-worst 23.8% general. That was adopted by a good 81-78 loss at New York, however then a 95-71 blowout at Minnesota. Nevertheless, then Phoenix obtained its personal blowout win vs. Los Angeles, 87-68, by which Diana Taurasi had a season-high 31 factors. It was the third recreation of 30 or extra factors for Taurasi since turning 40; she might be 42 on June 11.
Diana Taurasi reveals out with seven 3s, season-high 31 factors
41-year-old Diana Taurasi drops 31 factors in win in opposition to the Sparks, breaking her personal document because the oldest participant in WNBA or NBA historical past with a 30-point recreation.
Earlier rating: 8
This week: vs. NY (June 4), vs. WAS (June 6), vs. ATL (June 8)
The Sky misplaced to Seattle and defeated Los Angeles to begin final week. Then got here a 71-70 loss Saturday at Indiana, after which Angel Reese was fined $1,000 and the Sky $5,000 for violating the league’s media coverage, and Chennedy Carter’s shoulder-check of Caitlin Clark earlier than an inbounds move was upgraded to a flagrant foul 1. Carter did not reply questions concerning the incident after the sport, then stirred the pot on social media. All that apart, Carter is off to a superb begin in her first season with Chicago, averaging 12.0 PPG. And the perfect information of the week for the Sky was the return of No. 3 draft choose Kamilla Cardoso, who was injured within the preseason; she had 11 factors and 6 rebounds in opposition to the Fever.
Kamilla Cardoso will get her first WNBA factors on a layup
Chennedy Carter finds Kamilla Cardoso for the layup and the rookie’s first-career factors.
Earlier rating: 11
This week: vs. MIN (June 5), vs. DAL (June 7), vs. LV (June 9)
The Sparks obtained a giant enhance from their guard play in a victory at Indiana on Tuesday, however the guards struggled capturing in subsequent losses at Chicago and Phoenix. Ahead Dearica Hamby, who had 64 factors and 27 rebounds within the three video games, has been Los Angeles’ most constant performer. The Sparks are again at house for 3 video games this week, however after that they’ve seven in a row on the street.
Earlier rating: 10
This week: @ WAS (June 7)
Final week, the Fever misplaced house video games to Los Angeles and Seattle, then beat Chicago at house earlier than being run out of the constructing by the Liberty at New York on Sunday. All informed, Indiana has performed 11 video games, essentially the most of any WNBA workforce, in 20 days — which has taken a toll. With only one recreation this week, the Fever ought to get slightly relaxation and a few follow time. Indiana is lacking management and vitality from ahead Temi Fagbenle, who suffered a foot harm Tuesday vs. the Sparks and is predicted to be out two to a few weeks.
Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston go away recreation injured for Fever
Fever’s Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston go away the courtroom on account of harm late within the fourth quarter in opposition to the Liberty.
Earlier rating: 12
This week: @ CON (June 4), vs. CHI (June 6), vs. IND (June 7), @ NY (June 9)
On the constructive facet, the Mystics have been utterly out of only one recreation — a 32-point loss at Seattle on Could 25. This previous week, Washington misplaced by six to Atlanta and by 11 to New York — and the Liberty led by simply 3 with beneath 3 minutes left earlier than pulling away. Nonetheless, the Mystics are nonetheless winless. Video games in opposition to the Sky and Fever at house this week maybe might get Washington within the win column.