FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Sun - Game 8 - 2023

FSM Essential Recap: Aces vs Sun – Game 8 – 2023

Franchise Sports Media

Las Vegas Aces (7-1) | Connecticut Sun (7-2)

 

The Connecticut Sun handed the Las Vegas Aces their first loss of the season, 94-77, due to DeWanna Bonner’s scoring eruption.

The Aces vs Sun played at the Mohegan Sun Arena on Thursday.

DeWanna Bonner set a new franchise record by dropping a career-high 41 points (16-of-23 FGs, 5-for-7 3s, 4-of-5 FTs) on the Las Vegas Aces, who ultimately lost 94-77 against the Connecticut Sun. It’s Las Vegas’ first loss of the season.

“The Aces may run the table and not get beat this year,” Jeff Van Gundy said during Wednesday nights’ NBA Finals broadcast.

The Sun had other ideas.

Bonner topped her previous high of 38 points on a 3-pointer with 2:50 remaining for a 90-67 lead. The previous franchise record was 35 points by Shannon Johnson in 2000 when the organization was the Orlando Miracle.

This was the most points scored by Bonner since August 19th, 2021. 

The only other time a WNBA player had 40+ points and five+ 3s while shooting over 65 percent from the field and 70 percent from three was Cynthia Cooper on July 25, 1997.

DeWanna Bonner went berserk

In their last meeting, Bonner only had five points in the 90-84 loss to Las Vegas. However, Bonner responded by scoring 14 of Connecticut’s first 20 points in this one.

The start of the Aces vs Sun first half. 

Brionna Jones added 12 points (6-of-9 FGs), nine rebounds, and three steals. Tiffany Hayes had 11 points (4-of-7 FGs), five assists, and three steals. Alyssa Thomas had nine points (3-of-11 FGs), eight rebounds, 12 assists, and three steals.

No Aces player scored 20 points or more. Kelsey Plum led the squad with 16 points (5-of-9 FGs, 3-for-6 3s) and three assists. A’ja Wilson added just 13 points (5-of-10 FGs), four assists, and three steals.

Despite the loss, Wilson crossed the 3,000-point milestone at the 8:18 mark in the third quarter and now has a total of 3,009 points for her career.

Wilson’s three steals on the night extended her streak of at least one steal in 28-straight games, the longest active streak in the league, tying the Aces franchise record held by Sophia Young-Malcolm.

Riquna Williams was ruled out once again with a lower back injury, missing her eighth consecutive game. 

Jackie Young surprisingly popped up with a left ankle injury on the pregame injury report. This may have affected her game, as she only totaled 10 points (4-of-5 FGs) and five turnovers. Young entered this game as the team’s leading scorer.

The end of the Aces vs Sun first half. 

The Aces came out of the gates ice cold, as they connected on just 30.8 percent of their shots in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Sun hit 64.7 percent of their field goal attempts to take an early double-digit lead.

The start of the Aces vs Sun second half. 

Las Vegas bounced back a bit and shot 41.7 percent in the second quarter while holding the Sun to 38.1 percent. However, Connecticut still won the quarter 17-13 thanks to outscoring the Aces 6-0 on second-chance points and 6-2 in the paint. Bonner was held to just four points in the period to finish the first half with 18 points total.

Wilson entered the game shooting a career-best 56.8 percent from the field this season. However, she shot an uncharacteristic 1-of-6 over the first half (three points). She still ended up with 10 points in the third quarter. 

The Aces again improved their shooting with an impressive 60 percent from the field, while the Sun was 44.4 percent. Still, Connecticut outscored Las Vegas on second chances, 5-0, and in the paint, 12-6.

Las Vegas got as close as 10 points early in the fourth quarter. However, Bonner’s perfect 6-of-6 from the field (17 points) kept the Sun in control. The Aces bench played most of the final minutes. Cayla George and Young scored six points each in the final quarter.

The Sun wanted it more. Connecticut outscored Las Vegas 40-24 on points in the paint, 17-5 on the fast break, and 11-4 on second-chance points.

The final score of the Aces vs Sun was 94-77, Sun.

The Aces will now take on the Chicago Sky on Sunday, June 11th, at noon PST.

 

– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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