photo credit by Annette Grant / NBAE via Getty images
Live in Mahegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. on a Wednesday night. News comes in for the Atlanta Dreams as the team signs 5-7 guard Destiny Slocum to a hardship contract. Slocum was drafted second round in the 2021 WNBA Draft by Las Vegas and played 21 games in her rookie season. This is just what the team needed as two of their key players to Atlanta’s offense are out with injuries; their floor general, Erica Wheeler and strong center, Kia Vaughn. Kristy Wallace comes out in the tip off with back to back three’s, shooting 36% from the ark. Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones and Natisha Hiedeman lets everyone know they are a force to be reckoned with combining with 17 points in the 1st quarter. The Suns jump to a 27-17 lead. Majority of all the Suns starters were on the boards. Atlanta’s McDonald and Asia Durr (AD), tried to answer many times on the Suns scoring drive, Connecticut dominated the 2nd with a score 49-33. Atlanta never got off to an offensive flow. They struggled through most of the first half, at halftime the score was 58-41.
Suns stay dominant in the 3rd quarter. The reigning MVP, Jonquel Jones is in double figures. The Connecticut Suns’ foot are on the gas leading 65-43. The team has knocked down triples from the outside, Courtney Williams with 16 points on the boards. The Suns have a 23 point lead, which is the largest lead of the game. Dream’s Rhyne Howard has yet to score in the 3rd. The Suns defense has kept her from creating any type of scoring drive. Connecticut’s starters are all in double figures, 12-20 from the 3-point line (60%). The backcourt for the Suns has come to play with supreme fire to the 3rd. Breanna Jones, who is the lead scorer for the Suns only has 6 points. However, Courtney Williams has stepped up for her team and has her total 1,000 career high rebounds in this game.
Atlanta’s Aari McDonald has been limited ti the outside by the Sun’s defense. McDonald is usually consistent as one of the Dream’s dominant players. This has been a tiring road trip for the Atlanta Dreams. Traveling and playing back to back road games has showed in their performance by losing 2 games in a row. Atlanta tried to carve their way out of the deficit Connecticut created, but the Suns offense continued to dominate. The Sun’s momentum prevailed as they win 105-92. The Dream’s lead scorer was Asia Durr ( AD) with 21 points. Atlanta Dream’s next game will be Friday as they travel to Chicago to face Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky.
