The Connecticut Sun are the only team to beat the league-leading Las Vegas Aces this season.
Connecticut (12-4) gets another shot at the red-hot Aces (14-1) in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The Sun hosted the Aces for a two-game set earlier this month, falling 90-84 on June 6 before bouncing back with a 94-77 triumph two days later.
DeWanna Bonner was in supreme form with a career-best 41 points on 16-of-23 shooting, including 5 of 7 from 3-point range. Two nights earlier, the Sun standout had just five points on 2-of-9 shooting.
Las Vegas star A’ja Wilson hasn’t forgotten the feeling of her team’s lone loss.
“We got a great team coming in and we need to protect home court,” Wilson said.
Wilson, a two-time WNBA MVP, had a busy Friday. She signed a two-year extension that keeps her with Las Vegas through the 2025 season.
The Aces warmed up for the showdown with a convincing 98-81 victory over the visiting New York Liberty on Thursday night. It was their seventh consecutive win.
Kelsey Plum recorded 18 points and eight assists and Wilson added 16 points for Las Vegas, which topped 90 points for the 12th time this season.
“Just a real solid 40 minutes for us,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said. “From the jump, we came out locked in and assertive on the defensive end, and they know what to do on the offensive end.”
Connecticut had a four-game winning streak halted Tuesday when it lost 89-81 to the host Liberty.
Alyssa Thomas extended her regular-season triple-double total to five — she has two more in the playoffs — with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. Thomas has three triple-doubles in the past four games.
“She’s legit one of the best players in the world, and I think everybody’s starting to recognize it,” Bonner said of Thomas. “And I think it’s great timing.
“She waited her turn and now she’s getting that recognition. It’s coming little by little, and I’m honored to play with her.”
DiJonai Carrington scored a career-high 23 points against New York.
The Sun are 7-1 on the road this season.
–Field Level Media
