Last season,메이저놀이터 Connecticut, who knelt down to Las Vegas in the Finals, had a good start to the season. He took the lead with three straight wins in the opening season. Alyssa Thomas recorded double-doubles in three straight games after the opening. In the game between the teams who recorded losses in the opening game, Atlanta, which overturned the game in the last 42.5 seconds, took a pleasant victory on the road.
Connecticut Sun (3 wins, 1st) 88-81 Washington Mystics (1-2, 8th)
(Entertainment and Sports Arena, Washington, DC)
Alyssa Thomas 35:38 22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists
Dewana Bonner 31: 44 15 points, 4 assists
Tiffany Hayes 30:45 13 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists 3P:3
Natishia Heiderman 37:00 13 points, 3 rebounds (more than Connecticut)
Elena Deledon 32:27 27 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Britney Sykes 32: 27 17 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists
Shakira Austin 27:04 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals (above Washington)
In a return match after two days, Connecticut won again. The ace match between Alyssa Thomas and Elena Deledon was fierce, but Thomas, who won the match, laughed once again. Washington, which showed off its potential by defeating the New York Liberty, which was reborn as a ‘super team’ in the opening game, lost two games to Connecticut and became 1-2.
At the beginning of the game, Washington gained momentum. Following Britney Sykes’ consecutive three-pointers, Deledon scored consecutively, followed by Shakara Austin’s scoring streak. However, Washington, who kept a narrow lead, was reversed while Deledon and Austin went to the bench for a while. Connecticut, which was pursuing with Thomas’ hard work, succeeded in turning around with Olivia Nelson-Ododa’s basket count and Rebecca Allen’s layup, leading 21-17 in the first quarter.
After that, Connecticut kept the lead. Tiana Harkins hit a basket count and 3-pointer, but Tasha Harris’ 3-pointer and Natisha Heiderman’s score kept Connecticut in the flow. Washington sent in Chinese guard Li Meng to attack the perimeter, but Li Meng was not even given a chance to shoot for 2 minutes and 32 seconds.
Deledon’s elbow use was discovered, and Washington, who added points with free throws and basket counts, ran away 35-28. However, Washington, who started chasing with Austin’s performance, caught up with Deledon’s 3-point shot, and Connecticut took a 43-42 lead in the first half.
In the second half, Connecticut took a step ahead. When Washington tied the game with Deledon’s play, Thomas scored and Connecticut took the lead again. Austin’s breakthrough allowed Washington to turn around at one point, but Connecticut tied the game with Nelson-Ododa’s points in the paint zone, and Thomas scored a free throw and under the goal.
Washington even made a tie in the final fourth quarter, but Christy Tolliver’s perimeter, which he believed, did not respond. On the other hand, Connecticut, which took the lead again with Hayes’ 3-point shot, got a free throw and the right to attack due to a foul by Harkins who was blocking the fast break, and Breonna Jones made a 3-point shot and made a 5-point play.
Washington, who showed his power until the end, pursued by 2 points again, but Connecticut’s Dowana Bonner scored the decisive points in the paint zone, and Washington collapsed with Natasha Cloud committing a pass turnover in the ensuing attack.
Atlanta Dream (1 win, 1 loss, 6th place) 83-77 Minnesota Lynx (2 losses, 10th place)
(Target Center, Minneapolis, MN)
Alicia Gray 34:49 26 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks 3P:3
Naz Hillman 19:25 13 points, 4 rebounds
Cheyenne Parker 24:39 12 points (atlanta)
Nafisa Collier 24:52 20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists
Tiffany Mitchell 26:34 10 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists
Aerial Powers 8:39 10 points (above Minnesota)
at one time Minnesota, which was on the verge of victory by leading by 19 points, suffered a come-from-behind defeat by Atlanta. Atlanta, which had been dragged throughout the game, took the first lead 42.5 seconds before the end and did not allow a turnaround until the end.
Atlanta was overtaken by Minnesota, which launched a wave attack with 8 players scoring in the first quarter alone, including Nafisa Collier, Diamond Miller, and Ariel Powers. Cheyenne Parker and Alicia Gray fought hard, but Minnesota, with Powers’ concentration and Tiffany Mitchell scoring, was dragged by more than 10 points.
Minnesota, which attacked Atlanta’s paint zone, continued the one-sided trend with 3-pointers from Nicolina Milic, Kayla McBride and Lindsay Allen. In the third quarter, Collier added 10 points in a row alone, and Miller’s breakthrough continued to lead by 19 points.
However, Atlanta’s counterattack was from this point on.
Atlanta, which was driven 43-62, narrowed the score gap with Gray and Naz Hillman. After tying Minnesota to 64 points, Atlanta chased after it by 5 points, with Asiathe scoring 5 points in a row with a 3-point shot and a pull-up jumper.
last 4 quarters. Atlanta tied the game 77-77 with 2 minutes and 23 seconds left on a free throw from Rein Howard and Gray, followed by a free throw from Monique Billings. In a tied situation, both teams missed shot opportunities and committed absurd turnovers, making it difficult to take the lead.
In the end, Atlanta took the lead with Arrie McDonald’s 3-pointer 42.5 seconds before the end, and Minnesota missed Miller and McBride’s 3-pointers. Gray scored an extra point with a free throw, putting a wedge in the game, and Atlanta eventually won its first win of the season.
▲ Player record from WKBL
– Alyssa Thomas (Connecticut/former Hana One Q, Samsung Life Insurance)
35:38 22 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals
– Tianna Harkins (Washington/former KDB Life Insurance, Samsung Life Insurance)
15:38 6 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists
– Cheyenne Parker (Atlanta/former Hana One Q)
24:39 12 points 2 2 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block
– Monique Billings (Atlanta/former Woori Bank)
18:56 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist