Sports: Sun beat Mystics, 86-76, to clinch bye in first round of WNBA playoffs

Washington — Jonquel Jones became just the second player in WNBA history to have three 20 rebound games in a season as the Connecticut Sun defeated the Washington Mystics 86-76 on Tuesday night at Capital One Arena.

It was a big win for the Sun (21-11), who began a three-game road trip to end the regular season by clinching bye in the first round of the WNBA Playoffs and a home game in the second round on Sunday, Sept. 10, at Mohegan Sun Arena. Connecticut currently sits in the No. 3 spot, one game ahead of the New York Liberty (20-12). The Minnesota Lynx (24-7) and the defending champion Los Angeles Sparks (24-8) had already wrapped up the top two seeds and double byes in the playoff semifinals.

The 6-foot-6 Jones, who had a career-high 22 rebounds in the game, joins Tina Charles as the only players to have three 20 rebound performances in a season. The second-year player now has 384 rebounds on the season, trailing the WNBA single-season mark of 398 by 14 with two games. That record was set by Charles as a rookie with Connecticut in 2010. Jones passed Sylvia Fowles (369) and Charles (374) tonight to move into second place all-time.

The Sun visit the Phoenix Mercury on Friday night before closing the regular season on Sunday against the Sparks in Los Angeles.

Jones also had 14 points to wrap up her 19th double-double of the season while adding a career-high six assists.

Also leading the way for Connecticut was forward Alyssa Thomas, who had a career-high 26 points to go along with 10 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. Guard Jasmine Thomas had 20 points while Shekinna Stricken continued her hot shooting, going 4-of-8 from behind the arc en route to 12 points.

Elena Delle Donne led Washington (17-15) with 24 points and 16 rebounds while Krystal Thomas had seven points and 14 rebounds. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 14 points off the bench for the Mystics.