Sun shake off slow start, roll

UNCASVILLE — While there might have been some anxious moments for the Connecticut Sun faithful who spent their Sunday afternoon checking out the team’s season opener, there was no sense of panic on the bench or the court even when the visiting Las Vegas Aces jumped out to an early double-digit lead.

Knowing that the Aces were without the top four scorers from the 2017 team, it was all hands on deck for the Connecticut Sun en route to a 101-65 victory before a crowd of 6,637 at Mohegan Sun Arena. The final margin of victory was the largest in WNBA history in a season opener.

Led by Alex Bentley’s team-high 18 points, the Sun’s reserves outscored the non starters for Las Vegas 48-11 as the Sun won its season opener for the first time since 2013.

“Everybody can score, we are buying into our defensive schemes,” Bentley said. “Everybody is getting stops, we are all just running and playing.

“It is extremely fun out there right now. We have to keep playing our game and stay focused on every game plan, get this next one.”

All 12 Connecticut players scored in a game for the first since a July 30 win over Indiana. However, it wasn’t only about the backups having all the fun. The five Sun starters had between 8-13 points with Alyssa Thomas finishing with 13 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three blocked shots. Jasmine Thomas had 12 points, while Shekinna Stricklen had three of Connecticut’s 11 3-pointers to finish with 11 points. Chiney Ogwumike, who returned after missing the entire 2017 season due to a torn Achilles tendon, finished with nine points and Courtney Williams had nine.

“Once we settled down and started getting stops on defense, we started opening the game up,” Alyssa Thomas said.

Thomas made a few more shots from the perimeter than in the past which helped her be one of three Sun players with at least five assists.

“It helps a lot,” Thomas said. “Most people are sagging in the paint, it doesn’t change what I am going to do, I am going to be an aggressor and create for my teammates, but it makes it easier for myself.”

Las Vegas, playing its first regular-season game since relocating from San Antonio, had only 11 field goals in the final three quarters.