Former Huskies Dangerfield, Collier lift Lynx past Sun

The Connecticut Sun has experienced incredible highs and unspeakable lows in the previous 17 season openers. They knew that Sunday’s showdown with Minnesota was going to create a bit of a surreal chapter in franchise history.

For about 25 minutes, the 2019

WNBA finalists looked to be well on their way to a third consecutive season-opening victory. However, former UConn stars Napheesa Collier and Crystal Dangerfield led the Lynx back from an 11-point deficit midway through the third quarter as Minnesota rallied for a 77-69 victory at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Collier and Dangerfield, teammates for three seasons at UConn, combined to outscore the

Sun in the fourth quarter.

“It was just being aggressive,” said Dangerfield, who scored all 10 of her points in the second half including seven in the fourth quarter. “Connecticut was really dictating the pace of the game with how aggressive they were and we weren’t matching that early on. We wanted to turn the tables and do that ourselves.”

Collier, the reigning WNBA Rookie of the Year, had nine of her 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Sylvia Fowles also picked things up offensively in the second half scoring 11 of her 17 points after halftime. She finished with 18 rebounds to inch closer to becoming the WNBA’s all-time leading rebounder.

The typically soft-spoken Fowles got the attention of her teammates with a fiery speech at halftime.

“She doesn’t usually get that way so when she does, we know LYNX 77 SUN 69

we really are messing up and need to do better,” Collier said. “You don’t want to start the season that way.”

It was the Alyssa Thomas show early on as the veteran Connecticut Sun forward had 12 points and six rebounds in the first quarter and 16 points by halftime. She finished with 20 points but missed five of her last six shots.

“We had a great start,” Thomas said. “We were playing defense and that was turning into transition for us, we still are learning each other. The good thing is the quick turnaround, we’ll learn from these mistakes and be ready for

Washington [on Tuesday].”

COSTLY DEBUT?

DeWanna Bonner went down and grabbed her knee after being hit from behind by Collier with 1:18 remaining. Collier fouled out on the play but more importantly for the Sun, Bonner left the game with 46 seconds left.

Bonner, who finished with 19 points, eight rebounds, two assists, three steals and a blocked shot in her Sun debut, is expected to combine with Thomas to give Connecticut a dynamic 1-2 frontcourt scoring punch despite the loss of starters Shekinna Stricklen and Courtney Williams to Atlanta in the offseason and Jonquel Jones opting not to play in the 2020 season.

Connecticut Sun coach Curt

Miller said Bonner “doesn’t look good right now after the game.”

When asked for more of an update in a video conference call following the game, Miller said, “She grabbed her knee. She is moving gingerly after the game. We will get her looked at and take it day to day.”

HOMEGROWN STARTER

Former Hillhouse High star Bria Holmes got her first start with the Sun and made an early 3-pointer, just one of two made by the Sun on 19 attempts. She became the first Connecticut native to start for the Sun since Nykesha Sales started the season-ending playoff loss to Indiana on Aug. 27, 2007.

Holmes had three points, three rebounds, one assist and two

steals in 23 minutes. Brionna Jones had 10 points, five rebounds and two blocked shots in 29 minutes in her first career WNBA start. She was matched up with Fowles and had moments, especially early on when she held the perennial WNBA All-Star in check offensively.

The Sun had just 10 players available because Theresa Plaisance was out with a back issue and Briann January has yet to join the team due to a positive COVID-19 test. Jacki Gemelos, looking to play her first WNBA game since 2015, did not play in the game.

HONORING TAYLOR

Before the game, there was a 26-second period of silence in

honor of Breonna Taylor, who was 26 years old when she was shot to death by three Louisville police officers. Just as was the case in the three games played on Saturday, the teams headed to their locker rooms before the playing of the national anthem.

“It is something that the league came up with,” Thomas said.

With some players wearing Taylor’s name on their jerseys, it is something they will continue to fight for.

“I am happy that the league is taking a stand like they are, people are seeing this and we will continue to be advocates,” Thomas said.