Sun aim to end the WNBA Finals at home
UNCASVILLE — When they departed for the nation’s capital last week, the Connecticut Sun knew anything less than a split of the first two games of the WNBA Finals would severely damage their shot at a championship.
But now the Sun are back home, and they’d prefer to stay there.
“We don’t want to go back to D.C.,” center Jonquel Jones said Friday, with their series against the Washington Mystics tied 11. “I think we put ourselves in a great position. Now, we want to come here and finish it off.”
The same opportunity presents itself for the Mystics who, like Connecticut, are seeking their first title. But their pursuit has been complicated by an injury to twotime MVP Elena Delle Donne.
Delle Donne — who played only 3 minutes, 28 seconds in a Game 2 loss — underwent an MRI Wednesday that revealed a
“small disc herniation” in her lower back. Washington coach Mike Thibault told reporters Saturday that the Mystics are preparing as if neither Delle Donne nor guard Ariel Atkins (back) will be available for Sunday’s Game 3, when the series shifts to Mohegan Sun (3:30 p.m., ABC).
“I’m not counting on them playing,” Thibault said. “I know (Sun coach) Curt (Miller) thinks I’m making this stuff up, but I wish I was. Our team is prepared to play them all without either player.”
And if Delle Donne surprisingly does go, the Sun will be ready.
“We truly feel that she’s going to play,” Miller said Friday. “Now, is she 100 percent? What are her limitations? That’s a different story. But we absolutely are preparing as if she will play.”
Said Jones, “I think she’ll do whatever it takes to try to get her body into game form. If she’s not playing, it’s definitely going to be that she’s really, really hurt. We’re expecting her to be out there.”
The 6foot6 Jones ex
ploded for 32 points and 18 rebounds — the first 3015 game in Finals history — in Connecticut’s 9987 victory on Tuesday, fulfilling a goal to be more aggressive. Her 24 shot attempts were a gamehigh.
No matter who’s guarding her, Jones plans to play with that same mentality in the pivotal Game 3.
“I didn’t even realize
until halftime that (Delle Donne) wasn’t out there,” Jones said. “I was like, ‘What’s wrong? How many fouls does she have?’ … I was locked in. It didn’t matter who was on the court.”
Afterward, Jones said she felt physically spent. So she’s using the fourday break between games to rest her body, knowing
that the remainder of the bestoffive series will be a grind.
Jones played 33 minutes in Game 2 and is averaging 32 minutes during the playoffs. She’s started all 39 games this season, as have Jasmine Thomas, Courtney Williams, Shekinna Stricklen and Alyssa Thomas.
“We needed it, man,” Jones said. “I don’t know,
people probably think that athletes just run on some different type of fuel. We need it, our bodies need it. I appreciate it.”
The wait continues: Backup point guard Layshia Clarendon continues to practice, but she remains daytoday as she recovers from right ankle surgery.
Clarendon — who has been simulating Mystics
guard Natasha Cloud in practice — last played June 16.
“Game readiness compared to being cleared and healthy are two different things,” Miller said. “We’re going to play it by ear, but she’s getting closer and closer every day.”