Sun prevail to force a Game 5

UNCASVILLE — Only 40 minutes stood between the Washington Mystics and history.

The same can now be said about the Connecticut

Sun.

The Sun responded with their backs to the wall, edging the Mystics 9086 in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals at Mohegan Sun to stave off elimination.

With the series now tied 22, the teams will head back to the nation’s capital for a deciding Game 5, which is scheduled for Thursday at 8 p.m. at Entertainment and Sports Arena.

“We just stayed tough,” Sun guard Courtney Williams said. “We just did whatever we did harder. We didn’t want to go home. Leave it all out there, and that’s what we did.”

Getting there required some serious resolve by the Sun, who fended off a furious comeback by the Mystics. Washington fought back from a 16point halftime deficit to pull even after three quarters, 6868, and grabbed its first lead 16 seconds into the fourth.

“The third quarter I think we just came out flat. They came out ready,” Sun forward Shekinna Stricklen said. “They hit some shots. I think we rushed some at the beginning. They got in their game.”

The Mystics built their largest cushion at 7772, but the Sun responded with their season on the line. The score was tied four more times down the stretch before Stricklen drained a 3pointer to put Connecticut up 8784.

“We’re always happy to see it go down for her,”

forward Alyssa Thomas said.

A layup by Natasha Cloud brought Washington within 8786, but Jasmine Thomas sank two free throws with 18.4 seconds left to extend Connecticut’s lead back to three. Cloud missed a layup with 12 seconds left that would’ve

cut it to one.

“Being down, having to dig ourselves out of that hole, we just stayed mentally strong,” Williams said. “We got stops when we needed them. We got buckets when we needed them.”

Center Jonquel Jones led Connecticut with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Alyssa Thomas contributed 17 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds, and Williams

had 16 points.

Cloud sank a jumper to cap a 153 run and bring Washington within one, 5958, with 5:06 left in the third. The Sun extended the lead back to eight, but a driving layup by Aerial Powers sent the teams into the fourth tied 6868. Washington had trailed by as many as 18 points.

The Sun showed no signs of a hangover from their Game 3 loss, in which

they saw Washington drain a Finalsrecord 16 3pointers in a 9481 runaway win. The Mystics started 4of17 from the floor, allowing Connecticut to build a comfortable 3012 lead.

Powers led Washington with 15 points. Twotime MVP Elena Delle Donne had 11 points.

Jessica Hill / Associated Press Shekinna Stricklen, front, of the Sun escapes the defense of the Mystics' Kristi Toliver during the first half of Tuesday night’s Game 4 of the WNBA Finals in Uncasville.