WNBA: Alyssa Thomas leads Connecticut Solar in opposition to New York Liberty
The Connecticut Solar (12-3) will host the New York Liberty (9-3) Tuesday within the second matchup of the season between the 2 groups, and it’s an enormous one, with Connecticut at the moment sitting 1.5 video games forward of New York for second place within the WNBA standings. The sport might be broadcast on NBA TV and tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET.
The Solar are one of many WNBA’s hottest groups, having received 4 straight video games, and would do properly to place one other sport in between themselves and the Liberty within the standings. They’ll be trying to take action with out beginning middle Brionna Jones, nevertheless, who ruptured her proper Achilles tendon final week and can miss the rest of the 2023 season. Jones, one of many WNBA’s most formidable back-to-the-basket facilities, was averaging profession highs throughout the board when she acquired injured — 15.9 factors, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals per sport — and her manufacturing might be troublesome to switch.
Thankfully for Connecticut, Alyssa Thomas is taking part in higher than ever. Solar head coach Stephanie White has used Thomas as a small-ball middle since Jones went down, and the outcomes up to now have been spectacular: Thomas not too long ago recorded a massive triple-double in opposition to the Chicago Sky, racking up 14 factors, 11 rebounds and 12 assists (and just one turnover), which was her second triple-double of the season and the fourth of her regular-season profession. The do-it-all ahead had turn into identified for dragging earlier Solar groups to greater-than-expected success, and he or she appears primed to do it as soon as once more in 2023.
Heard there was some sort of league announcement immediately…it was AT’s WNBA document in triple-doubles, proper?
What a second for our star, our workforce, and our followers pic.twitter.com/AgfGcuNvWs
— Connecticut Solar (@ConnecticutSun) June 25, 2023
Will the Solar’s new-look lineup be better off in opposition to the Liberty, although? New York boasts one of the vital expert frontcourts within the sport, with former MVPs Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones, and the duo’s mixed wingspan and total bodily presence is way higher than what Connecticut has confronted within the fast wake of Brionna Jones’ harm.
Connecticut will even have its arms full with New York’s guards. Sabrina Ionescu and Courtney Vandersloot mixed to attain 35 factors on 13-of-26 taking pictures when the Liberty defeated the Solar again on May 27, and so they’ve continued their sturdy play since then, with Ionescu dropping 31 factors last Sunday in opposition to Washington and Vandersloot recording 16 factors, 11 assists and 7 steals on June 23 in opposition to Atlanta.
Nevertheless the Solar select to play the Liberty of their quest to even the season sequence, Tuesday evening’s matchup will certainly really feel like a playoff preview. It leads off a slate of three video games, persevering with with the Seattle Storm (4-9) and Minnesota Lynx (4-9) at 8 p.m. ET and ending with a nightcap that includes the Dallas Wings (6-8) and Phoenix Mercury (2-10) at 10 p.m. ET. Each later video games might be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports activities Community.
Recreation info
New York Liberty (9-3) vs. Connecticut Solar (12-3)
When: 7 p.m. ET
The place: Mohegan Solar Enviornment in Uncasville, CT
How you can watch: WNBA League Move, NBA TV, NBC Sports activities Boston, YES
Liberty harm report: Stefanie Dolson (out; ankle), Han Xu (not with workforce; abroad dedication)
Solar harm report: Brionna Jones (out for season; Achilles)
Seattle Storm (4-9) vs. Minnesota Lynx (4-9)
When: 8 p.m. ET
The place: Goal Heart in Minneapolis, MN
How you can watch: CBS Sports activities Community, Bally Sports activities North Additional, FOX 13, Amazon Prime Video (Seattle)
Storm harm report: Jordan Horston (uncertain; shoulder)
Lynx harm report: Diamond Miller (possible; ankle), Tiffany Mitchell (out; wrist), Jessica Shepard (out; sickness), Aerial Powers (out; ankle), Natalie Achonwa (not with workforce; maternity go away)
Dallas Wings (6-8) vs. Phoenix Mercury (2-10)
When: 10 p.m. ET
The place: Footprint Heart in Phoenix, AZ
How you can watch: CBS Sports activities Community, AZ Household Sports activities Community 44, Mercury Reside (Livestream), Bally Sports activities Southwest Additional
Wings harm report: Diamond DeShields (out; knee), Lou Lopez Sénéchal (out; knee)
Mercury harm report: Sophie Cunningham (questionable; again), Shey Peddy (out; Achilles), Megan Gustafson (out; concussion)
