WNBA Finals: The Connecticut Sun defeated the Chicago Sky 72-63 on Thursday night in the pivotal fifth game of the semi-final series, overturning an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter, and moving on to the WNBA Finals. Jonquel Jones had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the victory.
With 4:46 left in the contest, Connecticut overcame a 63-54 deficit by scoring the game’s last 18 points.
Connecticut went to the Finals for the third time overall and for the first time since 2019 as all of the Sun starters scored in double figures.
For the WNBA championship, Connecticut will play the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces. On Sunday in Las Vegas, the series’ opening game will be played.
Since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001–2002, Chicago was seeking to become the first club to win back-to-back WNBA championships.
With two minutes remaining, Jones scored inside for the Sun, and after making the subsequent free throw, the Sun went up by three points.
With 2:24 remaining, Natisha Hiedeman’s transition layup tied the score as Connecticut reduced their fourth-quarter deficit.
With 47.5 seconds left, Courtney Williams made a pull-up jumper to give the Sun a five-point lead. DeWanna Bonner then made four free throws to end the game.
After a terrible third quarter in which they scored just eight points and committed seven turnovers, Connecticut outscored Chicago 25-5 in the fourth.
With 22 points on 8 of 19 shooting, including 3 of 5 from beyond the arc, Kahleah Copper led the Sky. She also had four steals.
For Connecticut, DeWanna Bonner contributed 15 points, Hiedeman had 14, while Williams and Alyssa Thomas each had 12 points.
With 7:20 remaining, Emma Meesseman gave the Sky an 11-point advantage with 14 points on 6-for-14 shooting and six rebounds.
The Sun continued their hot shooting from Game 4, when they made 56.9% of their attempts, in the first half. However, when the Sky defence tightened in the third quarter, that slowed.
Chicago had a 10-point advantage going into the fourth after Candace Parker made a 3-pointer and Copper added a three-point play.
However, Chicago’s shooting dried up, and the Sky’s final eight attempts were missed.
Parker had nine rebounds in addition to seven points towards the end.
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