The Sun again fell short in the WNBA playoffs. benpickman dissects their season and explores where the franchise may be headed
All but one member of the Sun had exited the court as the Aces’ WNBA title celebration broke out around the free throw line closest to Las Vegas’s bench. 2021 League MVP Jonquel Jones remained, however, wanting to deliver a final on-court message to the player she had spent four games battling. Amid the jubilance, the Connecticut star walked across half court and found Aces star A’ja Wilson for an embrace. “It was just a congratulations,” Wilson said.
Minus Game 3, which saw the Sun erupt for 105 points, Jones and her Connecticut teammates struggled to crack Las Vegas’s defense. While the Sun held the Aces to a season-low 67 points in the series opener, they scored just 64 points themselves. In Game 2, their offense showed signs of improvement—finishing the loss with 71 points—but they were uncharacteristically outscored in the paint, and their usually stout defense was overwhelmed by the Aces’ individual shot creators.
But nevertheless, here the Sun are again, with a final buzzer having sounded on a season, forced to ponder what’s next. Key free-agency decisions await them, and they are well-aware their title window won’t stay open forever. The following morning, minutes before the team’s scheduled film session, she went up to Miller and said that instead of watching tape she wanted to gather the group together. “You always listen to your players at this level,” says Miller, who acknowledged he is “probably coaching less” this year as a function of having an experienced group.
“Their commitment to each other and just the positive self-talk. They were just so into it and not deflated or dejected at all,” he says. “It was just incredible. I sat down and just felt it and didn’t even need to say anything.” When starting point guard Jasmine Thomas tore her ACL just five games into this season, the team’s backcourt rotation changed and Hiedeman moved into the first five. An ACL tear by reserve guard Bria Hartley at the end of July was another hiccup. “It’s been a lot of experimenting,” Alyssa Thomas says. “A lot of ups and downs, and just trying to figure out what would make us successful.”
Despite going away from the group for much of the year, in the fourth quarter of Game 4 as they tried to extend their season, Miller leaned on the trio. “Some of it was certainly the scheme, and then some of it certainly is that’s our core group,” he said. “Those are who you run with. Those are who have put us in position year after year after year.”
On the morning before Game 4, Miller was fumbling through his backpack and saw a challenge coin commemorating the 1998–99 CSU team, which went 33–3 and eventually lost in the Sweet 16. He chuckled to himself. “It was a great reminder of being in the moment, be present and don’t take for granted that,Miller has long sought to make the most out of situations, whether in game play or practice.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alex Jones's audience and Infowars' revenue grew as Jones alleged Sandy Hook school massacre was a hoaxJones and his company, Free Speech Systems, are on trial in Connecticut in a lawsuit brought by an FBI agent who responded to the shooting and relatives of...
Read more »
Alex Jones faces second trial over Sandy Hook hoax claimsNEW YORK — A second trial to determine what conspiracy theorist Alex Jones should pay to Sandy Hook families began Tuesday in Connecticut with an attorney for the families calling what Jones said about the deadliest elementary school shooting in the nation's history 'beyond the pale.'
Read more »
Quirky facts about Tommy Lee Jones and his San Antonio ties, on his 76th birthdayOne of San Antonio's most famous residents is also one of its best-kept secrets — and...
Read more »
Stephen Jones says Cowboys QB Dak Prescott could return by Week 4 or Week 5ARLINGTON – Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones told 105.3 The Fan (KRLD-FM) before his team’s game against the Bengals on Sunday that quarterback...
Read more »
Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones says Dak Prescott could return by Week 3Cowboys CEO Stephen Jones said Sunday Dallas starting quarterback Dak Prescott could return to the lineup earlier than most expected.
Read more »
Cowboys' Dak Prescott Could Return as Early as Week 3, EVP Stephen Jones SaysDallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott could return from hand surgery as early as Week 3, according to team executive vice president Stephen Jones.
Read more »