Marina Mabrey had a stellar performance, scoring 26 points with six 3-pointers as the Connecticut Sun defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 86-66 on Tuesday night. Brionna Jones also contributed significantly with 19 points and eight rebounds. This victory brings Connecticut’s record to 26-10, placing them within one game of second place behind Minnesota with a record of 27-9.
Connecticut took a commanding lead with a 15-0 scoring run extending between the first and second quarters, heading into halftime with a 43-32 advantage. The team had three players with double-digit scoring, led by Jones with 13 points, followed by Mabrey and DiJonai Carrington with 10 points each.
Despite the Sparks closing the gap to 53-43, Connecticut pulled away in the third quarter with an 11-2 run, furthering their lead to 64-45. Mabrey’s sixth 3-pointer solidified their dominance with a 82-54 lead.
Alyssa Thomas put up an impressive performance nearly achieving a triple-double for Connecticut, registering 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, along with becoming the franchise leader with 491 career steals. Los Angeles saw Rickea Jackson score 16 points and Azura Stevens contribute 10 points and 17 rebounds. Additionally, Jackson surpassed Nneka Ogwumike on the franchise list for second-most points by a rookie.
DeWanna Bonner of Connecticut made WNBA history by surpassing Sue Bird for seventh place in career made field goals. This game showcased the Sun’s dominance and individual achievements, positioning them as strong contenders in the league.