All yr lengthy, the Connecticut Solar have been missed, the nationwide dialogue primarily centering round final yr’s Finals staff (the Las Vegas Aces and the New York Liberty) and an thrilling rookie class headlined by Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese.
The Solar occupy one of many nation’s smallest media market: Uncasville, Connecticut. They’ve by no means gained a championship. They haven’t any rookies on the roster, so that they didn’t profit fairly as a lot from the WNBA’s inflow of school basketball followers. And, occasionally, they even must share their observe courtroom with a two-year-old’s birthday celebration.
Nonetheless, they’re considered one of simply two undefeated groups within the 2024 playoffs, at the moment holding a 1-0 collection lead over the Minnesota Lynx within the semi-finals. Two extra wins and the Solar would head to the WNBA Finals, the place they’d face the winner of the opposite semi-finals collection between the Aces and the Liberty (New York at the moment holds a 1-0 lead on the opposite facet of the bracket).
They’re missed — however they’re not fazed. They’re used to it.
“It’s not unfamiliar to us. It occurs to us every season,” Alyssa Thomas stated. “However actually, we don’t care. We all know what we’ve achieved all season. We all know what we’re able to.”
In discussions round who would possibly come away with the WNBA championship, the Solar have usually been brushed apart, partially as a result of whereas they’ve gained lots of video games, however have by no means been in a position to recover from the hump. In 2019, they misplaced within the Finals to the Washington Mystics. In 2020, they fell to the Aces on the verge of one other Finals look. In 2021, they misplaced to the Chicago Sky within the semi-finals, and in 2022, to the Aces once more within the Finals. Final yr, they succumbed at the arms of the New York Liberty within the semi-finals.
It at all times seems like they’re proper on the precipice of a title, however every time, they fall simply brief.
However, this yr, the Solar simply might need all of the items. Right here’s why.
Protection wins championships, and Connecticut has one of the best within the recreation
The Solar have had the league’s greatest protection all yr, and two of the WNBA’s greatest defenders in DiJonai Carrington (First Crew All-Protection) and Thomas (Second Crew All-Protection).
It begins with Alyssa Thomas, one of many strongest gamers within the sport. On Sunday, Aces head coach Becky named Thomas considered one of three gamers she fears defensively (alongside Brittney Sykes and Natasha Cloud).
“I don’t need them close to the play after I’m drawing,” Hammon stated.
Then, there’s Carrington, who sometimes matches up with opposing staff’s high guards and was awarded Most Improved Participant for these efforts. Brionna Jones stays an elite rim protector, and Veronica Burton and Olivia Nelson-Ododa have been crucial off the bench. In Ty Harris’s absence, Burton specifically has been essential.
“She’s an excellent defender — she’s small in stature, however her physicality, her capability to play larger, to present us completely different appears to be like is vital,” White stated of Burton, who was acquired mid-season after being waived by the Dallas Wings.
This yr, coming into the semi-finals, the Solar have been slated to face the red-hot Minnesota Lynx, led by Napheesa Collier who was enjoying at an otherworldly stage. Within the first spherical, Collier placed on a present in opposition to the Phoenix Mercury, scoring 38 factors on 11-19 taking pictures in Sport 1, solely to outdo herself with a 42-point efficiency (on 14-20 FG) in Sport 2.
One other Collier offensive explosion felt inevitable to start the semi-finals, however the Solar did what they do greatest: they defended. They restricted Collier to only 19 factors on 7-16 taking pictures. Within the fourth quarter of the Solar’s 73-70 Sport 1 win, the Lynx have been held to only 8 factors.
“That is what our group does,” Stephanie White stated. “It is a staff — and a franchise, actually since AT acquired right here — that has hung our hats on protection.”
Contemplating how nicely she was enjoying, the truth that Connecticut was in a position to include Collier is fairly outstanding. Holding Minnesota to eight factors — and icing them out on the ultimate possession, was textbook Solar basketball.
Marina Mabrey’s quantity three-point taking pictures adjustments all the pieces
Connecticut’s one achilles heal was three-point taking pictures — so that they went forward and traded for Marina Mabrey, probably the greatest quantity shooters within the recreation. With Mabrey within the lineup, they’ve accrued a 13-6 document (together with a 3-0 playoff document). Via the postseason, Mabrey has averaged 21.3 factors per recreation, hitting clutch and well timed daggers. She’s hit 4.7 threes per recreation on 42.4% taking pictures to date these playoffs.
“I’ve been attempting to get Marina to return right here for some time,” Thomas stated after Sunday’s win. “She’s a competitor, and that’s what we’re right here. She desires to win, and she or he’s going to do no matter it takes for the staff. She’s one thing completely different that we haven’t seen in Connecticut shortly.”
Previous to the commerce, the Solar ranked tenth within the league in 3-pointers made (5.5 per recreation) and tenth in 3-point share (31.4%).
“We wanted three level taking pictures desperately this season,” Thomas stated.
Alyssa Thomas is reaching playoff kind
Via three playoff video games, Thomas is averaging 16 factors on 52.3% taking pictures, 11.7 assists, and eight.3 rebounds. In Sunday’s 73-70 win over the Lynx, she scored two baskets within the ultimate minute as a way to safe the win.
She’s anchoring the protection, whereas additionally facilitating on offense. She’s been with Connecticut for 11 seasons, and early on right here in these playoffs, that have and delight exhibits each time she takes the courtroom. There’s a cause they name Alyssa Thomas ‘The Engine’ and it’s as a result of she orchestrates all the pieces, on each ends.
“I’m one of many leaders of this staff, I’ve been right here my complete profession,” Thomas stated in an interview on SportsCenter postgame. “Nothing adjustments. We’re within the pursuit of a championship. Sport 1 is vital, particularly on the street. It began with me at the moment.”
It’s solely been one semi-finals recreation to date, and these are acquainted waters for the Solar. Proper now, it appears to be like possible that the Solar must defeat the Liberty to win the championship, and whereas they’ve misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games in opposition to New York, they have been all been single-digit video games.
The Liberty’s offense is high-flying, but when there’s a protection that may mitigate the injury, it’d simply be Connecticut’s.
Marina Mabrey must proceed hitting threes on the charge she has, and Alyssa Thomas must proceed serving as a triple-double machine. DiJonai Carrington will should be productive on each ends, and DeWanna Bonner might want to discover her taking pictures contact — and hit the massive ones after they’re not falling.
They’ve all of the items. Thomas, Jones, and Bonner will all be free brokers this summer season, and who’s to say in the event that they’ll have one other likelihood.
However, if all the pieces comes collectively because it ought to, this would possibly simply be the yr they get it achieved.
