It’s been a tough season for Connecticut, but Brittney Griner enjoyed a memorable moment earlier this week, breaking the record for the most blocks in WNBA history.
Griner blocked four shots as the Sun snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 92-63 win over Chicago. She now has 878 in her career.
Griner hopes to continue adding to the total when the Sun (3-15) host the Washington Mystics (8-8) on Friday in Uncasville, Conn.
Connecticut is 2-10 in its last 12 games.
“Blocking shots, I am helping my team out with defense,” Griner said after Monday’s game. “Challenging shots and keeping them out of the paint. … I am just excited to have (the record) and to share it with this group.”
Washington comes in after a heartbreaking 78-76 home loss to Minnesota on Wednesday. The Mystics are 5-5 in their last 10 games.
Washington gave up a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter as its three-game winning streak ended.
Reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week Sonia Citron scored 28 in the loss and is averaging 18.3 points per game. Citron has reached double figures in all but two games, scoring 20-plus six times.
Kiki Iriafen is averaging 15.1 points and is tied with Shakira Austin for the team lead in rebounds (8.7 per game) for the Mystics, who are averaging 81.9 ppg. Iriafen recorded a double-double against Minnesota, her fifth of the season.
Head coach Sydney Johnson talked after the game about what he hopes his team takes from the loss, which saw the Mystics get outscored 28-18 in the fourth quarter.
“Trying to control some of the things we can control, that we have an impact on, and we know that,” Johnson said. “We’ve got to turn the page quickly. We have two games in three days, or whatever it is. It’s not recreating the wheel but just understanding what we have to do.”
For Connecticut, Griner is averaging 12.3 points, one of four in double figures for a Sun team that averages 79.9 points per game.
Connecticut and Washington are playing for the second time in 10 days. The Mystics won 88-81 on June 17 in Connecticut.
–Field Level Media
