In three-plus seasons with the Connecticut Sun, DeWanna Bonner never experienced the prolific production she did Thursday night.
Actually no player in team history was ever as productive as Bonner, who attempts to follow up a career-high 41-point showing with another big game Sunday afternoon when Connecticut visits the Atlanta Dream in College Park, Ga.
Bonner heads into Sunday averaging 17.6 points, up from the 13.5 she contributed in 33 games last season and on par with her scoring average of 19.7 in 2020 after being acquired from Phoenix for three first-round picks.
Bonner has topped 20 points three times so far but doubled her previous season high by making 16 of 23 shots and hitting five 3-pointers in a 94-77 win over the visiting Las Vegas Aces. Bonner’s big night occurred 48 hours after she was held to five points and shot 2-for-9 in 23 minutes in a 90-84 loss to Las Vegas.
Bonner broke the team record of 35 points set by Shannon Johnson during the 2002 season when the franchise was known as the Orlando Miracle.
“We know what she’s capable of and I think, you know, she reminded the league of what type of player she is,” Connecticut forward Alyssa Thomas said.
Besides seeing if Bonner can produce another big game, the Sun (7-2) are hoping to deliver another strong defensive showing. They converted 18 Las Vegas turnovers into 21 points on Thursday.
“We know that every day we’ve got to go out and earn it. Every possession we have to go out and earn it,” Sun coach Stephanie White said. “This is a group who not only accepts that but embraces that.”
Atlanta (2-4) has lost two straight and three of four at home so far. The Dream followed up a 92-87 loss to Las Vegas on June 2 by allowing a season-higih 14 3-pointers in a 106-83 loss to the New York Liberty on Friday.
Alisha Gray scored 17 points and Rhyne Howard added 15 points, but the Dream were unable to prevent Sabrina Ionescu from scoring 37.
“I’ll eat Sabrina having 37,” Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright said. “I clearly didn’t have the right game plan.”
–Field Level Media
