Jordin Canada looks to follow up the highest-scoring effort of her six-year career when her Los Angeles Sparks host the Connecticut Sun on Sunday night.
Due to backcourt absences, Canada was a virtual ironwoman on Friday night, playing the entire 40 minutes against the Minnesota Lynx and pouring in 22 points during a 77-72 home loss.
Canada was 9-for-17 shooting and also had five assists and two steals. She was occasionally unguarded as Minnesota focused on stopping former MVP Nneka Ogwumike (8 points, 2-for-9 shooting) in the interior.
“I don’t really feel like I was insulted,” Canada said afterward. “I don’t really care what other teams do against me or how they decide to guard me. I’m very comfortable and confident in my abilities.”
Canada is averaging a career-best 13.7 points in her second season with the Sparks (5-5). She spent her first four campaigns with the Seattle Storm.
She also is averaging 32.3 minutes per game for a team without guard Layshia Clarendon (foot) for another three to five weeks.
In addition, starting guard Lexie Brown missed Friday’s game with an illness. Her absence led to first-round draft choice Zia Cooke making her first career start. Cooke had five points in 25 minutes.
Connecticut (8-3) is beginning a three-game road trip that also includes games against the Storm and Lynx.
The Sun are coming off a 92-88 overtime home loss to the Atlanta Dream on Thursday. Connecticut is 2-2 after winning six of its first seven games.
Brionna Jones recorded season bests of 28 points and 13 rebounds in Thursday’s loss. She made 12 of 17 shots. Jones is averaging 16.1 points and 8.5 rebounds.
DeWanna Bonner, who scored 20 points against Atlanta, is averaging a team-best 17.5 points.
Alyssa Thomas recorded 23 points, seven assists and six rebounds. She leads the Sun in rebounding (10.7) and assists (7.3) while ranking third in scoring (14.9).
Connecticut has a fourth double-digit scorer in Tiffany Hayes (10.3).
Thomas likes the fact that the Sun have so many top-notch options who are also unselfish players.
“It doesn’t matter how many points you have, what you do, how many minutes you play,” Thomas said. “At the end of the day, it’s a team win. And we’re all excited for each other.”
–Field Level Media
