Kelsey Plum Eclipse The Connecticut Sun

Enve

2024-09-16

09/06/2024 – By Azarr Johnson

Kelsey Plum leads the Aces past the Sun 72-67.

Game Story

Friday’s game between the Sun, and the Aces were two of the top had a lot at stake. Even though both teams had clinched a playoff berth seeding was still at stake for both teams. For the Aces, they have won three straight since their loss to the Wings. The Connecticut Sun on the other hand were in second place. Looking to rebound from their most recent loss to the Seattle Storm, and keep hold of the number two spot in the playoff seeding. The Minnestoa Lynx were trailing them.

Clearly this game was expected to be competitive from start to finish. Shockingly the Sun came out on fire and started the game on a 5-0 run. Forcing the Aces to call a timeout and regroup. When play resumed, the Aces seemed to figure it out, and rebounded from their slow start. As they cut the lead from 5 to one by midway through the first period (14-13). Plum led the charge for the Aces as she had six. The Sun would respond, and by the end of the first period they had built their lead back up to five 22-17.

What was shocking about the Sun lead was the way they had built a lead on the Aces. They kept them to under 40% shooting from the field and only 20% from the three point lead. Not to mention MVP candidate A’ja Wilson only had four points. What was not shocking was the defensive presence of Brianna Jones who was defending, and blocking everything in sight. This defensive effort/energy the Sun were giving in the first period carried over into the second period. By midway through the second period the Sun had built a nine point lead (29-20.) By halftime they had increased the lead to twelve (38-26).

It was a group effort from the Sun as they all still had single digit points for the players that scored. The Aces on the other hand were struggling as Wilson was held scoreless for the whole second period. The only reason the Sun had not blow the the game completely away was because of Kelsey Plum who scored 16 of the Aces 26 points for the first half.

Coach Hammond acknowledged in the post game that if it was not for Plums play they would not have been still in the game. Once the second half started the Aces clearly made adjustments. One of them was to get the core three (Wilson, Plum and Gray) going. and they all did as they all scored on the 7-2 run. Cutting the lead from twelve to seven (40-33) forcing the Sun to call a timeout. After play resumed the Aces kept coming. Cutting the lead from seven to one (45-44) at the 3:06 mark, forcing the Sun to call another timeout.

The second timeout must have worked because after the timeout, the Sun scored five straight points, increasing there lead to five 50-45 and finished the period with a lead that was once looking like it was going away. When the fourth period started the Sun had a 52-49 lead, and this game was clearly going to come down to the wire. For half of the fourth period both teams went back and forth. Hitting clutch shot after clutch shot. Every time the Aces were seeming to take the lead, the Sun would respond with a shot to prevent them from taking the lead.

Within the last three minutes of the game is when the Aces finally took the lead. Hitting the dagger to give the Sun the loss. The most crucial part was when Vegas was up by one, with 38 seconds left and Chelsea Gray hit a three point shot to give them the lead 71-67.

Post Game – Kelsey Plum

"You have to keep battling, and eventually the basketball gods reward good behavior."

Kelsey Plum discusses the Aces win over the Sun. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/iBTqtCJeUV
— Enveonline (@Enveonline) September 7, 2024

Post Game – Sydney Colson

Following the @LVAces win over the Sun Sydney Colson discusses the Aces "clicking" at the right time. #WNBA pic.twitter.com/T2D82MYDK4
— Enveonline (@Enveonline) September 7, 2024