Sun search to proceed lengthy maintain over Mystics

The Connecticut Sun will look to rebound after losing to the Indiana Fever for the first time in the regular season in three years when they play at the Washington Mystics on Saturday.

The Sun (22-8) suffered the 84-80 upset loss to the Fever in Indianapolis on Wednesday after defeating the WNBA’s top team, the New York Liberty, 72-64 on the road in the prior game last week.

Connecticut, which had won 11 straight games against the Fever, is 3-0 and looking for the season sweep against the Mystics. The Sun have won eight consecutive games against Washington dating to 2022.

DiJonai Carrington led Connecticut with 19 points and added four rebounds and two assists in the loss to the Fever.

Alyssa Thomas had 17 points, marking her best scoring outing after the Olympic break.

Ty Harris, who had nine points, eclipsed 1,000 points in her WNBA career.

Carrington also forced seven turnovers and recorded a career-high six steals while assigned to guard Caitlin Clark.

“I thought (Carrington) was really good for us,” Sun head coach Stephanie White said. “She wreaks havoc defensively, but she’s gotten this explosiveness that we didn’t have, so we need her to continue to stay aggressive on the offensive end while continuing to do what she does best on the defensive end for us.”

The Mystics (9-22) are on a three-game winning streak, their longest of the season, after a 74-70 road victory Wednesday over the Chicago Sky.

Eric Thibault, the head coach of the Mystics, is 0-7 in his career against the Sun.

Stefanie Dolson scored 17 points and Ariel Atkins contributed 15 points and five assists in the victory over the Sky.

Shakira Austin did not play for the Mystics due to an ankle injury suffered late in the win over the Seattle Storm on Monday.

Washington is 2 1/2 games behind the Sky (11-19) in the race for the eighth and final WNBA playoff spot with nine games remaining in the regular season.

“I don’t know if, individually, people are thinking about it, but, obviously, standings are important, and when you play a team and beat them, it jumps you up a lot,” Dolson said after the win over Chicago.

–Field Level Media