Las Vegas Aces @ Connecticut Sun
DeWanna Bonner scores career-high 41 points, Connecticut Sun hand Las Vegas Aces 1st loss
UNCASVILLE, Conn. -- — DeWanna Bonner scored a career-high 41 points to set a franchise record and the Connecticut Sun beat the previously unbeaten Las Vegas Aces 94-77 on Thursday night.
Bonner topped her previous high of 38, set in 2016, on a 3-pointer with 2:50 remaining for a 90-67 lead. The previous franchise record was 35, scored by Shannon Johnson in 2000 when the organization was the Orlando Miracle.
On Tuesday, Bonner only had five points in a 90-84 loss to Las Vegas. But Bonner responded by scoring 14 of Connecticut’s opening 20 points on Thursday. Bonner finished 16 of 23 from the field, including 5 of 7 from distance.
“I think I played the worst possible game of my career (Tuesday with five points)," Bonner said. "So I just wanted to come out and be aggressive and then I got the hot hand, so it was like OK, it was go-time at that point. I’ve been struggling all year to shoot the ball, but I don’t know what happened tonight, that was a first for me.”
Las Vegas got within 64-54 early in the fourth quarter before Bonner scored the next seven Connecticut points for a 71-58 lead.
Brionna Jones added 12 points and Tiffany Hayes scored 11 for Connecticut (7-2). Alyssa Thomas had nine points, eight rebounds, 12 assists and three steals.
Kelsey Plum led Las Vegas (7-1) with 16 points. A’ja Wilson scored 13, Chelsea Gray had 12 and Jackie Young added 10. Candace Parker was held to six points in 21 minutes.
Wilson became the second-fastest player in WNBA history, behind Washington's Elena Delle Donne, to reach 3,000-plus points, 1,000 rebounds and 250 blocks.
The two teams played for the WNBA championship last year and the Aces won the franchise's first title.
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Regular Season Series
LV wins 2-1
Game Information
- Referees:
- Angelica Suffren
- Angel Kent
- Agon Abazi
2024-25 Western Conference Standings
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | 34 | 10 | .773 | - | W1 |
| Las Vegas | 30 | 14 | .682 | 4 | W16 |
| Phoenix | 27 | 17 | .614 | 7 | L3 |
| Seattle | 23 | 21 | .523 | 11 | W1 |
| Golden State | 23 | 21 | .523 | 11 | L3 |
| Los Angeles | 21 | 23 | .477 | 13 | L1 |
| Dallas | 10 | 34 | .227 | 24 | W1 |

