LAS VEGAS, NV – After upsetting the Chicago Sky with an improbable 72-63 win on Thursday, the Connecticut Sun are heading to the finals for the fourth time in franchise history.
The Sun will now face the heavily-favored Las Vegas Aces who are in the finals for the second time in franchise history. The Aces have several advantages going into this series. They led the league in scoring during the regular season putting up almost 13 more points than the Sun. They have the league’s MVP in A’ja Wilson, the Coach of the Year in Becky Hammon, and three of the top-15 leading scorers in the league with Wilson, Kelsey Plum, and Jackie Young, and a brilliant point guard in Chelsea Gray, who’s been clutch all postseason for Vegas.
It’s possible the Sky gave the Sun the momentum needed to walk into Vegas with confidence after blowing a nine-point lead with four minutes left in Game 5 at home. Chicago was second in the league in scoring, but couldn’t close out the resilient Sun, who they held the Sky to just five points in the fourth quarter taking the game and the series from them.
Connecticut head coach Curt Miller said he wanted the team to make things messy against the Sky. ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo says the Sun will have to make things messy once again as they face the Aces. During the pre-Finals conference call, Lobo said the Sun are going to need to be physical on the defensive side of the ball, especially if they want to slow the game down.
ESPN analyst LaChina Robinson said the Aces will have a matchup problem with DeWanna Bonner saying, “you can move her around the floor to guard multiple positions. She has the foot speed and the basketball IQ to guard multiple players.”
A series win would be the first championship for either franchise. The Connecticut Sun were founded in 1999 as the Orlando Miracle before moving to Connecticut in 2003. The Aces were founded in 1997 as the Utah Starzz before moving and becoming the San Antonio Silver Stars in 2002.
Becky Hammond played the last years of her career with the Silver Stars playing with the team from 2007 to 2014. The team moved to Vegas in 2018 becoming the Las Vegas Aces.
Games One and Two will be played in Las Vegas. The first of which will be in front of a sold-out crowd.
Games Two and Three will be in Connecticut and, if necessary, a winner-take-all Game Five will be back in Sin City.
