UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Connecticut Solar confronted elimination in opposition to the Minnesota Lynx on Sunday night time, however got here away with a 92-82 win to remain alive and drive a Sport 5 within the convention semifinals.
DeWanna Bonner was key to the victory. The 37-year-old recorded 18 factors on 8-12 capturing, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block. 13 of the factors got here in a decisive second half wherein the Solar outscored the Lynx by 17 factors.
After the sport, Bonner mentioned that having her daughter within the stands was key to the victory. Bonner has two 7-year-old twin daughters, Cali and Demi, they usually don’t usually attend video games.
“My child woman was within the stands for the primary time, she form of took my thoughts off, calmed me down a bit of bit, as a result of you may get excessive stress in these conditions,” Bonner mentioned. “Having her round is fairly particular.”
Via six playoff video games, Bonner is averaging 16.3 factors on 41% capturing, together with 36.7% from three. She’s additionally posting 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and a pair of steals.
Bonner wasn’t solely accountable for the Sport 4 win — Tyasha Harris got here up enormous with 20 factors in her first significant efficiency since struggling an ankle sprain, whereas Thomas — Bonner’s fiance — posted 18 factors, 11 assists, and eight rebounds.
“I really feel like that’s typical AT proper like, she’s a stat stuffer,” mentioned Solar head coach Stephanie White. “She steps up in huge moments. We put the ball in her fingers quite a bit within the fourth quarter to orchestrate our offense, and she or he made performs for herself and for others, and that’s what she does. We requested her to do quite a bit for us on each ends of the ground.”
The Solar had a poor displaying in Sport 3 — falling 90-81 to drop to 2-1 for the collection — spurring Thomas to name out her workforce’s efficiency on the podium. Their 90 factors allowed in Sport 3 was greater than 16 factors greater than their season common, and the Lynx’s 57.4% capturing share was the best the Solar have let up in franchise postseason historical past.
After that one, Thomas implored her workforce to struggle with a view to prolong their season.
“In order for you your season to proceed, you wish to make it to the Finals, you bought to offer it all the pieces you bought,” Thomas mentioned. “That’s what the playoffs are all about.”
In Sport 4, the Solar got here out a distinct workforce, holding the Lynx to only 32 second-half factors. They racked up 9 steals — Bonner led the best way with 4 — simply two days after ending with simply 3 steals as a workforce.
“Backs in opposition to the wall — we received a win, gave it all the pieces I had,” Bonner mentioned.
DeWanna Bonner attributed her 18 level efficiency tonight to having her daughter there:
“My child woman was within the stands. So she form of took my thoughts off issues, as a result of you may get excessive stress in these conditions. Having her round was fairly particular.” pic.twitter.com/8SjsJ13Khz
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) October 6, 2024
The collection will now return to Minneapolis for a do-or-die Sport 5 for each groups.
“I don’t assume anyone in that locker room is able to form of go their separate methods,” Bonner mentioned. “We take pleasure in being round one another. We’ve been round one another for a very long time.”
