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Sun look for sixth straight win Tuesday night in Atlanta

Connecticut’s Jonquel Jones (35) was named WNBA Eastern Conference player of the week for the second time this season on Monday. The Sun face Atlanta on the road Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

ATLANTA, August 14 – The Connecticut Sun clinched their first WNBA playoff berth in four years on Sunday with a win over Dallas. Now, the Sun will look to solidify their position in the WNBA Tournament with a victory over the Atlanta Dream Tuesday night from McCamish Pavilion at 7 p.m. (Comcast Sports Network).

The top eight teams in the league – regardless of conference – qualify for the playoffs. The top two seeds get first round and second round byes. The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds get first round byes and a crucial second round home game on their floors. The first round and second round are one-game single elimination contests.

Connecticut (17-9) is currently seeded third in the league, a game and a half behind defending WNBA champion Los Angeles (19-8) with eight games remaining in the regular season.

Atlanta (10-18) is coming off an 84-68 loss to lowly San Antonio on Saturday night and are currently seeded 10th as they try to drive for the playoffs. Former UConn guard Tiffany Hayes leads Atlanta in scoring (15.9 ppg) and is second in assists (2.4). Brittany Sykes (12.8 ppg) had 28 points and four rebounds in Saturday night’s loss to the Stars.

The Sun have won five straight games and eight of the last 10. Jonquel Jones leads Connecticut in both scoring (16.0 ppg) and rebounding (11.7 rpg). She had 19 points, 16 rebounds, four assists, four steals and five blocks in Saturday’s win over Dallas. Alyssa Thomas leads the Sun in assists (4.8 apg) and ranks second in both scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg). She had 21 points, a career-high 13 rebounds and four assists against the Wings.

“The locker room certainly has bigger goals so now we’ll fight for position and a very, very important potential bye,” Sun coach and general manager Curt Miller said.

Jones was named the Eastern Conference player of the week for the second time this season. Jones opened her week with 20 points, a game-high 14 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals in an 81-74 home win over the Seattle Storm on August 8 before playing well in the win over Dallas. 

The Sun return home to host the New York Liberty at Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday, August 18 at 7 p.m.

Since 2009, the Collinsville Press has been providing award-winning coverage of sports and news in the Farmington Valley and across Connecticut.

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