The Sun are riding a 12-game winning streak and are a lock to receive a double-bye in the playoffs as the No. 1 seed. They’re starred by MVP frontrunner Jonquel Jones and the expected Most Improved Player of the Year Brionna Jones. Oh, and Thomas is back practicing with the team and could return in the playoffs.

Connecticut’s traveled a wacky road to arrive at this point. In 2019, they took a historically excellent Washington Mystics team to a heartbreaking, five-game final but lost. The following year, two starters moved teams in the offseason, but the Sun made a blockbuster trade for All-Star DeWanna Bonner. In 2020, Jonquel Jones opted due to Covid-19, and despite a mid-series shoulder injury to Thomas, Connecticut battled an impressive Las Vegas Aces team in a five-game semifinals series.

The team’s been close, but now Connecticut looks like the real deal. Six-foot-6 point-center Jones is redefining what the center position means in the WNBA as the league’s leading rebounder who can also dribble through defenders and hit step-back 3-pointers. Nobody’s been able to stop her all season long.

The emergence of Brionna Jones and steadiness from Jasmine Thomas at the point guard position along with Bonner create an incredible two-way Sun team. Few can match their starpower.Going forward, the Aces, Seattle Storm, Minnesota Lynx, and Phoenix Mercury look to challenge them, but the Sun are undoubtedly *the* team to beat. The first round of the WNBA playoffs are set to begin on September 23.

The Takeaway

The Sun haven’t lost a regular season game since before the Olympic break, and there’s no reason to think they’ll slow down. Heck, they might even add another All-Star if Alyssa Thomas is recovered from her Achilles injury. Feel confident taking Connecticut to win their first WNBA championship.