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The Connecticut Sun relied more on their starting five than any other team in the WNBA because they have a bench so young.
This bench suddenly received a boost thanks to the surprising return of veteran striker Alyssa Thomas. The Sun ended the regular season on Sunday by hosting the Atlanta Dream at Mohegan Sun Arena (1 p.m., NESN Plus).
Thomas tore his Achilles tendon while training with ZVVZ USK Praha of the Czech Republic on January 12. She was operated on eight days later. It can take up to a year before you feel fully recovered.
Thomas returned on Wednesday night and scored six points and three rebounds off the bench in 17 minutes as league-leading Connecticut (25-6) crushed New York Liberty, 98-69, for their 13th straight win, a franchise record.
“She said she was fine, that she was feeling good,” Sun head coach Curt Miller said on Friday. “We just finished training and she was on top, so we continue to feel good about where she’s at and where she’s playing.”
Thomas has been a starter since her 2014 rookie season and one of the Sun’s most essential players. She’s a power forward who can lead the point in addition to being a fierce rebounder and a three-time WNBA All-Defensive selection.
Connecticut was forced to go for a young bench this year because of the salary cap. Its top six players, veterans DeWanna Bonner, Briann January, Brionna and Jonquel Jones and Alyssa and Jasmine Thomas, take up much of the cap room.
Third-year goaltender Natisha Hiedeman was the Sun’s most experienced reserve. She has an average of 21 minutes. Second-year wing Kaila Charles averages 16 minutes.
The bench is completed by rookie winger DiJonai Carrington and the positions of Stephanie Jones (rookie) and Beatrice Mompremier (second year).
As it turns out, Sun’s bench had one of its best games on Wednesday. Carrington recorded a career-high 14 points and three steals as well as five rebounds in 20 minutes.
Hiedeman scored three 3-pointers in the first half to help revive the Connecticut offense after missing 10 of her first 12 shots and losing to 11. She finished with 11 points.
The Sun played all 11 of their players and 10 scored.
“I feel really, really happy for them,” Miller said. “They don’t always get extended minutes. It is the life of a bench man. Your leash is not that long.
“DiJonai really energized us (with) his effort, his tenacity, at both ends of the pitch. … Natisha had a great first half, gave us some confidence offensively by hitting those three.
Connecticut will be the seed in the playoffs. He gets a double pass to the best-of-five semi-finals and will host Game 1 on Tuesday, September 28.
“Now you have AT, one of the elite players in the world, coming off the bench,” Miller said. “Excited to know where our bench could be as we get closer and closer to the playoffs. “
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