By Tiffany Williams –
On Friday night, the Connecticut Sun will resume regular season play after a break for the Olympics with a two game road trip. Friday night, they will be playing on the road at College Park Center in Arlington, Texas, where they will face the Dallas Wings in their final matchup of the season. The Sun currently lead the series 2-0 and are looking to secure a victory to win the season series on Friday night. Sunday night, the Sun will head to Gateway Center in College Park, Georgia, for their fourth and final matchup this season. The Sun currently owns the four-game season series 2-1.
A notable return for the Sun is forward Alyssa Thomas, who is back from the Olympic Games in Paris and ready to rejoin her team. Thomas joins Tina Charles and Asjha Jones as one of the three Sun players who have won gold at the Olympics with Team USA.
The USA Basketball Women’s National Team clinched their eighth consecutive Olympic gold medal by defeating France 67-66 on August 11th. Alyssa Thomas played a crucial role in Team USA’s success, contributing 3.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 17.4 minutes per game across all six matches during the tournament.
During the Olympic break, the Sun made a significant addition to their roster by acquiring Marina Mabrey in a trade with the Chicago Sky. In exchange for Mabrey, the Sun sent Rachel Banham and Moriah Jefferson to Chicago, along with their 2025 first-round pick and the rights to swap 2026 first-round picks. Mabrey had an impressive season with the Sky, averaging 14.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.5 assists (team-high), and 1.2 steals per game over 24 matches.
Ahead of the upcoming matchup with the Dallas Wings, the Sun signed forward Caitlin Bickle to a seven-day contract, which will run until August 21. Bickle, a 6-1 forward from Baylor University, had previously been with the Sun during the 2023 preseason but was waived before the regular season began.
Another key addition to the Sun’s roster prior to the Olympics was guard Veronica Burton, formerly of the Dallas Wings. Burton, a standout player from Northwestern, was drafted seventh overall by the Wings in 2022. She brings valuable backcourt depth and is known for her defensive prowess.
In her first five games with the Connecticut Sun, Burton has already made an impact, contributing 15 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists, four steals, and two blocks.
Additionally, the Sun on Friday signed rookie guard Celeste Taylor to a seven-day contract. Taylor, initially drafted 15th overall in the 2024 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever, has joined the Sun after a brief stint with the Phoenix Mercury. She has shown promise in her recent performance, achieving a career-high six points in a game against the Chicago Sky.
In their history, the Sun hold a 44-33 regular-season record against the Dallas Wings, including a 19-19 record on the road. Notably, the Sun emerged victorious in their last meeting with the Wings, securing an 85-67 win with standout performances from players like DiJonai Carrington and Alyssa Thomas.
DeWanna Bonner is also on the verge of a noteworthy achievement, as she requires just two three-point field goals to secure the 8th position in WNBA history.
The Sun and Wings matchup on Friday night at 9:30 PM will be broadcast live on ION, with a game recap available on eastcoastsportshub.com and newstalknewengland.com.
Sports Insider Daily 