The Connecticut Sun sit dead last in the WNBA standings with a brutal 5-17 record heading into Friday night's matchup against the red-hot Golden State Valkyries. Yeah, it’s tough to look at that number. But don't let it fool you, because something's definitely shifting in Uncasville. This team, which looked totally lost for a while, has found some serious spunk, winning three of their last five games and actually putting up a real fight.
The Sun Are Finding Their Spark After a Rough Stretch
For weeks, it felt like the Sun were just going through the motions, an afterthought after all the WNBA drama around their sale and relocation. They were trudging through one uncompetitive loss after another. But recently, things have started to click. They absolutely clobbered the Chicago Sky with a 29-point win, then took down the Washington Mystics by 11 points, and even pulled off a nail-biting, one-point squeaker against the Minnesota Lynx, making Cheryl Reeve wait just a little longer for her 380th win. And even in their losses, they're showing grit. They led the Lynx for most of the night before falling by just six points, and only lost to the Dallas Wings by three, with Paige Bueckers needing a clutch close to seal it. The wins might not be frequent *yet*, but they are absolutely going to make teams earn it now.Brittney Griner Is the 6-Foot-9 Security Blanket This Team Needed
A huge reason for this newfound fight? Brittney Griner, period. While she’s sidelined for Friday's game with a quad injury, marking her second straight game out, you cannot forget her Monday night masterclass. BG turned back the clock, dropping a monster 29 points and grabbing 10 rebounds for a double-double, powering the Sun to that upset over the Lynx. That 29-point performance was a season-high for her, by the way. This isn't just about stats, it's about what she brings: the ability to throw her the ball on offense and trust her to defend the basket on the other end. She’s their 6-foot-9 security blanket. Griner picked up this stabilizing veteran role last season with the Atlanta Dream, but her contributions there were outgrown faster than expected. Don’t expect that with the Sun. It’s still up in the air if Griner will extend her tenure with this franchise into next season, especially with her home state of Texas looming, but right now, she’s absolutely essential. Tonight, the Sun host the Golden State Valkyries, who are riding a seven-game winning streak and are seriously red-hot. Can Connecticut keep up this fight without their big veteran presence? Every game right now is about proving they're not just an afterthought, but a team that demands respect. We'll be watching to see if this spunk is for real.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.