2017 WNBA season Week 5: The Connecticut Sun are on a roll


(LVJ's 2017 WNBA season round-up Week 5)

Are the Connecticut Sun better without Alex Bentley?

Okay, just kidding. But look, the Sun have won four games in a row and five out of their last six games. The last victory was an impressive 98-93 win against no less than the league-leading Minnesota Lynx. Connecticut ended Minnesota's 9-0 start in the process. Alyssa Thomas dropped 20-8-8 in that game while Jasmine Thomas had 20-6-6.

In five of the Sun's six-game stretch, Bentley, who is currently representing Belarus in the 2017 FIBA EuroBasket Women, didn't participate.

Coincidence?

Bentley's absence partly helped as it was able unlock Alyssa Thomas, Jasmine Thomas and Courtney Williams. Not that those three players aren't good to begin with, but without Bentley, they have gotten more touches and played with a higher usage rate, leading to victories for the Sun.

The sophomore Williams is averaging 12.8 PPG, 4.8 RPG, and 1.6 APG in 26.3 minutes a game on 50.5/40/91.7 shooting splits. Her backcourt partner Jasmine Thomas is averaging 12-2.9-4.5 while shooting 45.2 percent from deep. Together, the two have formed a backcourt that's quick on offense and feisty on defense.


They help initiate Curt Miller's offense by their ability to penetrate and get to the rim. Then there's Alyssa Thomas, who is basically the do-it-all forward for the Sun. In those four straight wins, Thomas dropped double-digits in scoring. She has been getting more field goal attempts lately as well. The Sun has scored 107.3 points per 100 possessions in their last six games, the fourth best in the league in that stretch. They also have a net rating of 7.2 in that stretch, the third highest.

Does it mean Bentley is hurting the Sun? This isn't 2015 anymore. Bentley is shooting just 32.8/30.6/72.2 from the floor and averaging 8.4 PPG in basically the same amount of minutes played as the other Sun guards. Both Williams and Thomas are shooting better from her and are making plays when on the floor.

It would be interesting for Miller to make a decision when she returns. Bentley may have to get used to a smaller role, as the Sun have been rolling with this current line-up. They are now 5-5 in the league standings, third in the Eastern Conference, and sixth overall in a three-way tie with the Atlanta Dream and Seattle Storm.

Liberty stay hot


Prior to the New York Liberty's 102-93 overtime win over the Dallas Wings, Bria Hartley has scored double-digits in just two games this season. She averaged just 3.9 PPG, but in that contest, Hartley started and dropped a season-high 17 points.

Hartley made the Liberty management look good again with how she stepped up in the absence of Epiphanny Prince. That performance is why the Liberty traded for that package involving Kia Vaughn as well.

The Liberty have one of the deepest benches in the league, and another player outside of the ones expected to put up the big numbers shined.

Mitchell enjoying her best season yet


The Phoenix Mercury have found a new version of the 2014 Erin Phillips in the form of Leilani Mitchell.

The 32-year-old Mitchell is averaging 11.5 PPG and 4 APG for the Mercury, both career-highs. She is shooting a career-best 45.9 percent from the field, and 43.6 percent from deep, which is the best she's shot from beyond the arc since the 2010 season.

She is currently the Mercury's third leading scorer, just behind Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi, and that she is doing it while coming off the bench in most games is what makes the run even more remarkable.

Mitchell had a decent showing for the Mercury in 2015, the seaon Taurasi sat out. But now playing together, the eight-year pro Mitchell has played even better. If the Mercury want to make a deep run in the post-season, they will need depth, and Mitchell is one of those persons they can bank on to provide damage.

Taurasi closing in on history

Taurasi is now just 14 points away from passing legend Tina Thompson and becoming the all-time leading scorer of WNBA history.

The Mercury will take on the Los Angeles Sparks tonight, with everyone expecting Taurasi to break the record.


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