Boston, MA—-The Connecticut Sun watched their 11-point lead evaporate, and their star veteran was sidelined after getting shaken up early in the fourth quarter. As an historic capacity crowd filled TD Garden, the tension was palpable.
Then, in a crucial moment, DiJonai Carrington stepped up. She capitalized on a loose ball after a Los Angeles pass was intercepted, turning it into a crucial basket. Moments later, new addition Marina Mabrey found Carrington for another layup, followed by an and-one from Alyssa Thomas that helped the Sun regain control.
As the intensity built, a familiar chant filled the Boston Celtics’ home arena: “Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.! Beat L.A.!”
The Sun (20-7) did just that, outlasting the Sparks 69-61 on Tuesday night in the first-ever WNBA game at TD Garden. The game drew a sold-out crowd of 19,125 fans, including Boston sports celebrities, as the Sun aimed to solidify their status as “New England’s team.”
“It felt like what every night should feel like,” said Carrington, who led the team with 19 points. Thomas chimed in, “We’ve been in Connecticut a long time, so playing in front of a fan base like this gave us another level of energy today.”
The game delivered on the drama, featuring physicality, clutch shots, and intense defensive efforts, as well as a coach’s ejection and an electric crowd. But the most surprising move came at the start of the game.
Connecticut has struggled to find its rhythm since the Olympic break. The addition of Marina Mabrey has been crucial, but it has also created challenges for head coach Stephanie White in finding the best way to integrate her into the lineup.
Mabrey, who started for Chicago before being traded to the Sun in July, brings a quick release and fast footwork, making her an immediate offensive threat. However, she’s still adjusting to the Sun’s system.
In the Sun’s first game after the break, Mabrey filled in for Carrington, who was out for personal reasons, and the team won decisively against Dallas. But when Carrington returned, Mabrey remained in the starting lineup, replacing point guard Ty Harris. The result was a disjointed performance in a loss to the Atlanta Dream.
On Tuesday, White made her boldest move yet: benching six-time All-Star DeWanna Bonner in favor of keeping Mabrey in the starting lineup. This marked the first time Bonner, who has been with the Sun for five years, started a game on the bench since 2016 when she played for Phoenix. However, it wasn’t White who made the decision.
“DB volunteered to come off the bench,” White explained. “She understands that it’s about winning, and she’s willing to sacrifice for the team. She told us, ‘I just want to win. I want to figure out what our best lineup is, and I’ll be ready to go no matter what.’ That’s leadership.”
Unfortunately, the strategy didn’t work as planned. The Sun’s offense was sluggish and disjointed for the first six minutes, with poor ball movement and rushed shots. The Sparks (6-22) took advantage, intercepting passes and disrupting screens, and they dominated the paint, preventing easy layups.
White continued to tweak the lineup throughout the first quarter, eventually bringing Bonner in at the four-minute mark. Ty Harris hit two crucial three-pointers to put the Sun ahead 13-9, but Connecticut couldn’t sustain the momentum. Los Angeles responded with an 11-2 run to close the quarter, taking the lead.
“It’s a work in progress,” said Thomas, who finished with nine points, 16 rebounds, and eight assists. “We’re still trying to figure things out in games, and it’s not always perfect. But we’re all working together because, at the end of the day, we just want to win.”
Bonner, who turned 38 on Wednesday, scored the Sun’s first two baskets of the second quarter, joining Mabrey, Thomas, Brionna Jones, and Veronica Burton in the lineup. But as the Sparks matched them shot-for-shot, White reverted to the Sun’s usual starters—Bonner, Thomas, Jones, Harris, and Carrington—for the final four minutes of the half. Finally, the team began to click. The ball moved freely, passes were sharp, and players set effective screens, helping each other find open looks.
That lineup pushed the Sun ahead by double digits four minutes into the third quarter. However, the momentum shifted again midway through the fourth, when the Sparks, led by former Sun coach Curt Miller, opened with a 7-0 run to tie the game.
With Bonner on the bench due to injury, Mabrey stepped in, helping the Sun regain their footing. Jones’ relentless hustle, diving for loose balls and forcing jump balls, inspired the team. An and-one from Thomas put the Sun back on top, igniting the historic crowd. A steal from Harris led to a Carrington layup, and the Sun extended their lead, bringing TD Garden to its feet.
The excitement peaked when Miller was ejected with less than two minutes left, leaving the court while arguing with the referee.
“(We’re) 100 miles from home, and it absolutely felt like a home game,” White said. “I can’t emphasize enough how grateful I am that our players got to experience this. They deserve it. We’ve had big crowds on the road, but never 19,000 for a home game. It was just a lot of fun.”