Connecticut Sun star reveals key to her big performance against the Minnesota Lynx

uncasville, connecticut —The Connecticut Sun faced elimination Sunday night against the Minnesota Lynx, but survived with a 92-82 win and advanced to Game 5 of the conference semifinals.

DeWanna Bonner was the key to the victory. The 37-year-old had 18 points on 8-for-12 shooting, eight rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block. Thirteen of the points came in a decisive second half in which the Suns outscored the Lynx by 17 points.

After the game, Bonner said having her daughter in the stands was the key to the victory. Bonner has 7-year-old twin daughters, Cali and Demi, but they don't usually attend games.

“My baby girl was in the stands for the first time, and she helped me free up and calm down a little bit, because situations like this can be very stressful,” Bonner said. said. “It's very special to have her around.”

Through six playoff games, Bonner is averaging 16.3 points and shooting 41 percent from the field, including 36.7 percent from three. She also recorded 7.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2 steals.

Bonner wasn't the only contributor to the Game 4 victory. Tyasha Harris scored 20 points in her first meaningful performance since spraining her ankle, and Bonner's fiancée, Thomas, had 18 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.

“I feel like she's a typical AT who packs stats,” Sun head coach Stephanie White said. “She steps up in big moments. We put the ball in her hands in the fourth quarter and orchestrated our offense, and she made plays for herself and for others. And that's what she did. We asked her to do a lot for us on both ends of the floor.”

The Suns struggled in Game 3, losing 90-81 and falling to 2-1 in the series, and Thomas criticized his team's performance at the podium. The 90 points they allowed in Game 3 were more than 16 points above their season average, and the Lynx's 57.4% shooting percentage was the highest in franchise postseason history against the Sun.

After that game, Thomas implored his team to fight to extend the season.

“If we want to continue the season, if we want to get to the finals, we have to give it our all,” Thomas said. “That’s what the playoffs are all about.”

In Game 4, the Suns faced another team and held the Lynx to just 32 points in the second half. They had nine steals and Bonner had four, just two days after having just three steals as a team.

“I hit a wall, but I gave it my all and got the win,” Bonner said.

The series returns to Minneapolis for a decisive Game 5 between both teams.

“I don't think anyone in that locker room is ready to go our separate ways,” Bonner said. “We enjoy each other's company. We've been around each other for a long time.”