UNCASVILLE, Conn. — DeWanna Bonner was at a loss for words when talking about Alyssa Thomas Tuesday night. That is until she remembered a story from earlier in the week.
Thomas missed practice on one of the days leading up to the Connecticut Sun’s season opener against the Indiana Fever.
“It was probably one of the worst practices we’ve ever had,” Bonner said. “So we know how much she means to this team.”
After breaking the WNBA record for triple-doubles in a single season and moving into first all-time for most regular season triple-doubles, Thomas started 2024 right where she left off. Thomas finished the Sun’s 92-71 win over the Fever with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists.
“Like (Bonner) said, I think people thought it was a fluke to put up those kinds of numbers (last year),” Thomas said. “(It was) something that was never seen before. It was unheard of. But this is my game. This is how I play each and ever night. Pretty much every game last season, I flirted with a triple-double.
“A lot of credit goes to my teammates, they make it easy for me. They hit the shots — I just put it where it needs to go. As much as it’s about me, it’s about them, because none of it is possible without them.”
DeWanna Bonner moves up to fifth in all-time scoring
Two of Thomas’ assists helped Bonner inch her way up the WNBA all-time scoring leader list. Bonner entered the game sixth in all-time scoring with 6,881 points. She finished Tuesday’s game with a team-high 20 points, moving her ahead of Candice Dupree.
Bonner now stands just 214 points away from Tina Charles and the No. 4 spot on the list.
Thomas assisted Bonner on the layup that tied Dupree with 6:11 left in the third quarter. Just over a minute later, the pair connected again before Bonner finished off another layup to move up the list.
After a timeout, Bonner walked out onto the court with her hands raised toward the sell-out crowd at Mohegan Sun Arena.
“It was a huge goal of mine after we lost last season,” Bonner said. “But to do it here on this night with this team, with this group, with this crowd … our fans just made it even more special.
“To be in this league is hard. To stay in this league is even harder. And to be a part of that list, I kind of pat myself on the back on that one.”
DiJonai Carrington goes from bench role to starter as she defends Caitlin Clark
After coming off the bench last year, Carrington had a tough assignment in her first start of the season — guard Caitlin Clark.
Carrington more than handled the task, holding Clark scoreless in the first quarter. While Clark ultimately led the Fever with 20 points Tuesday night, Carrington made sure the rookie star was uncomfortable throughout her debut.
Clark also finished the game with 10 turnovers, seven of which came in the first half alone.
“You always come in excited the first game of the season, but I felt like my teammates and my coaches put a lot of trust in me,” Carrington said.
“(They were) in my ear all week and all through training camp. This is what they expect from me every night, whether it’s Caitlin or whoever we’re playing. This is the expectation. This is the standard.”
