Phoenix Mercury’s winning streak broke in loss to Connecticut Sun

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — DeWanna Bonner scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Alyssa Thomas had 22 points, nine rebounds and nine assists and the Connecticut Sun clinched a playoff spot with an 85-70 victory over the Phoenix Mercury on Monday night.

Connecticut (10-10) has won 10 of its last 15 games, since starting the season with five straight losses, to snap the Mercury’s six-game winning streak. The two teams will meet again on Wednesday.

The Sun opened the game on a 9-0 run, led by 11 in the quarter, and held the advantage the rest of the way. Bonner was 9 of 20 from the field in her first meeting against Phoenix, where she spent 10 seasons.

Diana Taurasi, who averaged 23.2 points during the Mercury’s winning steak, scored 10 of her 19 points at the free-throw line. Skylar Diggins-Smith added 16 points, six rebounds and six assists for Phoenix (12-8), which was held to 35% shooting.

The game was originally scheduled to be played Aug. 26, but was postponed because the WNBA players decided not to play that night or the next night in solidarity with their NBA counterparts following the weekend police shooting of Jacob Blake.