Connecticut Sun Fall to Las Vegas Aces at Home, 86-68

Aneesah Morrow (No. 24) of the Connecticut Sun shined with 12 points in an 86-68 loss to the Las Vegas Aces at Mohegan Sun Arena. (Photo: Dayna Cass | The Podium Finish)

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Connecticut Sun (2-16) showed signs of growth and grit but couldn’t keep up the Las Vegas Aces (9-9) as the two-time WNBA champions pulled away for an 86–68 victory Sunday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena.

Despite a strong start and some physical interior play from rookie Aneesah Morrow and veteran Tina Charles, the Sun couldn’t recover from a second-quarter surge by the Aces. Connecticut continues to search for answers during a challenging stretch of the season.

A’ja Wilson led Las Vegas with 19 points, four blocks, and seven rebounds. Her defensive presence and leadership were on full display throughout the contest. Dana Evans scored a season-high 18 points, while Jackie Young added 14. NaLyssa Smith notched her first double-double of the season, posting 11 points and 10 boards. Chelsea Gray, continuing to ease her way back from injury, dished out eight assists and moved past Becky Hammon into sixth place on the WNBA’s all-time assist list.

For the Sun, it was another outing marked by pockets of promise and stretches of inconsistency. Morrow led the team with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, while Charles added 11 points and five rebounds. Saniya Rivers also reached double digits with 10 points, and rookie Leïla Lacan contributed nine. However, Connecticut struggled to generate momentum from beyond the arc, shooting just 27.8 percent on 18 attempts.

The Aces came out aggressive, jumping to a 6–0 lead in the opening minutes. While the Sun responded with baskets from Morrow and Charles, Las Vegas controlled the pace with ball movement and transition scoring. The first quarter ended with the Aces ahead 16–12, as neither team found much rhythm from long range, combining to shoot 0-for-9 from three.

Las Vegas blew the game open in the second quarter, going on a 13–2 run that turned a tied game into a double-digit lead. The Aces shot 58.8 percent in the period, using second-chance points and fast break opportunities to extend the margin. By halftime, Las Vegas led 43–28, forcing the Sun to play from behind the rest of the way.

Despite the deficit, Connecticut didn’t fold. Morrow and Charles battled hard in the post, and the Sun found ways to attack the paint. The third quarter was Connecticut’s strongest offensively, as they outscored the Aces 22–21 and cut the lead to 64–50 heading into the fourth. However, Las Vegas quickly extinguished any momentum, opening the final frame with a pair of baskets from Wilson and Young.

Throughout the game, Morrow’s effort and growing confidence were evident. The rookie out of LSU continues to emerge as a reliable interior option and emotional spark for the Sun. After the game, she reflected on how the team is working to turn promising stretches into consistent success.

Leïla Lacan (No. 47) of the Connecticut Sun made her 2025 WNBA season debut against the Las Vegas Aces. (Photo: Tammy McManaway Sports Photography)

“Honestly, just playing to our strengths — that’s the most important thing,” Morrow said. “Being able to set a good pick to get your players open, it’s about… a lot of the time, it’s not about being selfish on the floor. It’s about what can you do for your teammate.”

Morrow noted that focusing on the fundamentals has helped the team stay competitive despite recent results.

“That’s the most important thing for me, like going on the floor, setting a good screen so I can get an eye open, being able to roll or space the floor,” she continued. “So she has more space to be able to drive to the basket.

“So those are the things that we’ve really been focusing on. And especially with going down in the paint. We know we have an advantage there, being able to rebound, being able to finish around the basket.”

Connecticut finished the game with 36 points in the paint and held their own on the boards, grabbing 27 rebounds to Las Vegas’s 35. But the Aces’ efficiency and bench production were simply too much to overcome.

For the Sun, the season’s growing pains are visible, especially without veteran guard Marina Mabrey, who remains sidelined due to injury. Still, head coach Rachid Meziane sees signs of progress, particularly from his younger players.

“I like how they are developing their game and how they are developing their mentality,” Meziane said postgame. “But my job is also to pay attention to the team result. So until we win games, it will be very hard to just talk about the players.”

Meziane emphasized that while individual development is important, the collective improvement and long-term trajectory of the team matter most.

Rachid Meziane, head coach of the Connecticut Sun, wants to see his young team work toward winning results. (Photo: Dayna Cass | The Podium Finish)

“I appreciate that they are a good person and they have a good work ethic,” he continued. “But my goal is to also to help the team to win and not only to develop the individual players.”

The first-year WNBA coach acknowledged the growing roles of Morrow, Rivers and Lacan, and pointed to the return of Mabrey as a key moment for the team’s future outlook.

“Hopefully with when Marina will come back and also because our young players are growing, we can be a more competitive team,” Meziane said. “Leïla, she will play, I think, better and better, the more she will practice with us. So, my picture is not only about only one player or two players, but not only about the short term, but also about the long term.”

Connecticut had a balanced but inefficient effort. In addition to Morrow’s 12 points, Olivia Nelson-Ododa scored 9, Saniya Rivers added 10 points and 7 rebounds, and Charles had 11 off the bench. The Sun were again without Marina Mabrey (left knee) and Jaelyn Brown (illness), thinning an already short rotation.

Despite the adversity, Meziane emphasized continued growth as a long-term objective for his group.

“My picture is not only about the short term,” Meziane said. “It’s about what we want to build for the future. Every game is a step, and I believe our young players are learning. But at the same time, we must demand results.”

Next Sunrise

With the loss, Connecticut fell to 1-7 at home this season. The Sun will have a Wednesday matinee against the Seattle Storm for their annual day camp game for their younger fans.

Las Vegas Aces: By the Numbers

A’ja Wilson (No. 22) had her usual productive performance for the Las Vegas in a win over the Connecticut Sun. (Photo: Tammy McManaway Sports Photography)

Connecticut Sun: By the Numbers

Jacy Sheldon (No. 4) of the Connecticut Sun went 2-3 from beyond the arc against the Las Vegas Aces. (Photo: Dayna Cass | The Podium Finish)