June 30, 2023
Locked On Women’s Basketball: Alyssa Thomas’ triple-doubles and Connecticut Sun status update
By The Next
Natalie and Jacqueline discuss Connecticut's hot start and record-breaking forward
It’s time for another episode of the Locked on Women’s Basketball podcast. Connecticut beat reporter Jacqueline LeBlanc joins host Natalie Heavren to discuss the Sun’s 12-4 record to start the 2023 season and the star power propelling them forward. Alyssa Thomas, who recorded three triple-doubles in eight days, now holds the league record and is averaging just under that per game. The two also talk about injury updates and more.
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Jacqueline and Natalie started the episode focused on Thomas, who they have each covered for several seasons in Uncasville, Conn.
“I feel like this is going to become a very common occurrence for the now definitive ‘Triple-Double Queen,'” Jacqueline said. “What [coach Stephanie White] has done for the offense and kind of revamping the team and revamping the team’s identity has really kind of unlocked another level to Alyssa Thomas’ game. AT really excels in transition. She’s super, super fast. She’s always on the move, you know, and Steph White’s new system is constantly moving. It’s all about reading and reacting to the defense and Alyssa has said that, you know, that’s where she plays her best games.”
In the second segment, they shifted to talk about the Achilles injury that Brionna Jones sustained on June 20 against the Seattle Storm. The team has since announced that she will miss the remainder of the season.
“Their offseason was all about building around Bri and building around Alyssa Thomas for the team’s future,” Jacqueline said. “She was easily on track for her third all-star appearance, you know, possibly fighting for some all-WNBA considerations. So that’s really tough. And then of course, there’s just like the emotional piece of losing an important veteran leader, like, like Bri, Jones. Everyone loves her on the team. She’s a great person. She’s a great player, obviously, but also an even better person off the floor.”
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