Nate explains How The Tulsa Shock Got Their Second Consecutive Win Against The Connecticut Sun
After the Tulsa Shock’s 78-72 loss to the first place Minnesota Lynx last week, head coach Teresa Edwards said that it was [possibly their best performance of the year].
And yes, they definitely had showed signs of improvement.
But still, it’s hard to know what’s more surprising: that the Shock ended their 20-game losing streak in Los Angeles on the back end of a back-to-back or the fact that they followed it up with an 83-72 win against the almost certainly playoff-bound Connecticut Sun on Tuesday.
Richard at WNBAlien also weighs in:
Well whaddaya know? A Tulsa win streak. It’s patently obvious that this team has benefitted from better coaching on how to play in this league, and from a tighter rotation. While it isn’t necessarily good to lose Betty Lennox due to a concussion, have Kayla Pedersen see very limited action due to either injury or coach’s decision (depending on which report you listen to), and have Cambage heavily restricted by shoulder pain, it’s allowing the players more rhythm and consistency. Edwards has also finally realised that playing Latta for as many minutes as she can survive is a vastly superior option to ever letting Andrea Riley see the floor. They actually look like they know what they’re doing on the floor, know where they’re supposed to be, and are prepared to go out there and execute. They might still be beaten by teams with more talent, but it’s becoming far rarer that they give games away through sloppiness and stupidity.
Mel gives the game a mention in his WNBA Report: Minnesota Wins The (Regular Season) West
Swoopes, meanwhile, was not through for the weekend after Friday’s heroics that resulted in the team presenting interim coach and recent Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee Teresa Edwards with two autographed game balls.
Her second one came Sunday after Swoopes scored 22 points and Tulsa (3-25) rallied from a 15-point deficit in the third quarter to win at home against Connecticut 83-72.
It’s the third time in recent weeks that the Sun blew a double-digit lead they held in the third quarter.
The result enabled Tulsa to combine with the Chicago Sky (14-15) in for the moment holding up playoff-qualifying parties for the second-place Sun (18-11) and the first-place and idle Indiana Fever (19-9).
And yes, if I had any juice, I would have named Swoopes West Player of the Week.