Sun beats Sparks 69-61 in first WNBA game at Celtics home

Sports news

In front of a franchise-record crowd of 19,125, the Suns fought back after trailing 59-55 with less than four minutes left.

By Associated Press

August 21, 2024 | 7:30 a.m.

BOSTON (AP) — DiJonai Carrington scored 19 points and the Connecticut Sun used a late 14-0 run to beat the Los Angeles Sparks 69-61 on Tuesday night in the Boston Celtics’ first WNBA game at TD Garden.

In front of a sold-out crowd of 19,125, a franchise record, the Suns rallied after trailing 59-55 with less than four minutes left.

Carrington scored twice in zone play, embedding a three-point play by Alyssa Thomas, and in less than a minute Connecticut led 62-59 to the cheers of the crowd.

Tyasha Harris made a three-point play to make it 69-56 with 1:40 left. In just over two minutes, the Storm had missed two shots and two free throws and suffered four turnovers.

Brionna Jones scored 15 points and Harris added 14 for the Sun (20-7), who overcame an 8-of-17 free throw performance. Thomas had nine points, eight assists and 16 rebounds.

Rookie Rickea Jackson and Azura Stevens both scored 14 points for the Sparks (6-22).

Carrington, Harris and Jones all scored in double figures as the Sun overcame an early deficit to take a 41-35 halftime lead.

Connecticut led by 11 points in the third quarter, but LA cut the lead to 53-46 in the fourth quarter. The Sparks scored the first seven points to tie the game and turned it into a 13-2 run.