Cellar Dwelling Sun Can’t Solve Road Woes

Alex Bentley (right). (AP Photo)

I would be remiss if I didn’t open a women’s basketball column without paying homage to the late Pat Summitt.

Not only was Summitt the winningest college basketball coach (men’s or women’s) at any four-year college or university, she was a pioneer who empowered millions of women -demonstrating to them that they could make a difference – just like she did.

Summitt was tough, relentless, and most of all a ferocious competitor, who believed she could succeed by outworking anybody – anywhere – anytime.

And she did it in a way that will be forever etched in our nation’s history books.

I wouldn’t be here this morning banging out a story on the WNBA if it wasn’t for one person – Pat Summitt.

Thanks for making it all possible!

SUN SPOTS

The Connecticut Sun’s west coast road woes continue as they have lost three straight to Seattle (98-81), LA (80-73) and Phoenix (86-75). The Sun are mired in the WNBA cellar with a 3-13 record. They will conclude the road trip against the Dallas Wings (8-9) on July 2 (8:30 p.m.).

Against Seattle, Breanna Stewart poured in 29 points to lead the Storm.

Chiney Ogwumike (10 points) and Shekinna Stricklen (12) gave the Sun a nice lift off the bench.

Against LA, Nneka Ogwumike (Chiney’s sister), led all scorers with 27 points while Chiney paced the Sun with 16 points.

In Phoenix, the Mercury used 22 points by Sonja Petrovic and 19 by Brittney Griner to win going away.

Alex Bentley led the Sun with 20 points while Jonquel Jones chipped in with a career-high 16.

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Perhaps the biggest news on the Sun’s recent road trip was the trade that sent the Sun’s Kelsey Bone to Phoenix in exchange for rookie Courtney Williams and the draft rights to Jillian Alleyne, as well as a second round pick in the 2017 draft.

“Obviously we are not where we hoped to be at the start of the season,” noted Sun GM Chris Sienko in a press release.

“This gives us two more young pieces as we build around our young nucleus,” said Sun coach Curt Miller.

Williams is a 5-foot-8 guard out of South Florida, while Alleyne is a 6-foot-3 forward who played at Oregon.

Alleyne is sitting out the 2016 season after having ACL surgery in February.

WHAT’S UP?

The 2016 USA Basketball Women’s National Team will host a four team, exhibition tournament on July 29 at the Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Ct. Australia and France will square off in the first game at 4:30 p.m. Coach Geno Auriemma and Team USA face Canada in the second game (7 p.m.).

Tickets for the exhibition tournament will go on sale starting June 13. For complete details go to: USAB.COM/SHOWCASE.

The Sun will return to Mohegan Sun Arena and host the Minnesota Lynx and Maya Moore on July 7 (7 p.m.).

They will close out a short two-game home stand on July 10 with the Atlanta Dream (1 p.m.).

Connecticut’s final home game before they break for the Rio Olympic Games will be against the LA Sparks on July 15 (7 p.m.).

The Sun will begin the 2016 Rio Olympic Game hiatus on July 23.

They will resume the regular season on Aug. 26 at home against Minnesota (7 p.m.).

RANDON THOUGHTS WHILE SHAVING

The word is out that newly-minted NBA free agent Dwight Howard is looking for a deal worth about $24 million. He snubbed the Houston Rockets attempt to resign him at $23.2 million.

Howard has never lived up to his abundant talent and his skills have declined over the last few years to the point where he is nothing more than a serviceable back-up center.

Maybe the Knicks will take the bait and sign Howard, who has been your classic case of a big-time, under-achiever!

Watch your back Jeff Hornacek if he does come to New York.

Congrats to Coastal Carolina the 2016 NCAA baseball champs.

The competitive gap between the mid-majors and the big boys continues to get closer…

Have a safe and enjoyable Fourth of July!

Follow Bob on Twitter for all the Sun and WNBA news: @WhitneyBob