​On Friday night, the Golden State Valkyries will be chasing a seventh consecutive win, while the Dallas Wings seek to extend their three-game streak as they take on the Toronto Tempo in Montreal (7:30 p.m. ET, ION). The Chicago Sky and the Los Angeles Sparks, meanwhile, will be hoping to drum up some momentum by securing their second straight victory (10 p.m. ET, ION). But the spotlight at least initially shifts to the Connecticut Sun, who will host the red-hot Valkyries (7:30 p.m. ET, ION).
The Sun sit at 5-17 and occupy last place in the WNBA standings. Connecticut, however, has shown signs of life recently, going 3-2 over their last five games. Notable results include a 29-point blowout over the Chicago Sky, an 11-point win against the Washington Mystics, and a tight one-point victory over the Minnesota Lynx that stopped Cheryl Reeve from capping win No. 380. When the Lynx finally handed Reeve her record-breaking milestone, Connecticut made them earn it, leading for much of the night before eventually falling by six. They also came up just short against the Dallas Wings, their hopes dashed late by a clutch basket from Paige Bueckers.
In Uncasville, momentum is slowly building. After the Sun seemed to be relegated to an afterthought all season due to the WNBA’s heavy-handed involvement in the franchise’s sale and relocation, Connecticut has found some grit. Wins may still be sporadic, but the team is showing fight. Three players have emerged as catalysts for the Sun’s improvement, and they deserve recognition in any discussion of Connecticut’s evolving identity this season. Readers are encouraged to share in the comments which Sun players, despite the losses, have impressed them most this year.
Brittney Griner will not be available for Friday night’s game against the Valkyries, as she is listed out for a second straight contest with a quad injury. Yet Griner’s standout performance on Monday night deserves admiration. She powered a 29-point, 10-rebound double-double to help fuel the Sun’s upset over the Lynx. Whether Griner will remain with this franchise beyond the current season remains uncertain, as she hails from Texas and has spent significant stretches of her career elsewhere. The Dream previously benefited from her contributions but moved toward a different path by season’s end. It’s unlikely the Sun will diminish Griner’s role any time soon; she serves as Connecticut’s stabilizing veteran and the team’s 6-foot-9 backbone. The Sun can rely on Griner on both ends—their offense can get the ball to her in the post, and her presence in the lane provides a reliable defensive anchor.
Griner’s impact this season has grown beyond occasional high-scoring outputs. While she may not routinely approach 30 points, that 29-point performance marked her fifth straight game with double-figure scoring, underscoring her ongoing value to a team still navigating growing pains from a young roster around her. In short, Griner remains a critical element for the Sun’s morale and on-court stability as they pursue incremental improvements in a season that has otherwise tested their consistency. The hope is that Connecticut can sustain this upward trajectory as they welcome the Valkyries and continue to grow their competitive floor.
Note: The above focuses on Friday’s matchup, the broader context of the league’s Friday schedule, and Connecticut’s current form, with an emphasis on the Sun’s internal development and the role of Griner in anchoring the lineup.