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UNCASVILLE, Conn. — For the first time all year, Sun fans left the Mohegan Sun Arena on Monday basking in the glory of a rousing victory.
The Connecticut Sun (3-15) snapped its six-game losing streak with a dominant, 92-63 victory at home over the Chicago Sky (4-12).
Brittney Griner had a team-high 14 points, grabbing eight rebounds and recording four blocks as well, becoming the WNBA’s all-time leader in career blocks with 878. Previously held by former two-time WNBA All-Star and former Connecticut Sun Margo Dydek, Griner tied Dydek’s mark late in the first half before breaking the record with her fourth block of the game with 6:24 left in the third quarter.
Saniya Rivers celebrates with Brittney Griner after Griner set the new all-time record for blocks in the WNBA during the game between the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky on June 22, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Katie Morrison-O'Day
“Super excited, it’s something that I’ve always went after, the one record that I really cared about (and) paid attention to,” Griner said. “For me to get it tonight just means everything.
“Blocking shots (means) I’m helping my team out on defense, keeping (the opposition) out of the paint, challenging shots; it’s always made me a good defender when I try to lock in on that so I’m just excited to have it and have it with this group.”
The 13-year veteran out of Baylor was given a standing ovation by the home crowd during and after the game as she celebrated with her wife, Cherelle, and their one-year-old son, Bash.
Connecticut Sun center Brittney Griner carries her son and waves to the crowd after the game between the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky on June 22, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.Katie Morrison-O'Day
“Having my family here is big for me,” Griner said. “I mean, everything I do, I do for them and then for him to see that, sitting there courtside with my wife is amazing. I just have a lot of emotions right now.”
Griner was one of five Sun players to score in double-digits on Monday night as the team delivered its best performance of the season, recording 21 assists on 50.7% shooting from the field. Charlisse Leger-Walker supported well with 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Olivia Nelson-Ododa had her first double-double of the season with 11 points and a season-high 15 rebounds while grabbing two steals and two blocks.
“Offensively, we were very aligned with what we want to do with our identity,” Sun coach Rachid Meziane said. “Defensively we did a great job... I talked a lot about consistency and tonight we respected our schemes and played with a toughness required in this league.”
As Meziane noted, while the Sun certainly produced on offense, it was their effort and commitment on defense that made all the difference. Connecticut held Chicago to just 21.6% from the field in the first half before a 10-0 run to close the third quarter pushed the Sun’s lead beyond the Sky’s reach.
The Sun will look to carry forward this momentum into their next game against the Washington Mystics on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. from the Mohegan Sun Arena. Connecticut will have five days off after its game against Washington before hosting Paige Bueckers, Azzi Fudd and the Dallas Wings at PeoplesBank Arena in Hartford on July 2 at 8 p.m.
Charlisse Leger-Walker highlights ‘special night’ celebrating Indigenous Peoples
Dancers from different Native American tribes perform during halftime of the game between the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky for Indigenous Peoples Night on June 22, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Katie Morrison-O'Day
The Sun’s victory comes on an auspicious night as the franchise celebrates its final Indigenous Peoples’ night at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The franchise celebrated its roots and the history of the Connecticut Sun and the Mohegan Tribe throughout the night, with a special halftime show by the Rez Dogs Drumming Group, performing an intertribal dance.
“It was a really special night tonight, just having the representation, not of just my home country, but Indigenous people across the league and across the country,” Leger-Walker said.
The Sun’s 2026 second-round draft pick out of UCLA is not only the first New Zealand-born player to be drafted — she’s also the first draftee of Māori descent. Having roots within Samoan and Tongan culture as well, Leger-Walker talked about how proud she is to be a role model for all Indigenous Peoples.
Connecticut's Charlisse Leger-Walker and Chicago's Rachel Banham participate in a ceremonial tip for Indigenous Peoples Night during the game between the Connecticut Sun and the Chicago Sky on June 22, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Katie Morrison-O'Day
“It’s something I take a lot of pride in and being a part of an organization that really wants to highlight that and emphasize that, it’s really cool for me to come in, especially my first year in the league,” Leger-Walker said. “I’m very humbled to be a part of that... the way that we celebrated tonight was awesome, so I just want to thank everyone who was a part of putting that on, it’s a really cool thing to be recognized.”
The Mohegan Tribe acquired the WNBA franchise after purchasing the Orlando Miracle in 2003 for $10 million and relocating the franchise to Uncasville, Conn. The Mohegan Tribe became the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports team with this acquisition.
Mary Finks was one of several representatives from the Mohegan Tribe that participated in the intertribal dance performance during halftime.
On most game nights, the Uncasville-resident works at the Mohegan Sun as a security officer. Finks has worked at the casino for nearly 30 years and remembers working at the arena for the Sun’s first home game on May 24, 2003.
“That was amazing, the noise and the atmosphere was so amazing that night,” Finks said before Monday’s game. “I loved (for their 15th anniversary), we actually came down as employees and made a big 15 in the middle of the basketball court.”
But on Monday night, Finks sat alongside fellow Sun fans before joining her fellow tribe members on the court for a night to remember.
“I almost become a celebrity in this sort of way and that’s a little different for me, because I’m usually the one sitting in the back,” Finks said. “... this season is bitter, sadly, but this night is just amazing. The atmosphere, the dancing (and) the community is great.”
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