NBA 2K25 Sun vs Sparks Gameplay

[Music] country no with Tim Schwarz and Brian Beni I'm Blake suniga and we're Courtside here in sunny Southern California a look now at the starting lineups for both teams when we talk about players that just flat out win who comes to mind well give me Brianna Stewart four titles in college and a couple more in the WNBA Stewie knows how to do one thing and that's get rings yes Stewie is incredible and she just wins flat out but I'm going to go with Chelsea great three WNBA titles including the last two she really helped Las Vegas and that cord get over the hump now here's Clarendon pass to talit Clarendon bed in off the glove given assist there uh not for a pass but for the solid screen set on the inside that freed her up and really just made that layup possible boner outside shoots from 14 oh and that one had the right spin on it it's good with a balanced offensive attack Bonner Embraces mid-range opportunities because she'll take what the defense gives her inside the jump hook and it's nambi getting to go nice low post offense a little over a minute gone here in the first quarter and the exciting Ria Jackson taking fourth overall in the 2024 draft well she's got a reputation in college that she earned as an electric score about 18 points per game which is a huge number in college over her career Jackson could get buckets from all three levels and 62 for link is kind of a matchup problem for a lot of guards now here's [Music] Clarendon outside Stevens and it's off from three-point range and here the sun Thomas outside boner outside picked by Jones five on the clock right at the free throw line Joanna boner missing [Applause] again and here's Clarendon Jackson guarded by Jackson here's boner Clarendon grabs the Miss Jackson outside that's good and it's Leah Clarendon with the assist she might not be the top sharpshooter in this league but that's not a shot that D can afford to give to her now here's Harris Clarendon covering picked by Jones here's Carrington and she Wills that one in Sinking right through off the back iron I like seeing Carrington pull up from here showing just how impactful she can be on offense Clarendon up top [Applause] and here in the first about 3 minutes in the layup off Target here's Thomas nice pass led him to the rack perfectly for the layup nice feed as Carrington finds a teammate with an even better look that's just good [Music] offense up top and that one comes up a bit short that's a shot she's got to hit you don't get too many better looks from that ring and over the course of the last few seasons the Connecticut Sun have been consistent winners they've made it past the first round in seven consecutive Seasons what's the big key Alyssa Thomas of course she's been on all of those teams you assume she's going to knock those down when she's as open as she was [Applause] there pass to Stevens that's good and it's Leia Clarendon with the assist that's a great example of Stevens's comfortability and focus around the basket so effective down there now here's Harris quiet so far offensively searching for first points of the game now Thomas first second shot goes in off to a good start two for two well that level of toughness should energize Thomas's teammates she invites contact from opponents down low Fades and Jones pulls it down Conneticut trailing pass to Thomas here's Harris it's stolen by de' hambi now Clarendon outside [Applause] Stevens now here's Jackson off with the lay [Applause] up now here's Carrington d right on her Harris with it pass to Carrington shot clock at six Harris with it Harrington chance there to take the lead missing and here's [Applause] Clarendon to the middle here's Hami that's good and it's Asia Clarendon with the assist and that's the Eric Ham's favorite place to operate just terrific inside now here's Harris here's Thomas makes it off the glass special delivery right there fellas just a wonderful entry feed no good on that shot so at the end of one quarter of play still a close game the Sparks on top they lead by one and don't go away as we'll be back with the action for the start of the second quarter in just a bit and it's been a tight one here as the second quarter getting going and let's quickly break down the game we've seen from the Sparks guys the work they've done to get in close offensively the difference right now and I like that they aren't settling for outside shots just keep attacking the rim very [Applause] aggressive and you're the sun they Trail by one here's boner Marina Ma on the wing connect from three-point range you cannot give ma any breathing room from Deep she's an absolute Sharpshooter she's been in this league for a decade and a half now but danana Bonner is still going strong yeah that's maybe her greatest attribute her consistency of Excellence she can do a lot of things at a high level and you always love to see her activity level at both ends she's a coach's dream now here's Harris still getting warmed up offensively no buckets yet in the game for her now here's McDonald covered by Harris to the inside from six away yep that one goes here in the second quarter with a little over a minute of play and here's boner pass to Harris outside for Ma and stolen by Sims now nurse and now approaching 2 minutes of action here in the second quarter and the shot goes down a notable finisher around the rim Sims doesn't want any weak spots in her game and I admire that now here's Harris boner [Applause] outside pass to Nelson to DOTA that's good and it's danana boner with the assist she is one of the best when it comes to making the sweet lead pass timeout called the smarks it's forer and among the fans in attendance none other than ad showing his support for the hometown Sparks all about Z in the purple and gold now here's Clarendon uses the glass to finish the layup maybe not the best athlete on the Squad but she had the room she needed and in 2023 the Sparks went 17 and 23 they missed the playoffs by just one win they were firmly in before they lost five of their last seven games so I think a stronger finish to the year is a point of emphasis for this staff oh that's too good a look to pass up there despite the result pass to McDonald here's talat hambi sets a screen to the paint it drops for her third basket and she's only miss one shot Nimble move by hamy getting around the contact into the shot it's Burton guarded by McDonald to the middle from 13 hambi grabs the miss the Sparks with the lead and they have certainly been looking locked in offensively they sure have staying aggressive and playing in control here's McDonald and Brian one of the better all around defenders in this league Ary McDonald well back in college she won Defensive Player of the Year twice in her conference with quick feet and quick hands she lives in the passing lanes and is always a threat to pick the ball and Jet the other way and she's good on the second and as you watch the continued development of the WNBA it feels like length matters a lot these days well you're seeing teams putting a major emphasis on getting longer players it really helps you on the defensive end oh yeah with how skilled players are these days and the amount of Threes teams take length can certainly neutralize that and stolen by Stevens outside McDonald [Applause] inside stolen 2 minutes remaining in the first half 2 minutes outside ma pass to Burton hey look's over here and here's Nelson adota she's guarded by Stevens such tough defense there against one of the better finishers in the [Applause] game and B down low now here's McDonald [Applause] and she uses the glass on the layup well played right there there's no question which team has the momentum it does look like this lead is headed [Applause] north pass to baby will it go and again no good by [Applause] Connecticut now here's Jackson not a lot of room down low Ambi got it for her fourth field goal of the game on just five shot this is an incredible run they're on offense as well as it can be played every single player on their squad with the absolute Magic Touch shooting lights out now here's mabery they set the pick and she sinks that one hitting the back of the rim on the way in some impressive creativity from May Bri operating the pick and roll like a surgent Jackson outside Ambi good and the assist goes to Ria Jackson and that'll raise their field goal percentage even more they're enjoying a big Edge in that category and that's because they've been playing smart basketball they've been very patient offensively and the shot selection has just been great such a high IQ on this it's Burton she's been patient so far nothing yet on the scoreboard and the basket by Ma that is Ma's biggest value to this team the ability to spot up knock down shots now here's McDonald she's tightly guarded Jackson no [Applause] good and we finished one half a play the Sparks on top they lead by six and join us right back here after the break for the start of the second half [Applause] [Music] [Music] welcome back the second half about to get underway and it's been a close one so far I mean good solid game by hamy sheer dominance in the post by her so far just tearing them to shreds when she gets the ball inside and getting it to her is the only hard part because once she's got the rock she's automatic and it's been a back and forth game with no ground given through the first half third quarter getting started here and no doubt the leader of this sun team The Versatile vet Alysa Thomas yeah she got drafted by Connecticut back in 2014 and has spent her entire career with the sun last year finished second in MVP voting led the league in total assists and rebounding which is just something you never see here's talit looking for a first basket still in this one Stevens the screen here's Clarendon offensive board no good with the layup there was just enough defensive pressure to get her off balance now boner back to May so she gets the whistle contact on the way up two shots next a late second round pick in 2019 Marina ma sure has carved out a nice roll for herself over time well she never gave up on herself despite slipping far in the draft she continued to work on her game and has proven how multi-talented a player she is her story is definitely inspirational now here's Clarendon pass to Jackson Ambi that one a little [Applause] long now here's mabery Clarendon covering and here's Carrington the three-pointer Off the Mark now tber third quarter of play with just over one and a half minutes gone by Ami sets a screen and that one goes in as she's fouled it'll be three points if she can convert the free throw and as the WNBA continues to grow the leadership we're seeing throughout the league has been great both on the players and League sides some great people in charge doing what's right for the future absolutely Brian and the big thing everybody's on the same page they all want to advance the sport Advance the league and continue to to just be an elite product just three to shoot and again connectic it no good let Sparks with the [Applause] lead outside [Applause] Clarendon Stevens the screen to the inside stolen by Brianna Jones Thomas with the ball handy covering here's ma that's good and it's danana boner with the assist you see her play tonight in a night like tonight from ma is why she's in the league to score and score in bunches timeout called the Sparks stand [Applause] go the Lakers dance through and the Sparks with possession here their biggest lead of the game was nine to the [Applause] paint here's hamy it's in basket number six for her thus far she has missed only two shots from the floor it's been Ham's night the front office the coaching staff they love her combination of size and skill a true modern bit and that's a lot of rebounds for a player who's not the biggest player out there Clarendon here's Stevens It's a deflection out of bounds it'll be sun [Applause] ball Connecticut trailing and they've been struggling here off defensively bit of a dry spell for [Applause] sure Mitchell outside pass to Nelson ad DOA off Target at The Rim now the Sparks moving it up now Clarendon [Applause] six on the shock clock elbow shot Mitchell grabs the board she kind of short armed that shot after doing a nice job of getting open pass to Burton TI lendon with it she's got seven here's hamy again the Miss by the Sparks the sun on offense since halftime they've only allowed five [Applause] points it's Tiffany Mitchell on the wing she's guarded by Stevens bucket is good ran her Defender straight into that screen to open up the lane to the hoop and after 12 Seasons with the Sparks NECA AUM decided that 2023 would be her last with the organization yeah since going first overall in 2012 AUM an eight time All-Star with the Sparks winning MVP and the WNBA title in 2016 two Community assist Awards and they'll Miss in Los Angeles Nea a legend in La basketball history yeah I'd say that shot was well within her range I hope so there's nothing like a one-f footer Jackson outside to the middle here's hamy the sun pull it in it's Burton she hasn't scored yet that I'm sure will [Applause] change pass to Mitchell for the tie and the three ball is good and this game is tied up now and when Mitchell's threes are falling she's nearly unguardable there's just so much you have to account for outside Stevens here's Jackson it's good it's good possession resulting in the easy one down low now 5 Seconds separating the shot clock in the game clock pass to Mitchell six to shoot unloads from 13 ft here's Nelson adota and a good offense Bo and she gets the bucket she was the first one to react to that Miss I mean that's just a hustle play on the putb from Deep three-point range that's the end of the third and it's all tied up and we're coming back right after this break to get the fourth quarter started [Applause] [Applause] it's the fourth okay fourth quarter of action getting underway we've had a great one with both sides coming to play so [Applause] far now here's McDonald first outside pass to Sims back to nurse McDonald's parked down low that time and got hit with the 3se second call oh no see those are the kind of errors that can make her break you in a game like this and it'll drive your apprach crazy number 12 Ray [Applause] barell and so here's Connecticut and here's Harris Mitchell outside the pick by Jones to take the lead shot by Mitchell no good now the Sparks with it their biggest lead of the game was nine left side Sims pass to barell Ambi right side outside screen by Sims just five to shoot that shot by nurse no good and so here is Connecticut Jones with it Harris she's covered by Sims Mitchell outside back to ma over nurse ma misses well Rush that one the he was out of position but she couldn't make him pay Beyond The Arc good on the three-point shot smart pass by Sims to get the ball to a ready shooter tough to defend against that organized offensive [Music] effort pass to Mitchell and there's the foul it's on Nur that's her first foul foul first team foul substitution on the p [Applause] up top Harris here's ma guarded by Jackson pick by Jones here's ma hits the jumper in Space the midi for Ma we're used to seeing her knock down threes I like Marina keeping the D on their toes pass to hamy [Applause] Now Sims covered by Harris first outside out to the left wing and now Jackson Just for to shoot shoots it Nelson ad DOA with the rebound you that's a quality look right there just a little off with her release yeah and that has her shaking her head I mean no way around it that's a tough Miss [Applause] Burton they set a pick and no good had a chance to take the lead here's nurse and that comes off the assist by dier ham what a take there from nurse taking initiative and getting it done in style around 3 minutes gone by here in the fourth [Applause] quarter pass to Ma pick by Jones charity striped shot good on that jump shot yes what a moment for mayy a real winning player and the Sparks call time [Applause] here and your Breakers dance [Applause] Dance Crew Lon noise B the Sparks leading Now Sims pass to Jackson down low Ambi and the layup good off the glass the moment not scaring Hami a leader she takes pleasure in hitting the big shot now here's Harris she's covered by Sims darington with the ball clock at six boner outside pass to Jones and it's going to be a 24 second violation they'll turn it [Applause] over here's Sims watch her watch her inside stolen by Brianna Jones and here comes the break shot on the wing hambi grabs the Miss she can't get anything to drop and the way she's going it's probably not something to tryy to to shoot her way out of and I'm sure her teammates would agree with that you know the last thing they want to see you're doing is shooting it more now here's Jackson six to shoot Andi outside over Harris and a kind roll that time on the rim as that one Falls in awesome to see Zero hesitation from Hy there gets the pass gets the shot off points on the board now here's Harris she's guarded closely Thomas good d by dear Hami outside Clarendon pass to Hami Sims covered by Harris back to Hami yes great play by Odyssey Sims to set it up great feed by Sims with with her Court Vision she knows where all her teammates are Connecticut [Applause] trailing now here's Harris here's Thomas it's good oh and that cuts the lead to just five one thing that I'll always respect about Thomas is that when she steps on the court she has zero and I mean zero friends and it's because she wants to win by any means necessary Los Angeles number s and the Sparks with possession here so far in the fourth quarter they've allowed just six points and that's an intentional foul fou second team [Applause] foul she doesn't hit the first and that was one they really wanted she's got one more more though the Sparks making a switch [Applause] here and she does get the second one and that increases their lead to six and Connecticut has possession the clocks there their worst enemy now yeah they need to work very quickly to the inside it's stolen by hamy and so they choose to intentionally foul second TCH third two first free throw is good and that makes it a seven-point lead you can trust ER hamy to delivered allout effort on the floor she really puts in the work to make the most of her minutes and she can be a Difference Maker for this team and here is Thomas well this game's finally gotten away from them it has there's not really anything that can do [Applause] misses and close outside Clarendon and so the Sparks take the win a confident win and one where they clearly show the greater effort and they put on a show here at home I think they had it felt like they had the edge and that extra conf that'll do it for our broadcast everyone what makes this possible please drive home [Applause] safely for for