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Haley Jones · Battling exhaustion after surviving overtime on Thursday night, an early flight on Friday morning, and a four-games-in-seven-days stretch beforehand, the Connecticut Sun were wise to wonder how effectively they’d pivot into a quick turnaround with the Atlanta Dream arriving just hours later. In keeping the tempo pushed in her aggressive style, Haley Jones provided the WNBA’s stingiest defense with a different kind of turnaround pivot to worry about. Surveying Connecticut’s transition defense for any sort of gap in the second quarter, the former All-American penetrates into the heart of the paint before promptly pumping the brakes and adjusting into a smooth, fallaway and-one over DeWanna Bonner’s frame. Somewhat of a go-to shot type for Jones, the second-year floor general used craft and assertiveness to toss in eight points (on three-of-five shooting), six rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one clutch 3-pointer. Jones’ contributions proved paramount in a game that witnessed 16 lead changes, as the rested Dream dealt Connecticut a rare home loss on June 28, 2024. · State of Mint