Expectations were tempered for a Connecticut Sun team which has incrementally improved from winning 10 games in 2013, to 13 games in 2014 to 15 games last season. After starting out 3-13 and trading away All-Star Kelsey Bone it appeared likely that this would be the fourth straight year they went without making the Playoffs.

Since that 3-13 start they have looked like a completely different team, posting a 7-4 record in their past eleven games and having won four of out their last five as well as two out of three since the Olympic break. During this stretch they have a 5.1 overall net rating – 104.8 on offense and 99.7 on defense.

What has changed for the Sun to turn their season around?

Team chemistry and a young team gelling at the right time appears to be the answer. 2014 WNBA Rookie of The Year, Chiney Ogwumike, has found her form after missing all of last season due to microfracture surgery on her knee. She has seen her scoring averages increase every month of the season from 5.8 in May, to 9.4 in June, to 16.3 in July, to 17 in August. Ogwumike has also been remarkably efficient from the field as she has found her groove and is shooting 61% in the Sun’s last 10 games, filling up the stat sheet with about 17 points, 8 rebounds and close to 2 steals and 2 blocks per game. At just 24 years old, Chiney has a bright future as the leader of the Sun.

[wnba_video id=”35982″]

The core of Connecticut is all very young, with four players averaging double figures who are all 26 years old or younger. 25-year old guard Alex Bentley has been their most consistent scorer and she averages 15.6 points per game on 44.4% from the field and 47.4% from three-point range in their wins, as opposed to 12.5 points on 37.1% from the field and 24.2% from deep in their losses. Forward Alyssa Thomas is 24 years old and has seen her scoring jump from 8.8 points per game on 41.1% shootig to 11.1 points per game on 46.8% shooting. The third overall pick in the Draft, 22-year old rookie Morgan Tuck has been solid in her rookie campaign, scoring 7 points per game and grabbing almost three rebounds in under 17 minutes per game. Jasmine Thomas, a seasoned veteran by comparison at 26 years old, is anchoring the offense and ranks fourth in the league in assists at 4.9 per game.

This young team had no players in the Rio Olympics and the month off has given them extra practice time to further improve their burgeoning chemistry. At 10-17, they sit only one game behind the Storm for the 8th playoff spot with seven games remaining. Stay tuned for how this young team responds in their final seven games, with each win becoming more essential as the season comes to a close.