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Sun sweep Sparks, advance to 1st WNBA Finals since 2005

Andrew D. Bernstein / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Connecticut Sun are headed to the 2019 WNBA Finals after sweeping the Los Angeles Sparks 3-0, taking the clincher 78-56.

Veteran guard Jasmine Thomas led the way for Connecticut, finishing with 29 points on 11-of-14 shooting - one point off her career high.

Thomas' backcourt mate Courtney Williams played much bigger than her 5-foot-8, 135-pound frame, tallying a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double. The effort from the Sun guards helped offset a down night from the team's regular-season leading scorer and rebounder Jonquel Jones; The two-time All-Star finished with four points and eight boards in 28 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Sparks struggled throughout the game to string together successful possessions. Only Nneka Ogwumike finished in double-digits (17 points) while the rest of the team shot a combined 16-of-60 (26.7%) from the field.

Most shockingly, five-time All-Star Candace Parker logged just 11 minutes total in the affair, leading to questions about the future Hall of Famer's health as well as the decision-making of Sparks coach Derek Fisher:

In any case, the Sun are Finals bound. This will be the team's first Finals appearance since making back-to-back trips in 2004 and 2005. Connecticut has never won a championship.

The Sun await the conclusion of the other semifinal series to find out which team stands between them and the title. Led by 2019 MVP Elena Delle Donne, the Washington Mystics currently hold a 2-1 series edge over the Las Vegas Aces.

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