ST. PAUL-All five Connecticut starters scored in double figures as the Sun beat Minnesota 98-93 to hand the Lynx their loss of the season Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.
The Lynx fell to 9-1, but still sit atop the league standings, two games ahead of Los Angeles and Washington.
Connecticut started the season 0-4, but now has won four straight to even its record at 5-5.
Alyssa Thomas scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out eight assists to lead the Sun.
Trailing 96-88 after an Alyssa Thomas layup at the 1:35 mark, the Lynx, behind five straight points from Maya Moore, closed the gap to 96-93 with 21 seconds left.
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Minnesota fouled Jasmine Thomas, a 74 percent free-throw shooter. The strategy worked as Thomas missed both free throws.
The Lynx called a timeout and drew up a play for Moore, who took the ball out of bounds, got the ball back and fired up a 24-foot, 3-point attempt that fell short.
Jonquel Jones was fouled and calmly sank a pair of free throws with six seconds left to give the Sun the road win and send the Lynx to defeat.
Jasmine Thomas also scored 20 points and had six rebounds and six assists for the Sun. Jones delivered 16 points.
All five Lynx starters also scored in double figures. Moore led the way with 22 points.
Lyndsey Whalen (15 points) scored 10 third-quarter points as the Lynx opened up an eight-point lead and looked ready to waltz to their 10th win. But an 11-3 run sparked by Jasmine Thomas put the Sun back up.
There were 10 lead changes alone in the third quarter.
Connecticut pushed the pace in the first half and were lucky to be down by only two at halftime. The Sun committed 11 first-half turnovers and the Lynx recorded nine steals.
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The Sun also held a 19-11 first-half advantage on the boards.
Renee Montgomery provided a spark off the bench and led the Lynx with 13 first-half points. She finished with 17 points.
