Mohegan — Nobody knows how this season ends for the Connecticut Sun. It's been a fun start, Tuesday's night's loss to Indiana notwithstanding. But whether they're really, truly any good, well, that's why they play the games.

This much we know, however: We have the privilege of watching an emerging post player in the WNBA, an evolving, back-to-the-basket enforcer who might have fit well with the old Philadelphia Flyers. Indeed, Kelsey Bone grinned at what she heard over the public address system Tuesday night when sound engineer Mike O'Farrell played "Bad To The Bone."

The question: Was she too bad Tuesday night?

Bone was called for a "Flagrant 2" foul late in the fourth period, ultimately hijacking the Sun's rally from 23 points down. Bone hit Indiana's Natalie Achonwa with an elbow just as Alex Bentley's 3-pointer brought the Sun, once down 74-51, within three in the final minute.

The question now becomes whether the league suspends Bone, perhaps for Thursday night's game with Chicago at Mohegan Sun Arena. League officials will review the play, although it is unclear when the ruling will happen. The league describes a "Flagrant 2" as "unnecessary and excessive," an "unsportsmanlike act" that results in ejection. The offender is subject to a fine and/or suspension by league president Laurel Ritchie.

"The play before was a little physical. She was trying to post me up and clearly she didn't agree with something that happened there," Achonwa said. "Long story short, I just got elbowed to the back of the head. Like the refs determined, there was intention. She clearly hit me in the head."

Bone: "I saw the shot go up. I was on the weakside corner and to be honest, I went in for a rebound. I didn't extend my elbow. I know that I hit her above the shoulder, but it was not intentional. If the ball came out (of the basket), I was trying to get the rebound. I understand the rule. I get it. It was above the shoulder, but it was not intentional. I know my strength. And I know if that had been intentional, it would have been a lot different. I wasn't trying to intentionally hit her."

Bone, who finished with 21 points, was instrumental in the Sun's rally, particularly in the fourth period.

"I was in a groove. I was trying to win a basketball game," she said. "The basket was like an ocean for me at that point. I wasn't flustered. But I do think, for me, it wasn't intentional."

Achonwa, who remained in the game and made the ensuing free throws, wasn't exactly calling for a suspension after the game.

"The league does a great job analyzing and reevaluating those things," she said. "I mean, it was a physical play before that. I know emotions were high and it was a close game. An in-the-moment thing. I do think the refs made a good call in the heat of the moment."

Meanwhile, Bone is a fascinating study. She dropped the word "dichotomy" among her first interviews last year with the media. So much for stereotypical enforcers talking in grunts. Bone's mom is a former English teacher.

"We always had to have subject-verb agreement in my house," Bone said. "I am totally an English/history reader. It was always instilled in us. We almost had to like reading the dictionary. I've been practicing SAT words since I was about eight."

And yet this is one of the Sun's toughest players. Some in the league call her dirty. Whatever. Nobody's traipsing through the lane anymore.

"All successful teams have that. I have no problem being the villain," Bone said. "I've pretty much been the villain my whole life. It's not something I can shake. My last name is Bone. It kind of comes with the territory. One thing I can say: That play was not intentional. I do relish that role, but I know how important I am to my team."

And so does Sun coach Anne Donovan.

"She's a (third)-year player, so she's still a very young player in this league," Donovan said. "I'm not going to fault her for playing that hard. Like I said, it's untimely, but I want somebody that goes to battle, and to battle in the post against Indiana which is extremely physical, that's the kind of fight I want. And she hasn't made mistakes like that very often, so, again, I'm not going to get her on her for that. I appreciate the effort and the real battle mentality to get that win."

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.

Twitter: @BCgenius