Connecticut Sun veteran Briann January smiled when asked about her willingness to defend, something that not every basketball player is willing to do.

Example: the Connecticut Sun had just taken a three-point lead over the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces late in Game 3 of their WNBA semifinal series Thursday night when January drew a charge against Jackie Young, who made a short jumper in the process.

“Just taking teams out of what they like to do, that has always gotten me excited,” January said.

January has been part of Connecticut’s identity change this season. It had built itself a reputation as one of the league’s most fast-paced and high-scoring teams with an emphasis on the three-ball during head coach Curt Miller’s first four seasons.

The seventh-seeded Sun haven’t had that same kind of offensive success this year and have instead relied on defense and rebounding to win games. It’s gotten them to the brink of their second straight WNBA Final as they lead their best-of-five semifinal series 2-1 with Game 4 on Sunday afternoon at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. (1, ESPN).

Miller has called Connecticut’s offensive “chunky” on more than one occasion this season, his way of describing the team’s inconsistent shooting.

It hasn’t been easy for Miller to watch at times because his teams have been known for their dynamic offenses going back to his days as a college coach.

Miller's offense was why two-time WNBA championship coach Brian Agler hired Miller as an assistant in 2015 when he was in charge of the Los Angeles Sparks. It was a big reason why the Sun hired Miller as their head coach in December, 2015.

Connecticut has been fourth or better in scoring the previous four years. The 3-point shot has been a big part of Miller’s offensive system and the Sun ranked third in 3-point shooting percentage last season (.356).

The Sun were second-to-last in 3-point shooting percentage (.312) this year. They were also 10th in field goal percentage (.427) and points per game (80.4).

“It’s been a challenge this year because, let’s face it, I’m where I’m at because I’ve got the reputation as an offensive-minded, efficient and productive offensive coach,” Miller said. “I haven’t always been able to push the right buttons for them and with them this year.”

Continuity had been a big part of Connecticut’s offensive success. It was built around a core group of five who played together for over three seasons.

Three of those players aren’t with the Sun (14-13) this season. Center Jonquel Jones, a 2019 All-WNBA second team pick, opted not to play this year due to concerns about the pandemic.

Shekinna Stricklen, one of the league’s top 3-point threats, signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Dream during the offseason.

Courtney Williams, who had been Connecticut’s best mid-range shooter, asked during the offseason to be traded to Atlanta to be closer to home.

The Sun added two veterans to their starting lineup by trading for DeWanna Bonner and January, both of whom have won WNBA titles.

The additions of Bonner and January gave Connecticut four starters who have been selcted to a WNBA All-Defensive team. January has been an All-Defensive pick six times — only six players in history have won more since the league began the award in 2005.

Bonner was a second-team selection in 2015. She was the league’s third-leading scorer this season (19.7 ppg).

Sun veteran Jasmine Thomas has been an All-Defensive pick the last four years. Fellow veteran Alyssa Thomas earned her second honor last year, too.

Connecticut had been a good defensive team in the past — it ranked fifth-or-better the past three years in defensive rating, an advanced metric. This Sun team has taken defense to another level during the playoffs.

“We knew that the changes that were happening were presenting us with a roster that could be really good defensively, but we might not be able to do some of the things offensively that we were doing the past couple of years,” Miller said. “The leaders, though, that returned, Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas, as great as players as they are, their accolades come on the defensive end.

“We’ve added pieces (Bonner and January) that are also really good defenders, so that mindset of your two leaders (the Thomases). … having more players that are like-minded to them was a real compliment to them.”

Connecticut closed Thursday’s 77-68 win with a 10-0 run. It forced a turnover on four of the Aces final five possessions.

“I love our fight right now,” Miller said. “I really embrace (defense) and now it’s our calling card; it’s what we sell. But it doesn’t make it any easier as an offensive-minded coach that I haven’t always been able to push the right buttons.”

n.griffen@theday.com