Mohegan — Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller made it a point to mention “two special women” following Thursday night’s 88-83 nail-biting win over the Seattle Storm.

The first was Seattle’s Sue Bird, who many in a sellout crowd of 9,137 at Mohegan Sun showed up to see in what may have been her last game in Connecticut.

The other was his mother, Bev Miller, who is close to passing.

“I don’t know how many days or hours she has left but she raised me right,” Miller said. “I get my fight and competitiveness from her.”

Connecticut showed that fight in the final 2 minutes, 55 seconds as it shut down a star-studded team featuring four former No. 1 picks, all members of the 2020 USA Basketball gold medal-winning team.

Natisha Hiedeman made a go-ahead three to give the Sun an 86-83 lead with 2:42 left in the game.

The Storm finished shooting 48.4% but ended the game by turning it over three times and missing their final three shots.

“We were gritty and tough down the stretch defensively when a few of our opportunities to have a backbreaking offensive possession didn’t materialize,” Miller said.

The Sun (20-9) swept the three-game season series and clinched their sixth straight playoff berth with the win.

Alyssa Thomas had 19 points, 11 assists and five rebounds for Connecticut.

“(The mental toughness) starts with our leader,” Connecticut’s DeWanna Bonner said, looking at Thomas. “She’s the definition of tough. Bri Jones is the definition of tough. So we kind of just (follow) them. When we’re not playing tough, those two kind of get on us a little bit and just pick it up.”

Jones had 13 points and five rebounds for the Sun and Bonner had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Courtney Williams added 12 points and five rebounds and DiJonai Carrington scored 11.

Bird had 14 points and seven assists for Seattle (18-11). She announced last month that this was her final season.

Tina Charles had 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Storm and Gabby Williams had 16 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.

Connecticut had to absorb a hot start by Seattle. Bird got the crowd rocking early as she made a three 26 seconds in for the game’s first points.

The Storm made six of its first seven shots to start the game, including four threes, to go ahead 18-8 with 5:14 left in the quarter.

Connecticut began to settle in with Carrington giving it a boost off the bench by starting a 13-3 run to end the first half. She turned a layup into a three-point play and made two free throws moments later after getting Stewart to pick up her third foul, sending her to the bench with 2:42 remaining in the half, as the Sun cut their deficit to 37-36.

Jewell Loyd made a three off a screen on the other end for Seattle. Alyssa Thomas responded a layup, stole the ball from Bird at halfcourt and made another layup and made a 16-foot jumper to give Connecticut its first lead, 42-40, with 45.3 seconds left in the first half.

“We weathered an early shooting barrage by Seattle, and I think that gave us the confidence in the first half,” Miller said.

Connecticut led 79-70 with 8 minutes left in the game but Stewart helped the Storm rally. She made a layup and a three on successive possessions to tie the game at 79 with 5:56 remaining.

Jones put Connecticut back ahead, 83-79, with a putback and later two free throws with 4:15 left.

Stewart’s 8-foot turnaround jumper and a steal and layup by Williams tied the game at 83 with 2:55 left. Seattle wouldn’t score again.

“We pride ourselves on playing tough and I think we play that way no matter what,” Bonner said.

n.griffen@theday.com