Mohegan — So many odd things happened before the Connecticut Sun took the lead Sunday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena, it seemed as if it might not happen at all.

Down one with 10.2 seconds to play in the third quarter, for instance, Alyssa Thomas was charged with an offensive foul just as Ty Harris splashed what would have been her second consecutive 3-point field goal.

Then, to start the fourth quarter, a foul was called on the Sun’s Olivia Nelson-Ododa. Connecticut challenged the call, which was upheld, although the foul was changed from Nelson-Ododa to being the fourth on starting center Brionna Jones.

Finally, the Sun, who moved to 2-0 after an 80-74 victory over the Washington Mystics before 7,048 fans at Mohegan Sun, caught fire.

“They’re a very good team. They’ve been playing together for a very long time,” Sun forward DeWanna Bonner said, crediting the Mystics, who led by as many as 12. “They’re really tough on defense. They play well together.

“But I believe in our team so much. We also have been together for a long time. We know what type of team we are. It definitely took a while for us to get the lead. But it doesn’t matter if we’re down 20 or 1, I still believe in everything we do, so I knew it was coming on. No way we were losing this home opener.”

Bonner finished with 21 points and Thomas and Jones each registered double-doubles as Connecticut outscored the Mystics 10-2 to start the decisive fourth quarter.

Thomas had 14 points, 16 rebounds, six assists and three steals and Jones 15 points and 10 rebounds as the Sun celebrated the career of Connecticut great Taj McWilliams-Franklin, whose No. 11 was retired in an emotional postgame ceremony.

The Sun went 14-for-18 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter while forcing the Mystics to 6 of 18 shooting from the floor (33.3%). Connecticut outrebounded Washington 15-9 in the fourth quarter, including seven from Jones, the Sun’s 6-foot-3 center.

Jones gave the Sun the lead for good at 59-58 on an offensive rebound and they led by as many as seven on a 3-pointer by Rebecca Allen that made it 67-60.

“I’m just really proud of our group. They’re tough. They understand how to make winning plays,” Sun first-year head coach Stephanie White said. “Whether that’s on the defensive end getting a big stop, getting a critical rebound, getting a big score and just finding ways to win ballgames.

“I thought they responded really well when Washington came out and knocked us in the mouth early. ... Just give a ton of credit to our players for continuing to battle and make winning plays and find ways to grit out wins.”

Shakira Austin, Washington’s second-year center, had 21 points and 11 rebounds and six-time all-star Elena Delle Donne had 19 points and 11 rebounds.

The Mystics (1-1) are coached by Eric Thibault, an East Lyme High School graduate, taking over this season for his father Mike Thibault, the WNBA’s all-time wins leader and the former Sun coach.

Delle Donne scored eight points in the first quarter, with the Mystics opening a 24-14 lead, at which time the Sun were shooting 5-for-19 (26.3%).

Delle Donne’s basket to start the second quarter gave the Mystics a 12-point advantage but the Sun edged their way back, with Bonner scoring back-to-back baskets — first on a step-through, then on a length-of-the-court pass from Thomas — to pull Connecticut within 31-30.

The Mystics led 38-34 at halftime and 58-57 after three quarters.

The teams face each other again Tuesday, with Connecticut traveling to Washington for a 7 p.m. start.

Eric Thibault, meanwhile, who won his first career game Friday night at home against the New York Liberty, said having served as his father’s assistant coach on previous trips to play at Connecticut — including the 2019 WNBA Finals — took away some of the emotion he might have otherwise had coaching at the arena where he practically grew up.

“It’s nice to see people I used to know when we were here,” Thibault said before the game. “It doesn’t feel like home that much anymore in terms of we stayed at the hotel, we haven’t left the casino since we got here.

“We played here so many times now as the road team, some of that stuff went away. It’s more of just, we saw (former Sun great) Lindsay Whalen last night and we got Taj getting the postgame ceremony today. There are some memories of that team, for sure.”

v.fulkerson@theday.com