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Connecticut Sun
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The Connecticut Sun is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Uncasville, Connecticut. The team was founded before the 2003 WNBA season began. The Sun was the first WNBA franchise not to be owned by an NBA owner; the team is owned by the Mohegan Indian tribe. From 1999 to 2002, the team was known as the Orlando Miracle, playing in Orlando, Florida. Capitalizing on the popularity of women's basketball in Connecticut as a result of the success of the UConn Huskies, the Sun had the distinction of being the only WNBA team not to share its market with an NBA team from 2003 until the Seattle Supersonics moved, leaving the Storm alone in Seattle.
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Encyclopedia
The Connecticut Sun is a Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) team based in Uncasville, Connecticut. The team was founded before the 2003 WNBA season began. The Sun was the first WNBA franchise not to be owned by an NBA owner; the team is owned by the Mohegan Indian tribe. From 1999 to 2002, the team was known as the Orlando Miracle, playing in Orlando, Florida. Capitalizing on the popularity of women's basketball in Connecticut as a result of the success of the UConn Huskies, the Sun had the distinction of being the only WNBA team not to share its market with an NBA team from 2003 until the Seattle Supersonics moved, leaving the Storm alone in Seattle. Currently, the Sun is the only WNBA franchise (besides the defunct Miami Sol) to finish each season with fewer than 20 losses.
Franchise History
The Orlando Miracle Years (1999-2002)
Before the franchise relocated to Connecticut in 2003, the team was known as the Orlando Miracle. The Miracle played their games at TD Waterhouse Centre (Orlando, Florida) as the sister team of the Orlando Magic. After the 2002 WNBA season, the NBA sold off all of the WNBA franchises to the operators of the teams. Orlando Magic ownership was not interested in keeping the Miracle. No local ownership was found, so on January 28, 2003, the Miracle were bought by the Mohegan Native American Tribe, and it was announced that the Miracle would move immediately to Uncasville, Connecticut and change their nickname to the Sun (in reference to the Mohegan Sun casino owned by the tribe).
The Connecticut Sun (2003-Present)
The First Year in Connecticut (2003)
The team underwent a total overhaul. The Sun acquired former University of Connecticut star Rebecca Lobo. They lost their first game in Connecticut, 82 to 73, to the 2002 WNBA champion, the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sun's first win was against the Comets in Houston, 91 to 83. The Sun had a stellar season, posting an 18-16 record, which was good enough to make the playoffs. In the first round, the Sun won their first playoff series in franchise history (including years in Orlando), sweeping the Charlotte Sting 2-0. But, in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sun were swept by the Detroit Shock, who were on their way to winning a championship.
Rebuilding (2004)
Head coach Mike Thibault surprised many by trading all-star point guard Shannon Johnson for the 4th pick in the WNBA Draft. With that pick the Sun selected Minnesota Golden Gophers star Lindsay Whalen amidst rumors they would trade her to the Minnesota Lynx. However, she remained on the team as the Sun posted an 18-16 record in an evenly-talented Eastern Conference, winning the #1 seed. In the first round, the Sun defeated the Washington Mystics 2-1. In the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sun rolled on, sweeping the New York Liberty. The Sun had made it to the WNBA Finals in their second season of existence. In the Finals, their run would end, as they lost a hard-fought three-game series, 2-1, to the Seattle Storm.
Return to the Finals (2005)
In the 2005 off season, the Sun acquired 7'2" center Margo Dydek. With a dominant post presence, the hungry Sun controlled the Eastern Conference, posting a 26-8 record, the best regular season record for an Eastern Conference team in WNBA history. In the playoffs, the Sun flew to the finals, sweeping the Detroit Shock and the Indiana Fever. In the 2005 WNBA Finals, the Sun were matched up against an equally dominant Sacramento Monarchs team. Also against the Sun's luck, Lindsay Whalen played through the series with injuries. The Sun had home-court advantage, but it was of no use; the Sun lost the Finals for the second straight year, 3 games to 1, in the first WNBA Finals played in a best-of-five format.
The success of the franchise was rewarded in 2005, when the Sun were selected to host the annual WNBA All-Star Game. The All-Star game was arguably the most exciting in WNBA history with the two teams combining for 221 points. At the end of the game, Lisa Leslie became the first woman to ever dunk in an All-Star Game.
A Disappointing End (2006)
In 2006, the Sun would match their 2005 record and it looked like a return trip to the Finals was certain. Mike Thibault received the WNBA Coach of the Year Award, and it appeared as if no team could stop the Sun. All five starters were named to the WNBA Eastern Conference All-Star team: Katie Douglas, Margo Dydek, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales, and Lindsay Whalen. This feat had never before been achieved in WNBA history. In the playoffs, the Sun would quickly sweep the Washington Mystics. But in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sun were upset their biggest rival, the Detroit Shock, 2 games to 1, on the Sun's home floor. The magnificent season was ended all too early.
The Sun Sets (2007)
The Sun stumbled out of the gate in 2007, posting a dismal 5-10 record by late June. However, the Sun stormed back into playoff contention by winning 11 of their next 13 games, to finish the regular-season at 18-16, good enough to win the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Sun faced the Indiana Fever in the first round. The Sun came into the series having won all four regular-season contests against the Fever. In Game 1, despite holding a 17-point lead in the third quarter, the Sun allowed the Fever to force the first triple-overtime game in WNBA playoff history, ending with a 93-88 victory for the Sun. However, the Fever would respond by winning the next two games and therefore the series, including a playoff record 22-point come-from-behind win in Game 3.
The 2007 season was the end of the Connecticut Sun that many fans had come to know.
Rebuilding, Part Two (2008)
The front office knew something had to be done to save the team from another disappointing finish. During the 2007-08 off-season, the Connecticut Sun made major changes to their roster in an effort to win that ever-elusive championship title. The Sun made three trades, one sending Katie Douglas, the face of the franchise, to the Indiana Fever. In return, the Sun received Tamika Whitmore who would surely create a physical presence in the paint, something that the Sun had been lacking in previous years. Following that monumental trade, Nykesha Sales announced she would sit out the 2008 season due to multiple nagging injuries. 7'2" center Margo Dydek also took the season off due to her pregnancy. With three former starters missing from the Sun lineup, most sports critics and publications predicted the team to finish fourth in the East. Some even claimed the Sun would finish sixth, only ahead of the expansion Atlanta Dream.
Contrary to these predictions, the Sun started the season with an outstanding 8-1 record. Soon, however, the team found itself in a disappointing slump. The Sun went on a five-game losing streak, the worst ever for a team under Mike Thibault. The team finished the regular season with a 21-13 record which placed them second in the Eastern Conference, only one game out of first place. In the playoffs, the Sun's youth and inexperience caught up to them; the New York Liberty won game three on the Sun's home floor and for the second straight year, the Sun failed to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
A New Look (2009)
Exceeding many expectations during the 2008 rebuilding season, the Sun are looking to come back even stronger in 2009. There is no reason to believe the Sun will not contend for playoff position. During the first six seasons the team has been in Connecticut, the Sun have tied the highest winning record of any team in the WNBA during that time period, posting a record of 127-77, translating into a winning percentage of .623. The Detroit Shock has the same exact record for those six years. That success has reflected itself in the team's attendance, which has surged from 6,025 in 2003 to 7,644 in 2008.
The 2009 WNBA All-Star Game will be held on July 25 at 3:30pm in the Mohegan Sun Arena. This will be the second time the Sun have hosted the game. It will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
Current Home
The Connecticut Sun currently play in the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Arena is located at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The Arena has been recognized as one of the best sports and entertainment venues in the country. Compared to other arenas played at by teams in the WNBA, Mohegan Sun Arena is small. The maximum capacity in the entire arena (lower and upper levels) for a basketball game is 9,518. The Arena is known for its brightness and excellent acoustics.
The Mohegan Sun Arena is located in the middle of the mall area of the Mohegan Sun Casino. Due to this placement, Sun fans take advantage of the restaurants and shops in the casino before and after games. Frequently, Sun and opposing players can be found eating in restaurants after games. Opposing teams stay in the hotel at the casino and are often seen walking from the arena to the lobby.
All members of the Sun organization are considered employees of the casino and as such are unable to partake in any of the games of chance offered there.
Uniforms
- 2008 - Present: For home games, white with word "Connecticut" printed vertically on the sides and Sun logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with word "Sun" printed vertically on the sides and gold "Connecticut" text on the chest. The Sun logo is on the shorts.
- 2007: For home games, white with images of basic suns on the sides and Sun logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with images of basic suns on the sides and gold Sun logo text on the chest. The Sun logo is on the shorts.
- 2004 - 2006: For home games, white with sun red on the sides and red Sun logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with sun red with gold trim on the sides and gold Sun logo text on the chest. The Sun logo is on the shorts.
- 2003: For home games, white with sun red on the sides and red Sun logo text on the chest. For away games, pure red with gold trim on the sides and gold Sun logo text on the chest. The Sun logo is on the shorts.
- 1999 - 2002: For home games, white with blue on the sides and shoulders and white Miracle logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with white on the sides and white Miracle logo text on the chest. The Miracle logo is on the shorts.
Season-by-season records
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|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#4682B4" | Orlando Miracle
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|1999 || 15 || 17 || .469 || ||
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|2000 || 16 || 16 || .500 || Lost First Round || Cleveland 2, Orlando 1
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|2001 || 13 || 19 || .406 || ||
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|2002 || 16 || 16 || .500 || ||
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|colspan="6" align=center bgcolor="#000066" | Connecticut Sun
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|2003 || 18 || 16 || .529 || Won First Round
Lost Conference Finals || Connecticut 2, Charlotte 0
Detroit 2, Connecticut 0
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|2004 || 18 || 16 || .529 || Won First Round
Won Conference Finals
Lost WNBA Finals || Connecticut 2, Washington 1
Connecticut 2, New York 0
Seattle 2, Connecticut 1
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|2005 || 26 || 8 || .765 || Won First Round
Won Conference Finals
Lost WNBA Finals || Connecticut 2, Detroit 0
Connecticut 2, Indiana 0
Sacramento 3, Connecticut 1
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|2006 || 26 || 8 || .765 || Won First Round
Lost Conference Finals || Connecticut 2, Washington 0
Detroit 2, Connecticut 1
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|2007 || 18 || 16 || .529 || Lost First Round || Indiana 2, Connecticut 1
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|2008 || 21 || 13 || .618 || Lost First Round || New York 2, Connecticut 1
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|2009 || 0 || 0 || .000 || ||
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|Totals || 187 || 145 || .563 || ||
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|Playoffs || 18 || 16 || .529 || ||
Stats updated September 22 2008
Players
Current Roster
Former Players
Coaches
Head Coaches
| Connecticut Sun head coaches |
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Assistant Coaches
Media coverage
Currently, select Connecticut Sun games are broadcast on WCTX (MyTV9). More often than not, NBA TV will pick up the feed from the local broadcast. These games are shown nationally (via NBA TV). Broadcasters for Connecticut Sun games on WCTX include: Bob Heussler, Mike Gorman, Rebecca Lobo, Leah Secondo, and Kara Wolters. The Connecticut Sun have reached a multi-year agreement with WCTX.
All games that are broadcast on local television (be it WCTX or the opponent's station) are available for live online viewing from .
Home game radio broadcasts are done by Bob Heussler on WMOS (The Wolf, 102.3).
Some games are also broadcast nationally on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. The WNBA has reached an eight year agreement with ESPN which will pay rights fees to the Sun and the other teams in the league.
All-Time Notes
Franchise Leaders
- Games Played: Nykesha Sales (278)
- Consecutive Games Played: Nykesha Sales (248, 6/10/99-7/6/06)
- Minutes: Nykesha Sales (8,762)
- Minutes Per Game: Shannon Johnson (34.0)
- Points: Nykesha Sales (3,955)
- Points Per Game: Nykesha Sales (14.3)
- Consecutive Games Scoring: Taj McWilliams Franklin (243, 6/10/99-8/13/06)
- Field Goal % (minimum 100): Margo Dydek (462-1,032: .503)
- Three Point % (minimum 50): Jamie Carey (84-207: .406)
- Free Throw % (minimum 100): Lindsay Whalen (576-717: .803)
- Rebounds: Taj McWilliams-Franklin (1,814)
- Rebounds Per Game: Taj McWilliams-Franklin (7.5)
- Assists: Shannon Johnson (737)
- Assists Per Game: Lindsay Whalen (5.0)
- Steals: Nykesha Sales (490)
- Steals Per Game: Nykesha Sales (1.76)
- Blocks: Taj McWilliams-Franklin (267)
- Blocks Per Game: Margo Dydek (2.26)
- Personal Fouls: Nykesha Sales (798)
- Turnovers: Nykesha Sales (578)
Draft Picks
Current WNBA players are in italics.
- 1999 Expansion Draft: Andrea Congreaves (2), Kisha Ford (4), Yolanda Moore (6), Adrienne Johnson (8)
- 1999 WNBA Draft: Tari Phillips (8), Sheri Sam (20), Taj McWilliams-Franklin (32), Carla McGhee (44), Elaine Powell (50)
- 2000 WNBA Draft: Cintia dos Santos (4), Jannon Roland (20), Shawnetta Stewart (36), Romona Hanzova (52)
- 2001 WNBA Draft: Katie Douglas (10), Brooke Wyckoff (26), Jaclyn Johnson (42), Anne Thorius (58)
- 2002 WNBA Draft: Davalyn Cunningham (23), Saundra Jackson (39), Tomeka Brown (55)
- 2003 Dispersal Draft: Debbie Black (6)
- 2003 WNBA Draft: Courtney Coleman (13), Lindsey Wilson (34)
- 2004 WNBA Draft: Lindsay Whalen (4), Jessica Brungo (16), Ugo Oha (24), Candace Futrell (29)
- 2005 WNBA Draft: Katie Feenstra (8), Erin Phillips (21), Megan Mahoney (34)
- 2006 WNBA Draft: Debbie Merrill (28), Marita Payne (42)
- 2007 WNBA Draft: Kamesha Hairston (12), Sandrine Gruda (13), Cori Chambers (26), Kiera Hardy (39)
- 2008 WNBA Draft: Amber Holt (9), Ketia Swanier (12), Jolene Anderson (23), Lauren Ervin (37)
Trades
- April 18, 2002: The Miracle acquire Clarisse Machanguana from the Charlotte Sting for the Miracle's first-round pick in the 2002 WNBA Draft.
- July 8, 2002: The Miracle acquire Wendy Palmer from the Detroit Shock for Elaine Powell.
- February 14, 2003: The Sun acquire Rebecca Lobo from the Houston Comets for the Sun's second round pick in the 2003 WNBA Draft.
- January 6, 2004: The Sun trade four-time WNBA All Star point guard Shannon Johnson along with their second- and third-round picks in the 2004 WNBA Draft to the San Antonio Silver Stars for the Stars' first-, second-, and third-round picks. The Sun used the 4th pick to select Lindsay Whalen.
- March 25, 2004: The Sun acquire Asjha Jones from the Washington Mystics for the eighth pick in the 2004 WNBA Draft in a three-way trade that also involves the Phoenix Mercury.
- April 16, 2005: The Sun acquire Margo Dydek from the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for Katie Feenstra and the Sun's first-round pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft.
- February 21, 2007: The Sun trade five-time All Star Taj McWilliams-Franklin to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Erika DeSouza and the Sparks' first-round pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft.
- February 19, 2008: The Sun trade Katie Douglas to the Indiana Fever for Tamika Whitmore, the rights to guard Jessica Foley and the Fever's first-round pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft.
- March 6, 2008: The Sun trade Megan Mahoney to the Houston Comets for Barbara Turner.
- March 14, 2008: The Sun trade Kristen Rasmussen to the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Tamika Raymond as well as the option to trade second-round picks in the 2009 WNBA Draft.
All-Stars
- 1999: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Shannon Johnson, Nykesha Sales
- 2000: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Shannon Johnson, Nykesha Sales
- 2001: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales
- 2002: Shannon Johnson, Nykesha Sales
- 2003: Shannon Johnson, Nykesha Sales
- 2004: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales, Lindsay Whalen
- 2005: Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales
- 2006: Katie Douglas, Margo Dydek, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales, Lindsay Whalen
- 2007: Katie Douglas, Asjha Jones
- 2008: No All-Star Game
Honors and Awards
- 2004 Most Improved Player: Wendy Palmer-Daniel
- 2005 All-Defensive First Team Member: Katie Douglas
- 2006 All-Star Game MVP: Katie Douglas
- 2006 Coach of the Year: Mike Thibault
- 2006 All-Defensive First Team Member: Katie Douglas
- 2007 All-Defensive First Team Member: Katie Douglas
- 2008 Coach of the Year: Mike Thibault
- 2008 Peak Performer (Assists): Lindsay Whalen
- 2008 All-WNBA First Team Member: Lindsay Whalen
- 2008 All-WNBA Second Team Member: Asjha Jones
- 2008 All-Rookie Team Member: Amber Holt
Attendance
A sellout for a basketball game at Mohegan Sun Arena (upper level and lower level) is 9,518.
| Year | Average Per Sun Home Game | High | Low | Total for Year | WNBA Game Average | | 2003 | 6,025 | sellout | 4,038 | 102,433 | 8,826 | | 2004 | 6,635 | sellout | 3,846 | 112,803 | 8,589 | | 2005 | 7,173 | sellout | 5,596 | 121,944 | 8,172 | | 2006 | 7,380 | sellout | 6,019 | 125,467 | 7,476 | | 2007 | 7,970 | sellout | 6,154 | 135,490 | 7,739 | | 2008 | 7,644 | sellout | 5,245 | 129,951 | 7,948 | | 2009 | | | | | |
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