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Connecticut Sun Wiki Information

The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). 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, Washington. [1] Currently, the Sun is the only WNBA franchise (besides the defunct Miami Sol) to finish each season with fewer than 20 losses.

The Sun have qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in each of its six years in Connecticut. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as 7 foot 2 inch Margo Dydek, Indiana native Katie Douglas, University of Connecticut standouts Asjha Jones and Nykesha Sales, respected veteran forward Taj McWilliams-Franklin and 2008 MVP runner-up point guard Lindsay Whalen. In 2004 and 2005, the Sun went to the WNBA Finals but fell short to Seattle and Sacramento, respectively. [2] [3]

CONNECTICUT SUN TICKETS

Franchise history

The Orlando Miracle (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. [4] 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). [5] The Connecticut Sun's nickname, color scheme, and logo are very reminiscent of another defunct Florida-based franchise, the Miami Sol, which folded at the same time as the Orlando Miracle.

The Connecticut Sun (2003-Present)

Rebuilding in Connecticut (2003)

The team underwent a total overhaul. The Sun acquired former University of Connecticut star Rebecca Lobo. [6] 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, [7] 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. [8]

To the WNBA Finals (2004-2005)

Head coach Mike Thibault surprised many by trading all-star point guard Shannon Johnson for the 4th pick in the WNBA Draft. [9] With that pick the Sun selected Minnesota Golden Gophers star Lindsay Whalen amidst rumors they would trade her to the Minnesota Lynx. [10] However, she remained on the team as the Sun posted an 18-16 [11] record in an equally-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. [2]

In the 2005 off season, the Sun acquired 7'2" center Margo Dydek. [13] With a dominant post presence, the hungry Sun controlled the Eastern Conference, posting a 26-8 record, [14] the best regular season record for an Eastern Conference team in WNBA history. [15] 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. [3]

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. [17]

A Disappointing End and a New Battle (2006-2007)

In 2006, the Sun would match their 2005 record [18] 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 by the Detroit Shock, 2 games to 1, on the Sun's home floor. [19]

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, [20] 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. [21]

The 2007 season was the end of the Connecticut Sun that many fans had come to know.

Rebuilding, Part Two (2008-present)

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. [22] Following that monumental trade, Nykesha Sales announced she would sit out the 2008 season due to multiple nagging injuries. [23] 7'2" center Margo Dydek also took the season off due to her pregnancy. [24] 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. [25] 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. [26]

Exceeding many expectations during the 2008 rebuilding season, the Sun looked to come back even stronger in 2009. There was no reason to believe the Sun would 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 was held on July 25 at 3:30pm in the Mohegan Sun Arena. It was the second time the Sun had hosted the game. It was broadcast nationally on ABC (HD). [27] By the All-Star break, the Sun had surprised some with a mediocre start to the season. After the first four games, the Sun held a 1-3 record. Suddenly, the Sun found their rhythm and won 7 of their next 10 games. Halfway through the season, however, there was a three-way tie for second place which included the Sun, the Dream, and the Mystics.

Current home

The Connecticut Sun currently play in the Mohegan Sun Arena. The arena is located at Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. 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. [28]

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. [29]

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

Season Team Conference Regular season Playoff Results
W L PCT
Orlando Miracle
1999 1999 East 4th 15 17 .469

2000 2000 East 3rd 16 16 .500 Lost Conference Semifinals (Cleveland, 1–2)
2001 2001 East 5th 13 19 .406

2002 2002 East 5th 16 16 .500

Connecticut Sun
2003 2003 East 3rd 18 16 .529 Won Conference Semifinals (Charlotte, 2–0)
Lost Conference Finals (Detroit, 0–2)
2004 2004 East 1st 18 16 .529 Won Conference Semifinals (Washington, 2–1)
Won Conference Finals (New York, 2–0)
Lost WNBA Finals (Seattle, 1-2)
2005 2005 East 1st 26 8 .765 Won Conference Semifinals (Detroit, 2–0)
Won Conference Finals (Indiana, 2–0)
Lost WNBA Finals (Sacramento, 1-3)
2006 2006 East 1st 26 8 .765 Won Conference Semifinals (Washington, 2–0)
Lost Conference Finals (Detroit, 1–2)
2007 2007 East 3rd 18 16 .529 Lost Conference Semifinals (Indiana, 1–2)
2008 2008 East 2nd 21 13 .618 Lost Conference Semifinals (New York, 1-2)
2009 2009 East 3rd 14 12 .538 TBD
Regular season 188 146 .563 2 Conference Championships
Playoffs 18 16 .529 0 WNBA Championships


[30]

Players

Current roster

| | | | | | | | | | | | |

| [31]

Former players

  • Debbie Black 2003-2004, now an assistant coach at Ohio State University
  • Jamie Carey 2005-2008
  • Katie Douglas 2001-2007, now a member of the Indiana Fever
  • Margo Dydek 2005-2007
  • Shannon Johnson 1999-2003, now a member of the Seattle Storm
  • Rebecca Lobo 2003, now a sideline reporter for ESPN
  • Carla McGhee 1999-2002, now a Director of Player Personnel for the WNBA front office
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin 1999-2006, now a member of the Detroit Shock
  • Elaine Powell 1999-2002
  • Nykesha Sales 1999-2007
  • Le'Coe Willingham 2004-2007, now a member of the Phoenix Mercury
  • Brooke Wyckoff 2001-2005, now a member of the Chicago Sky
[32]

Coaches and staff

Head coaches

Connecticut Sun head coaches
Name Start End Seasons Regular season Playoffs
W L PCT G W L PCT G
Carolyn Peck July 6, 1998 April 3, 2002 4 44 52 .458 96 1 2 .333 3
Dee Brown April 5, 2002 End of 2002 1 16 16 .500 32 0 0 .000 0
Mike Thibault March 7, 2003 Incumbent 6 127 77 .623 204 17 14 .548 31


General managers

  • Carolyn Peck (1998-2001)
  • Dee Brown (2002)
  • Chris Sienko (2003-present)

Assistant coaches

  • Rick Stukes (1999-2000)
  • Charlene Thomas-Swinson (1999-2001)
  • Michael Peck (2001)
  • Vonn Read (2002)
  • Valerie Still (2002)
  • Bernadette Mattox (2003-present)
  • Scott Hawk (2003-present)

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. [33]

All games that are broadcast on local television (be it WCTX or the opponent's station) are available for live online viewing from . [34]

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. [35]

All-time notes

Regular season attendance

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