The 2024 Connecticut Sun season was the 26th season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was the 22nd season for the franchise in Connecticut after relocating from Orlando. After both the Phoenix Mercury and Seattle Storm missed the playoffs for the first time since 2012 and 2015 respectively, the Sun entered the season with the longest active playoffs streak for the WNBA, making the playoffs every year since 2017. The Regular season tipped off on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at home versus the Indiana Fever.[1]
The Sun started the season on a scorching hot streak as they won seven straight games in May to finish the month 7–0. The winning streak included a four-point win over Indiana, a one-point overtime victory over Minnesota and a four-point win over Chicago. The winning streak continued into June as the Sun won their first two games in that month. Their first loss of the season did not come until June 8, when they lost to New York. The Sun won four straight games after that loss. However, they experienced their first rough patch of the season to end June, losing three out of their last four games of the month. Their only win in that stretch came in overtime against Washington. They finished June 7–4. They won the first three games of July before losing to New York. They would defeat Phoenix by twenty-seven points before losing again to New York to enter the Olympic break. They finished July 4–2 and were 18–6 before the Olympic break. The Sun defeated Dallas in the first game back from the break before losing to Atlanta. They would win their next three games, including their first win against New York this season. They lost to Indiana and defeated Washington to finish August 5–2. The win against New York secured the Sun their playoff berth on August 24. The Sun split two games with Seattle to begin September. They lost to Las Vegas before winning three straight games. In their final three games, they lost to Las Vegas and Minnesota before defeating Chicago in the final game of the season. They finished September 5–4 and the season with a 28–12 record. Their twenty-eight wins were the most in franchise history.
The Sun finished in third place overall and were the third seed in the 2024 WNBA Playoffs. They earned home-court advantage against the sixth seed Indiana in the First Round. They dominated game one of the series, winning 93–69. Game two was closer, but the Sun prevailed 87–81 to win the series two games to zero. They advanced to the Semifinals where they faced Minnesota. The Sun won game one in Minnesota 73–70. They would lose games two and three 70–74 and 81–90 respectively to come within one game of elimination. The Sun won game four at home 92–82 to force a game five. Minnesota got off to a hot start in the fifth game and the Sun could not overcome the deficit, losing 77–88 to end their season.
Transactions
WNBA draft
Transactions
| Date
|
Details
|
| December 12, 2023
|
Tiffany Hayes announced her retirement[2]
|
| January 18, 2024
|
Cored Brionna Jones[3]
|
| Extended qualifying offers to Kianna Smith and Bernadett Határ[3]
|
| January 31, 2024
|
Acquired Tiffany Mitchell and the 19th pick in the 2024 draft from Minnesota Lynx in exchange for Natisha Hiedeman[4]
|
| February 1, 2024
|
Signed Rachel Banham[5]
|
| February 2, 2024
|
Signed Rennia Davis, Kianna Smith, and Sydney Wiese to training camp contracts[6]
|
| February 3, 2024
|
Acquired Moriah Jefferson from the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Rebecca Allen[7]
|
| Signed Astou Ndour-Fall[8]
|
| February 5, 2024
|
Re-signed Brionna Jones[9]
|
| February 6, 2024
|
Re-signed DeWanna Bonner[10]
|
| February 16, 2024
|
Signed Shey Peddy to a training camp contract[11]
|
| February 19, 2024
|
Signed Jocelyn Willoughby to a training camp contract[12]
|
| April 16, 2024
|
Signed Helena Pueyo and Taiyanna Jackson to rookie contracts[3]
|
| May 1, 2024
|
Waived Kianna Smith[13]
|
| May 5, 2024
|
Waived Leigha Brown, Rennia Davis, and Shey Peddy[14]
|
| May 7, 2024
|
Acquired Queen Egbo from the Washington Mystics in exchange for Bernadett Határ and the Sun's second-round 2025 draft pick[15]
|
| May 10, 2024
|
Waived Helena Pueyo and Taiyanna Jackson[16]
|
| May 13, 2024
|
Waived Sydney Wiese and Jocelyn Willoughby[17]
|
| May 15, 2024
|
Exercised 4th-year team option on Olivia Nelson-Ododa[18]
|
| June 5, 2024
|
Waived Queen Egbo[19]
|
| Signed Veronica Burton[20]
|
| July 17, 2024
|
Traded Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, a first-round 2025 draft pick, and the rights to swap 2026 first-round draft picks to Chicago Sky in exchange for Marina Mabrey and Chicago's second-round 2025 draft pick.[21]
|
| July 20, 2024
|
Signed Caitlin Bickle to a 7-day hardship contract.[22]
|
| August 16, 2024
|
Signed Celeste Taylor to a 7-day hardship contract.[23]
|
| August 22, 2024
|
Released Caitlin Bickle from first 7-day hardship contract, and resigned Bickle to a second hardship contract.
|
| August 30, 2024
|
Signed Caitlin Bickle.
|
Roster changes
Roster
| 2024 Connecticut Sun roster |
|---|
| Players | Coaches |
|---|
| Pos. | No. | Nat. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB | From | Yrs |
|---|
| F | 51 | | Bickle, Caitlin | 6' 1" (1.85m) | | 2000-05-05 | Baylor | R | | G/F | 24 | | Bonner, DeWanna | 6' 4" (1.93m) | 143 lb (65kg) | 1987-08-21 | Auburn | 14 | | G | 22 | | Burton, Veronica | 5' 9" (1.75m) | 155 lb (70kg) | 2000-07-12 | Northwestern | 2 | | G/F | 21 | | Carrington, DiJonai | 5' 11" (1.8m) | 175 lb (79kg) | 1998-01-08 | Baylor | 3 | | G | 52 | | Harris, Tyasha | 5' 10" (1.78m) | 152 lb (69kg) | 1998-05-01 | South Carolina | 4 | | C | 42 | | Jones, Brionna | 6' 3" (1.91m) | 210 lb (95kg) | 1995-12-18 | Maryland | 7 | | G | 4 | | Mabrey, Marina | 5' 11" (1.8m) | 170 lb (77kg) | 1996-09-14 | Notre Dame | 5 | | G | 3 | | Mitchell, Tiffany | 5' 9" (1.75m) | 152 lb (69kg) | 1994-09-23 | South Carolina | 8 | | F/C | 45 | | Ndour-Fall, Astou | 6' 5" (1.96m) | 169 lb (77kg) | 1994-08-22 | Spain | 6 | | C | 10 | | Nelson-Ododa, Olivia | 6' 5" (1.96m) | 173 lb (78kg) | 2000-08-17 | Connecticut | 2 | | F | 25 | | Thomas, Alyssa | 6' 2" (1.88m) | 185 lb (84kg) | 1992-04-12 | Maryland | 10 | | G | | | Hsu, Abbey (DP) | 5' 11" (1.8m) | | 2001-03-22 | Columbia | | | G | | | Lacan, Leïla (DP) | 5' 11" (1.8m) | | 2004-06-02 | France | |
|
- Head coach
- Stephanie White (Purdue)
- Assistant coaches
- Briann January (Arizona State)
- Austin Kelly (Duke)
- Abi Olajuwon (Oklahoma)
- Athletic trainer
- Nicole Alexander
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Analisse Rios
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
Depth chart
Schedule
Pre-season
Regular season
2024 game log
Total: 28–12 (Home: 14–6; Road: 14–6)
|
May: 7–0 (Home: 5–0; Road: 2–0)
|
June
: 7–4 (Home: 3–2; Road: 4–2)
| Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record
|
| 8
|
June 2
|
@ Atlanta
|
W 69–50
|
DeWanna Bonner (18)
|
Alyssa Thomas (14)
|
Alyssa Thomas (11)
|
Gateway Center Arena
3,265
|
8–0
|
| 9
|
June 4
|
Washington
|
W 76–59
|
DeWanna Bonner (20)
|
DeWanna Bonner (8)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
5,346
|
9–0
|
| 10
|
June 8
|
New York
|
L 75–82
|
DeWanna Bonner (16)
|
Alyssa Thomas (12)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
8,910
|
9–1
|
| 11
|
June 10
|
Indiana
|
W 89–72
|
DiJonai Carrington (22)
|
Alyssa Thomas (18)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
8,910
|
10–1
|
| 12
|
June 12
|
@ Chicago
|
W 83–75
|
Alyssa Thomas (20)
|
DeWanna Bonner (8)
|
Tyasha Harris (7)
|
Wintrust Arena
7,815
|
11–1
|
| 13
|
June 15
|
@ Dallas
|
W 85–67
|
Rachel Banham (16)
|
Alyssa Thomas (9)
|
Alyssa Thomas (9)
|
College Park Center
5,977
|
12–1
|
| 14
|
June 18
|
Los Angeles
|
W 79–70
|
DeWanna Bonner (16)
|
Bonner, Thomas (7)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
7,853
|
13–1
|
| 15
|
June 21
|
@ Las Vegas
|
L 74–85
|
DiJonai Carrington (19)
|
Brionna Jones (7)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Michelob Ultra Arena
10,385
|
13–2
|
| 16
|
June 23
|
@ Seattle
|
L 61–72
|
Jones, Thomas (14)
|
Alyssa Thomas (14)
|
Alyssa Thomas (3)
|
Climate Pledge Arena
9,935
|
13–3
|
| 17
|
June 27
|
@ Washington
|
W 94–91 (OT)
|
DeWanna Bonner (24)
|
DeWanna Bonner (10)
|
Alyssa Thomas (6)
|
Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,200
|
14–3
|
| 18
|
June 28
|
Atlanta
|
L 74–78
|
DeWanna Bonner (17)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Alyssa Thomas (8)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
7,008
|
14–4
|
|
July
: 4–2 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–1)
|
August
: 5–2 (Home: 2–0; Road: 3–2)
|
September
: 5–4 (Home: 2–3; Road: 3–1)
| Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location
Attendance |
Record
|
| 32
|
September 1
|
Seattle
|
W 93–86
|
Brionna Jones (26)
|
Alyssa Thomas (8)
|
Alyssa Thomas (8)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
8,910
|
24–8
|
| 33
|
September 3
|
Seattle
|
L 64–71
|
DeWanna Bonner (26)
|
Bonner, Carrington (7)
|
Harris, Thomas (7)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
7,454
|
24–9
|
| 34
|
September 6
|
Las Vegas
|
L 67–72
|
Brionna Jones (17)
|
Alyssa Thomas (10)
|
Alyssa Thomas (8)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
8,910
|
24–10
|
| 35
|
September 8
|
@ Los Angeles
|
W 79–67
|
Brionna Jones (21)
|
Alyssa Thomas (10)
|
Alyssa Thomas (11)
|
Crypto.com Arena
10,627
|
25–10
|
| 36
|
September 10
|
W 86–66
|
Marina Mabrey (26)
|
Alyssa Thomas (11)
|
Alyssa Thomas (12)
|
Crypto.com Arena
8,253
|
26–10
|
| 37
|
September 13
|
@ Phoenix
|
W 88–69
|
Brionna Jones (20)
|
Carrington, Jones (9)
|
Alyssa Thomas (11)
|
Footprint Center
14,190
|
27–10
|
| 38
|
September 15
|
@ Las Vegas
|
L 71–84
|
Marina Mabrey (18)
|
Brionna Jones (9)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Michelob Ultra Arena
10,431
|
27–11
|
| 39
|
September 17
|
Minnesota
|
L 76–78
|
Alyssa Thomas (18)
|
Jones, Thomas (8)
|
Alyssa Thomas (10)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
8,174
|
27–12
|
| 40
|
September 19
|
Chicago
|
W 87–54
|
Tyasha Harris (15)
|
DiJonai Carrington (12)
|
Alyssa Thomas (7)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena
8,092
|
28–12
|
|
| 2024 season schedule
|
Playoffs
| 2024 playoff game log
|
First round vs. Indiana Fever
Won Series: 2–0
|
Semifinals vs. Minnesota Lynx
Lost Series: 2–3
|
| 2024 playoff schedule
|
Standings
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- c – Commissioner's Cup winners
- y – Regular Season Champion
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs
- Bold – Series winner
- Italic – Team with home-court-advantage
Statistics
Regular season
| Player
|
GP
|
GS
|
MPG
|
FG%
|
3P%
|
FT%
|
RPG
|
APG
|
SPG
|
BPG
|
TO
|
PF
|
PPG
|
| DeWanna Bonner |
40 |
39 |
31.8 |
.414 |
.294 |
.832 |
6.0 |
2.0 |
1.2 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
1.8 |
15.0
|
| Marina Mabrey ≠ |
16 |
3 |
27.4 |
.467 |
.424 |
.682 |
3.5 |
3.3 |
1.0 |
0.6 |
1.7 |
2.5 |
14.9
|
| Brionna Jones |
40 |
40 |
27.2 |
.539 |
.143 |
.738 |
5.5 |
1.5 |
1.2 |
0.6 |
1.3 |
2.7 |
13.7
|
| DiJonai Carrington |
39 |
39 |
29.6 |
.403 |
.250 |
.790 |
5.0 |
1.6 |
1.6 |
0.4 |
1.9 |
2.6 |
12.7
|
| Alyssa Thomas |
40 |
40 |
32.4 |
.509 |
.000 |
.628 |
8.4 |
7.9 |
1.6 |
0.5 |
3.6 |
2.1 |
10.6
|
| Tyasha Harris |
39 |
38 |
28.8 |
.425 |
.395 |
.766 |
1.8 |
3.1 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
1.4 |
1.7 |
10.5
|
| Tiffany Mitchell |
24 |
0 |
16.3 |
.349 |
.250 |
.783 |
1.5 |
0.8 |
0.5 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
4.9
|
| Rachel Banham † |
21 |
0 |
12.9 |
.358 |
.348 |
.900 |
1.2 |
0.7 |
0.4 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
1.5 |
4.8
|
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa |
37 |
0 |
11.8 |
.495 |
— |
.659 |
2.5 |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
0.8 |
1.7 |
3.4
|
| Veronica Burton ≠ |
31 |
1 |
12.6 |
.361 |
.351 |
.838 |
1.4 |
1.9 |
0.5 |
0.2 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
3.1
|
| Moriah Jefferson † |
9 |
0 |
6.8 |
.375 |
.333 |
1.000 |
0.2 |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.9 |
2.1
|
| Astou Ndour-Fall |
22 |
0 |
4.2 |
.346 |
.200 |
.833 |
0.8 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.1 |
0.5 |
1.1
|
| Celeste Taylor ≠ ‡ |
2 |
0 |
5.5 |
1.000 |
— |
— |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
2.0 |
1.0
|
| Queen Egbo ‡ |
3 |
0 |
2.3 |
.000 |
— |
1.000 |
0.7 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
0.7
|
| Caitlin Bickle ≠ |
8 |
0 |
1.9 |
.000 |
.000 |
— |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
0.0
|
‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season
Playoffs
Awards and honors
| Recipient
|
Award
|
Date awarded
|
Ref.
|
| DeWanna Bonner
|
Eastern Conference Player of the Week
|
May 28, 2024
|
[24]
|
| WNBA All-Star
|
July 2, 2024
|
[25]
|
| DiJonai Carrington
|
Most Improved Player
|
September 25, 2024
|
[26]
|
| WNBA All-Defensive First Team
|
September 29, 2024
|
[27]
|
| Brionna Jones
|
WNBA All-Star
|
July 2, 2024
|
[25]
|
| Alyssa Thomas
|
Eastern Conference Player of the Week
|
May 21, 2024
|
[28]
|
| Eastern Conference Player of the Month – May
|
June 3, 2024
|
[29]
|
| WNBA All-Star
|
July 2, 2024
|
[25]
|
| AP All-WNBA First Team
|
September 22, 2024
|
[30]
|
| WNBA All-Defensive First Team
|
September 29, 2024
|
[27]
|
| All-WNBA First Team
|
October 16, 2024
|
[31]
|
| Stephanie White
|
WNBA Coach of the Month – May
|
June 3, 2024
|
[29]
|
References
- ^ "2024 Schedule - Connecticut Sun". Sun.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ CountedMeOutPodcast. "Ep 14: BREAKING NEWS Tiffany Hayes RETIRES from the WNBA, Playing In Atlanta & Entrepreneurship". YouTube. YouTube.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c "WNBA Transactions". acrossthetimeline.com. Across The Timeline. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Michael Voepel (January 31, 2024). "Lynx send Tiffany Mitchell, pick to Sun for Natisha Hiedeman". ESPN. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- ^ "Rachel Banham Signs with Connecticut". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Rennia Davis, Kianna Smith and Sydney Wiese Sign with the Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Philippou, Alexa (February 3, 2024). "Sun trading Rebecca Allen to Mercury for Moriah Jefferson". ESPN. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "WNBA Champion Astou Ndour-Fall Signs with Connecticut". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 3, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Brionna Jones Re-Signs with Connecticut Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Five-Time WNBA All-Star, DeWanna Bonner, Re-Signs with Connecticut". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Shey Peddy Signs with the Connecticut Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 16, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Jocelyn Willoughby Signs with the Connecticut Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 19, 2024. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Waives Kianna Smith". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Waives Leigha Brown, Rennia Davis and Shey Peddy". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Acquires Queen Egbo". WNBA. May 7, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Waives Taiyanna Jackson and Helena Pueyo". WNBA. May 10, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Waives Sydney Wiese and Jocelyn Willoughby". WNBA. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Exercise Olivia Nelson-Ododa's Fourth-Year Rookie Scale Option". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Waives Queen Egbo". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Signs Veronica Burton". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 5, 2024. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Acquires Veteran Guard Marina Mabrey". WNBA. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Signs Caitlin Bickle". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
- ^ "Connecticut Sun Signs Celeste Taylor". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. August 16, 2024. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Sun star DeWanna Bonner wins WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week". nbcsportsboston.com. NBC Sports. May 28, 2024. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2024 on July 20". WNBA (Press release). July 2, 2024.
- ^ "Sun guard DiJonai Carrington wins WNBA Most Improved Player award". ESPN. Associated Press. September 25, 2024. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Maloney, Jack (September 29, 2024). "WNBA Defensive Player of the Year: Lynx's Napheesa Collier edges Aces star A'ja Wilson for first honor". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
- ^ "Alyssa Thomas Named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week- 5/14-5/19". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
- ^ a b Goss, Nick (June 3, 2024). "Sun star Alyssa Thomas, coach Stephanie White earn WNBA awards for May". sports.yahoo.com. NBC Sports Boston. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
- ^ Feinberg, Doug (September 22, 2024). "A'ja Wilson and Caitlin Clark are unanimous choices for WNBA AP Player and Rookie of the Year". Associated Press. Retrieved September 22, 2024.
- ^ "Fever's Caitlin Clark, Aces' A'ja Wilson named All-WNBA". ESPN. October 16, 2024. Retrieved October 16, 2024.
External links
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| Franchise | |
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| Arenas | |
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| Head coaches | |
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| Administration | |
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| All-Stars | |
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| Seasons | |
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| Playoff appearances | |
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Conference titles /
Finals appearances | |
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| Rivals | |
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| Media | |
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