2019 Connecticut Sun season

2019 Connecticut Sun season
CoachCurt Miller
ArenaMohegan Sun Arena
Attendance6,841 per game
Results
Record23–11 (.676)
Place2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish2nd seed; lost in WNBA Finals to Washington Mystics 2-3
Team Leaders
PointsJonquel Jones – 14.6 ppg
ReboundsJonquel Jones – 9.7 rpg
AssistsJasmine Thomas – 5.1 apg
Media
TelevisionNESN

The 2019 WNBA season was the 21st season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the WNBA. It was also the 17th season for the franchise in Connecticut. The team opened the season on May 25 versus the Washington Mystics.[1]

The Sun started the season well, posting a 9–4 record through the end of June. They were especially strong at home, going 6–0 over the first two months of the season. The end of June into the beginning of July proved to be a rough patch for the team. They lost five straight games from June 23 to July 10. This stretch included one of only two home losses on the season. After this losing streak, the Sun went on a seven game winning streak that lasted from July 12 to August 4. The Sun's final record in July was 5–2. The Sun didn't lose in August and posted an 8–3 record. The Sun's other home loss came on September 6 as the team closed out the season 1–2 in September. The Sun clinched a playoff berth on August 18, and their final 23–11 record earned them the second seed in the playoffs.

As the second seed, the Sun earned a bye through to the Semifinals. There, they met the #3 seed Los Angeles Sparks. The Sun proved to be too much for the Sparks, sweeping them three games to none. They advanced to the finals where they faced off against the #1 seed Washington Mystics. In a tightly contested finals, the Sun ultimately came up short, losing two games to three.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2019 WNBA draft

The Sun made the following selections in the 2019 WNBA draft.

Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 9 Kristine Anigwe  United States California
2 21 Bridget Carleton  Canada Iowa State
3 33 Regan Magarity  Sweden Virginia Tech

Trades/Roster Changes

Date Details
February 7, 2019 Re-signed G Jasmine Thomas[2][3]
February 27, 2019 Signed F Ariel Edwards to Training Camp Contract[4]
March 22, 2019 Signed G Brianna Kiesel to Training Camp Contract[5]
April 10, 2019 Traded G Lexie Brown to Minnesota in exchange for G Natisha Hiedeman.[6]
April 11, 2019 Signed F Emma Cannon to Training Camp Contract[7]
April 27, 2019 Traded F Chiney Ogwumike to Sparks in exchange for the Spark's first round pick in the 2020 WNBA draft[8]
May 7, 2019 Waived F Ariel Edwards and G Brianna Kiesel[9]
August 6, 2019 Traded C/F Kristine Anigwe to Dallas Wings for C/F Theresa Plaisance[10]

Roster

2019 Connecticut Sun roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 1 United States Banham, Rachel 5' 9" (1.75m) 168 lb (76kg) 07-15-1993 Minnesota 3
G 23 United States Clarendon, Layshia 5' 9" (1.75m) 158 lb (72kg) 05-02-1991 California 6
G 2 United States Hiedeman, Natisha 5' 7" (1.7m) 125 lb (57kg) 02-10-1997 Marquette R
G 32 United States Holmes, Bria 6' 1" (1.85m) 170 lb (77kg) 04-19-1994 West Virginia 2
F/C 35 The Bahamas Jones, Jonquel 6' 6" (1.98m) 190 lb (86kg) 01-05-1994 George Washington 3
F 42 United States Jones, Brionna 6' 3" (1.91m) 230 lb (104kg) 12-18-1995 Maryland 2
F/C 55 United States Plaisance, Theresa 6' 5" (1.96m) 200 lb (91kg) 05-18-1992 LSU 5
G/F 40 United States Stricklen, Shekinna 6' 2" (1.88m) 178 lb (81kg) 07-30-1990 Tennessee 7
F 25 United States Thomas, Alyssa 6' 2" (1.88m) 185 lb (84kg) 04-12-1992 Maryland 5
G 5 United States Thomas, Jasmine 5' 9" (1.75m) 145 lb (66kg) 09-30-1989 Duke 8
F 33 United States Tuck, Morgan 6' 2" (1.88m) 200 lb (91kg) 04-30-1994 Connecticut 3
G 10 United States Williams, Courtney 5' 8" (1.73m) 136 lb (62kg) 05-11-1994 South Florida 3
Head coach
United States Curt Miller (Baldwin Wallace)
Assistant coaches
United States Brandi Poole
United States Chris Koclanes



Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game log

Preseason

2019 pre-season game log
May: 2–1 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 13 New York Liberty W 100–66 J. Jones (19) J. Thomas (7) Williams (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
3,806 		1–0
2 May 14 Dallas Wings L 67–71 Holmes (14) J. Jones (14) Stricklen (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
3,965 		1–1
3 May 19 vs. New York Liberty W 98–79 J. Jones (21) Williams (5) Williams (5) Times Union Center 2–1
2019 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2019 game log
Total: 23–11 (Home: 15–2; Road: 8–9)
May: 2–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
1 May 25 Washington Mystics W 84–69 A. Thomas (23) J. Jones (14) J. Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,913 		1–0
2 May 28 Indiana Fever W 88–77 J. Jones (25) A. Thomas (10) J. Thomas (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,781 		2–0
3 May 31 @ Los Angeles Sparks L 70–77 J. Jones (16) J. Jones (22) Clarendon (3) Staples Center
12,334 		2–1
June : 7–3 (Home: 4–0; Road: 3–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
4 June 2 @ Las Vegas Aces W 80–74 Williams (19) J. Jones (13) Tied (5) Mandalay Bay Events Center
2,747 		3–1
5 June 6 Los Angeles Sparks W 89–77 J. Jones (18) A. Thomas (12) A. Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,496 		4–1
6 June 9 @ Atlanta Dream W 65–59 J. Jones (17) J. Jones (13) J. Thomas (6) State Farm Arena
3,082 		5–1
7 June 11 Washington Mystics W 83–75 J. Jones (24) A. Thomas (12) J. Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,224 		6–1
8 June 14 @ Minnesota Lynx W 85–81 3 tied (16) J. Jones (12) Williams (6) Target Center
8,803 		7–1
9 June 16 Seattle Storm W 81–67 A. Thomas (20) J. Jones (11) J. Jones (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,773 		8–1
10 June 21 Atlanta Dream W 86–76 Stricklen (24) J. Jones (8) J. Thomas (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,608 		9–1
11 June 23 @ Chicago Sky L 75–93 A. Thomas (13) J. Jones (10) J. Thomas (7) Wintrust Arena
5,607 		9–2
12 June 26 @ Dallas Wings L 73–74 A. Thomas (28) Williams (7) J. Thomas (11) College Park Center
4,017 		9–3
13 June 29 @ Washington Mystics L 59–102 J. Jones (15) J. Jones (7) J. Thomas (5) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200 		9–4
July : 5–2 (Home: 4–1; Road: 1–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
14 July 6 Minnesota Lynx L 71–74 J. Thomas (16) Tied (9) J. Thomas (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,076 		9–5
15 July 10 @ Atlanta Dream L 75–78 Williams (13) Tied (9) 6 tied (2) State Farm Arena
3,866 		9–6
16 July 12 Phoenix Mercury W 79–64 A. Thomas (20) J. Jones (11) J. Thomas (8) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,864 		10–6
17 July 14 @ Indiana Fever W 76–63 J. Jones (26) J. Jones (8) J. Thomas (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6,434 		11–6
18 July 19 Atlanta Dream W 98–69 Holmes (17) J. Jones (9) Williams (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,733 		12–6
19 July 24 New York Liberty W 70–63 J. Thomas (18) A. Thomas (12) J. Thomas (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,249 		13–6
20 July 30 Chicago Sky W 100–94 J. Jones (27) J. Jones (11) J. Thomas (8) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,358 		14–6
August : 8–3 (Home: 4–0; Road: 4–3)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
21 August 1 Phoenix Mercury W 68–62 J. Jones (15) J. Jones (14) Williams (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,014 		15–6
22 August 4 @ New York Liberty W 94–79 Williams (28) J. Jones (10) Williams (6) Westchester County Center
1,927 		16–6
23 August 9 @ Minnesota Lynx L 57–89 Holmes (10) A. Thomas (7) 3 tied (2) Target Center
8,892 		16–7
24 August 11 @ Las Vegas Aces L 81–89 Williams (13) J. Jones (12) Tied (4) Mandalay Bay Events Center
4,633 		16–8
25 August 14 @ Phoenix Mercury W 78–71 J. Thomas (18) J. Jones (14) Tied (4) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,734 		17–8
26 August 16 Seattle Storm W 79–78 Stricklen (24) A. Thomas (11) J. Thomas (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,092 		18–8
27 August 18 Dallas Wings W 78–68 Williams (18) J. Jones (10) J. Thomas (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,275 		19–8
28 August 23 Las Vegas Aces W 89–85 A. Thomas (27) A. Thomas (12) J. Thomas (8) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,483 		20–8
29 August 25 @ Los Angeles Sparks L 72–84 Williams (18) J. Jones (12) Tied (5) Staples Center
17,076 		20–9
30 August 27 @ Seattle Storm W 89–70 A. Thomas (22) A. Thomas (11) Tied (4) Alaska Airlines Arena
6,258 		21–9
31 August 30 @ New York Liberty W 94–84 Williams (26) A. Thomas (9) J. Thomas (7) Westchester County Center
1,791 		22–9
September : 1–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–1)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Record
32 September 4 Dallas Wings W 102–72 J. Jones (22) Williams (8) Hiedeman (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,284 		23-9
33 September 6 Chicago Sky L 104–109 Williams (25) Tied (9) Williams (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,077 		23–10
34 September 8 @ Indiana Fever L 76–104 B. Jones (14) B. Jones (10) Williams (4) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5,451 		23–11
2019 season schedule

Playoffs

2019 playoff game log
Total: 5–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–2)
Semifinals: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 17 Los Angeles Sparks W 84–75 A. Thomas (22) A. Thomas (10) J. Thomas (8) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,102 		1–0
2 September 19 Los Angeles Sparks W 94–68 J. Jones (27) Tied (13) J. Thomas (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,051 		2–0
3 September 22 @ Los Angeles Sparks W 78–56 J. Thomas (29) Williams (13) A. Thomas (6) Walter Pyramid
4,000 		3–0
WNBA Finals: 2–3 (Home: 1–1; Road: 1–2)
Game Date Team Score High points High rebounds High assists Location
Attendance		 Series
1 September 29 @ Washington Mystics L 86–95 Williams (26) Tied (6) A. Thomas (6) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200 		0–1
2 October 1 @ Washington Mystics W 99–87 J. Jones (32) J. Jones (18) Tied (6) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200 		1–1
3 October 6 Washington Mystics L 81–94 Tied (16) J. Jones (9) A. Thomas (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
9,170 		1–2
4 October 8 Washington Mystics W 90–86 J. Jones (18) J. Jones (13) A. Thomas (11) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,458 		2–2
5 October 10 @ Washington Mystics L 78–89 J. Jones (25) A. Thomas (12) Tied (6) St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200 		2–3
2019 playoff schedule

Standings

# Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
1 Washington Mystics (1) 26 8 .765 – 14–3 12–5 13–3
2 Connecticut Sun (2) 23 11 .676 3 15–2 8–9 11–5
3 Chicago Sky (5) 20 14 .588 6 12–5 8–9 11–5
4 e –Indiana Fever 13 21 .382 13 7–10 6–11 7–9
5 e –New York Liberty 10 24 .294 16 4–13 6–11 3–13
6 e –Atlanta Dream 8 26 .235 18 5–12 3–14 3–13

Playoffs

Main article: 2019 WNBA Playoffs
First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 11)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 15)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 17 – Sept. 24)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 29 – Oct. 10)
1Washington Mystics971037594
4Las Vegas Aces934Las Vegas Aces95919290
5Chicago Sky1055Chicago Sky921Washington Mystics9587948689
8Phoenix Mercury762Connecticut Sun8699819078
2Connecticut Sun849478
3Los Angeles Sparks923Los Angeles Sparks756856
6Seattle Storm846Seattle Storm69
7Minnesota Lynx74

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Jonquel Jones 34 34 28.8 44.8 30.9 81.8 9.7 1.5 1.3 2.0 14.6
Courtney Williams 34 34 29.1 43.5 45.7 80.0 5.6 3.8 1.4 0.4 13.2
Alyssa Thomas 34 34 30.2 50.5 0 49.6 7.8 3.1 1.9 0.4 11.6
Jasmine Thomas 34 34 29.7 39.2 36.6 80.0 2.9 5.1 1.4 0.1 11.1
Shekinna Stricklen 34 34 23.7 40.8 38.2 81.5 1.9 1.1 1.0 0.2 9.0
Bria Holmes 34 0 15.6 39.9 31.7 67.2 1.4 0.9 0.5 0.2 6.3
Layshia Clarendon 9 0 15.3 41.9 100 85.7 2.4 2.1 0.3 0 6.2
Morgan Tuck 33 0 10.7 38.8 35.7 60.0 2.0 0.8 0.4 0.1 3.7
Natisha Hiedeman 20 0 10.3 41.4 46.4 50.0 1.5 1.9 0.4 0.1 3.7
Rachel Banham 29 0 12.2 32.2 30.6 69.2 1.0 0.9 0.3 0.1 3.6
Brionna Jones 27 0 8.4 46.7 0 66.7 2.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 3.5
Theresa Plaisance 9 0 7.1 34.8 33.3 100 1.8 0 0.3 0.2 2.4

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Jonquel Jones WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 3, 2019 [11]
June 10, 2019 [12]
June 17, 2019 [13]
July 15, 2019 [14]
Alyssa Thomas WNBA All-Star Selection July 15, 2019 [15]
Jonquel Jones
Courtney Williams WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week September 3, 2019 [16]
Jonquel Jones Peak Performer: Rebounds September 9, 2019 [17]

References

  1. ^ "2019 Connecticut Sun Schedule". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  2. ^ "Sun Re-Sign Jasmine Thomas". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 7, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  3. ^ Griffen, Ned (February 7, 2019). "Jasmine Thomas re-signs with Sun". theday.com. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  4. ^ "Sun Sign Ariel Edwards". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  5. ^ "Sun Sign Brianna Kiesel". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  6. ^ "WNBA Draft: Lynx bring in Shepard, Dillard, Bell, trade for Brown". FOX Sports. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  7. ^ "Sun Sign Emma Cannon". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. April 11, 2019. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
  8. ^ "Sparks Acquire 2014 No. 1 Overall Pick Chiney Ogwumike". wnba.com. WNBA. April 27, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "Sun Waive Kiesel And Edwards". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  10. ^ "Wings Acquire Kristine Anigwe from Sun for Theresa Plaisance". wnba.com. WNBA. August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  11. ^ "Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard Named WNBA Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  12. ^ "Jonquel Jones, DeWanna Bonner Player Of The Week Highlights". wnba.com. WNBA. June 10, 2019. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  13. ^ "Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard Win Player of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. June 17, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2019.
  14. ^ @WNBA (July 15, 2019). "🗣️ Congrats to Jonquel Jones and @Nnemkadi30 for earning this week's #PlayeroftheWeek 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "Seven-Time Selection Charles, Dupree, Highlight Reserves For All-Star". wnba.com. WNBA. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  16. ^ "Connecticut's Williams, Phoenix's Griner Win Players of the Week". wnba.com. WNBA. September 3, 2019. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  17. ^ "Phoenix's Griner, Connecticut's Jones and Chicago's Vandersloot Earn 2019 WNBA Peak Performer Awards". wnba.com. WNBA. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 11, 2019.