2023 Connecticut Sun season
WNBA team season
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The 2023 Connecticut Sun season was the 25th season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was the 21st season for the franchise in Connecticut after relocating from Orlando.
| 2023 Connecticut Sun season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Stephanie White |
| Arena | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 27–13 (.675) |
| Place | 2nd (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | 3rd seed, Lost in Semifinals 1–3 to New York |
On November 22, 2022, the Sun announced that Stephanie White would be the new head coach for the franchise, after Curt Miller left for the same job with Los Angeles. White previously coached in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, while most recently coaching for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team.[1]
The season started well for the Sun as they won their first three games of the year, including two in a row against Washington. They would lose their next game to New York, but would win the final game of the month to finish May 4–1. They started off June by winning four of their first five games and they would finish by winning four of six games. The end of the month also included a four game winning streak. The Sun finished June 8–3. July opened with a loss to Las Vegas but then the sun went on a three-game winning streak. A loss to Phoenix broke that streak, but the Sun followed it up with another three game winning streak. They lost the final game of the month to finish 6–3 in July. They won three games to open August, but followed that streak by losing three games. They ended their three game losing streak on August 20 with a win over Chicago and that win clinched the Sun a playoff berth. They ended the month winning three of four games to finish with a 7–4 August record. The Sun entered September having clinched their playoff berth and being safely in the third seed. The finished the season 2–2 including a final day loss. They finished the regular season with a 27–13 record and were the third seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs. Their twenty-seven wins were the most in franchise history.
As the third seed in the Playoffs Connecticut would host the first two games of a three game series against the sixth seed Minnesota Lynx. Game one started out as a tight affair but Connecticut broke away in the second and fourth quarters to win the first game 90–60. Game two was a closer affair, with the Lynx leading by five points at halftime. Connecticut couldn't break into their lead after the half and eventually lost 75–82. In game three, in Minnesota, the Sun dominated the first half, leading by fifteen at halftime. The Lynx couldn't close the gap, as the second half ended tied. The Sun won the game 90–75 and the series two games to one. The Sun advanced to the semifinals to face-off against the second seed New York Liberty. In the first game of the series Connecticut used a strong second half to win 78–63. In game two, the Sun won the first quarter but the Liberty won the other three quarters and the Sun lost 77–84. Games three and four moved to Connecticut. Homecourt didn't help the Sun in game 3 of the series, as they lost 81–92. In a must-win game four the Sun kept the game close, but ultimately came up short 84–87. The Sun lost the semifinal series one game to three to end their season.
Transactions
WNBA draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 22 | Alexis Morris |  United States |
LSU |
| 3 | 34 | Ashten Prechtel | United States |
Stanford |
Transactions
| Date | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| October 21, 2022 | Head coach Curt Miller resigns and takes job with the Los Angeles Sparks[2] | |
| November 21, 2022 | Hired Stephanie White as Head Coach[3] | |
| November 29, 2022 | Hired Darius Taylor as General Manager[4] | |
| Promoted Morgan Tuck to Assistant General Manager | ||
| December 27, 2022 | Hired Abi Olajuwon as an Assistant Coach [5] | |
| January 3, 2023 | Hired Briann January as Assistant Coach[6] | |
| January 11, 2023 | Extended Qualifying Offers to Natisha Hiedeman and Joyner Holmes[7] | |
| January 16, 2023 | Traded Jonquel Jones to the New York Liberty as part of a 3-Team Trade. Connecticut received Rebecca Allen and the 6th Overall Pick in the 2023 WNBA draft from New York and Tyasha Harris from the Dallas Wings.[8] | |
| Traded Jasmine Thomas and the 10th Overall Pick in the 2023 WNBA Draft to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for the Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Jasmine Walker, and Kianna Smith[9] | ||
| January 19, 2023 | Cored Brionna Jones[10] | |
| February 1, 2023 | Signed Joyner Holmes to a Qualifying Offer - Training Camp Contract[11] | |
| February 3, 2023 | Signed Natisha Hiedeman to a 2-Year Deal[12] | |
| Signed Mikiah Herbert Harrigan to a Training Camp Contract[13] | ||
| February 7, 2023 | Signed Kristine Anigwe and Lauren Cox to Training Camp Contracts[14] | |
| February 9, 2023 | Traded the 6th Overall Pick in the 2023 WNBA draft to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Tiffany Hayes[15] | |
| February 10, 2023 | Signed Kiki Smith to a Rookie Scale Contract | |
| February 13, 2023 | Signed Brionna Jones to a 1-Year Deal[16] | |
| February 15, 2023 | Signed Tiffany Hayes to a 1-Year Deal[17] | |
| Signed Victoria Macaulay to a Training Camp Contract[18] | ||
| Waived Jasmine Walker[19] | ||
| February 16, 2023 | Waived Kristine Anigwe[20] | |
| February 17, 2023 | Signed Nirra Fields to a Training Camp Contract[21] | |
| February 21, 2023 | Waived Joyner Holmes[22] | |
| April 12, 2023 | Signed Ashten Prechtal to a Rookie Scale Contract | |
| Signed Khaalia Hillsman, Caitlin Bickle, and Jayla Everett to Training Camp Contracts[23] | ||
| April 15, 2023 | Waived Nirra Fields | |
| April 18, 2023 | Signed Alexis Morris to a Rookie Scale Contract | |
| April 27, 2023 | Signed Lasha Petree to a Training Camp Contract[24] | |
| April 30, 2023 | Waived Lasha Petree[25] | |
| Signed Diamond Battles to a Training Camp Contract[26] | ||
| May 3, 2023 | Waived Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Khaalia Hillsman, and Kiara Smith[27] | |
| May 5, 2023 | Waived Victoria Macaulay[28] | |
| May 9, 2023 | Exercised 4th-Year Team Option on DiJonai Carrington[29] | |
| May 10, 2023 | Waived Alexis Morris, Diamond Battles, and Ashten Prechtel[30] | |
| May 15, 2023 | Signed Tyasha Harris to a Contract Extension[31] | |
| May 16, 2023 | Waived Caitlin Bickle, Nia Clouden, and Jayla Everett[32][33][34] | |
| Traded a 2025 Third-Round Pick to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Leigha Brown[35] | ||
| June 1, 2023 | Waived Lauren Cox[36] | |
| June 3, 2023 | Signed Liz Dixon[37] | |
| July 14, 2023 | Waived Liz Dixon[38] | |
| July 17, 2023 | Signed Kristine Anigwe to a 7-Day Contract[39] | |
| July 26, 2023 | Signed Bernadett Határ[40] | |
| August 18, 2023 | Signed Kristine Anigwe to a 2nd 7-Day Contract[41] | |
Roster changes
Additions
|
Subtractions
|
Roster
| 2023 Connecticut Sun roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Depth chart
Schedule
Preseason
| 2023 pre-season game log Total: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
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| 2023 pre-season schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular season
Playoffs
| 2023 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Round vs. Minnesota Won Series: 2–1
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Semifinals vs. New York Liberty Lost Series: 1–3
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| 2023 playoff schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standings
| # | Team |
W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 34 | 6 | .850 | – | 18–2 | 19–1 | 15–5 | 9–1 |
| 2 | x – New York Liberty | 32 | 8 | .800 | 2 | 16–4 | 15–5 | 17–3 | 7–3 |
| 3 | x – Connecticut Sun | 27 | 13 | .675 | 7 | 14–6 | 13–7 | 14–6 | 7–3 |
| 4 | x – Dallas Wings | 22 | 18 | .550 | 12 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 6–4 |
| 5 | x – Atlanta Dream | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 8–12 | 6–4 |
| 6 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 12–8 | 9–11 | 10–10 | 5–5 |
| 7 | x – Washington Mystics | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 9–11 | 12–8 | 7–13 | 5–5 |
| 8 | x – Chicago Sky | 18 | 22 | .450 | 16 | 5–15 | 7–13 | 11–9 | 3–7 |
| 9 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 17 | 23 | .425 | 17 | 9–11 | 10–10 | 7–13 | 5–5 |
| 10 | e – Indiana Fever | 13 | 27 | .325 | 21 | 5–15 | 6–14 | 7–13 | 2–8 |
| 11 | e – Seattle Storm | 11 | 29 | .275 | 23 | 8–12 | 4–16 | 7–13 | 4–6 |
| 12 | e – Phoenix Mercury | 9 | 31 | .225 | 25 | 2–18 | 8–12 | 1–19 | 1–9 |
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from postseason contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs
| First round Best-of-3 | Semifinals Best-of-5 | Finals Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Chicago Sky | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas Wings | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas Wings | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Atlanta Dream | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Washington Mystics | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Minnesota Lynx | 1 | ||||||||||||
- Bold – Series winner
- Italic – Team with home-court advantage
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWanna Bonner | 40 | 40 | 30.1 | .425 | .329 | .862 | 5.6 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.6 | 17.4 |
| Brionna Jones | 13 | 13 | 31.7 | .571 | .500 | .776 | 8.2 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 15.9 |
| Alyssa Thomas | 40 | 40 | 36.2 | .474 | .000 | .715 | 9.9 | 7.9 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 15.5 |
| Tiffany Hayes | 40 | 40 | 27.1 | .476 | .366 | .778 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 12.1 |
| Natisha Hiedeman | 40 | 40 | 26.7 | .392 | .366 | .739 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 8.5 |
| DiJonai Carrington | 32 | 0 | 17.2 | .417 | .371 | .757 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 8.3 |
| Rebecca Allen | 40 | 27 | 21.5 | .408 | .348 | .704 | 2.8 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 6.4 |
| Tyasha Harris | 40 | 0 | 16.7 | .416 | .464 | .680 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 5.8 |
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa | 39 | 0 | 15.0 | .537 | .000 | .708 | 3.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 4.5 |
| Bernadett Határ≠ | 6 | 0 | 7.8 | .375 | .000 | .000 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 2.0 |
| Liz Dixon‡ | 4 | 0 | 5.3 | .400 | .000 | .000 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 |
| Leigha Brown | 25 | 0 | 5.2 | .308 | .100 | .667 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.8 |
| Kristine Anigwe‡ | 3 | 0 | 2.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Lauren Cox‡ | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeWanna Bonner | 7 | 7 | 36.9 | .385 | .365 | .774 | 8.3 | 3.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 18.1 |
| Alyssa Thomas | 7 | 7 | 38.9 | .500 | .000 | .630 | 8.0 | 10.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 18.1 |
| Tiffany Hayes | 7 | 7 | 26.1 | .527 | .484 | .875 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 14.3 |
| Rebecca Allen | 6 | 6 | 30.8 | .489 | .423 | 1.00 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 9.7 |
| Tyasha Harris | 7 | 0 | 21.9 | .462 | .542 | .800 | 1.0 | 2.4 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 9.3 |
| Natisha Hiedeman | 7 | 7 | 22.0 | .310 | .316 | .750 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 5.4 |
| DiJonai Carrington | 6 | 0 | 13.7 | .464 | .250 | .600 | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 5.0 |
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa | 7 | 1 | 15.4 | .667 | .000 | 1.00 | 3.4 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 4.3 |
| Leigha Brown | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Awards and honors
| Recipient | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alyssa Thomas | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | June 6 | [42] |
| June 27 | [43] | ||
| August 8 | [44] | ||
| WNBA All-Star | July 1 | [45] | |
| Player of the Month - June | July 5 | [46] | |
| Peak Performer: Rebounds | September 11 | [47] | |
| All-Defensive First Team | September 22 | [48] | |
| All-WNBA First Team | October 15 | [49] | |
| Stephanie White | Coach of the Month - May | June 2 | [50] |
| Coach of the Year | September 17 | [51] | |
| DeWanna Bonner | WNBA All-Star | July 1 | [45] |