The Connecticut Sun will likely remain a powerhouse in the WNBA this season despite losing former MVP Jonquel Jones, who signed with the New York Liberty during the 2023 offseason.
The Sun finished with an astounding 27-13 record, the third-best in the league; making the postseason but eventually losing in the WNBA semifinals to the Liberty.
They've kept their aging but practical core intact, keeping Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones together; silently keeping their window for a WNBA Championship open after coming off a close season prior.
However, with changes around the league and an overhaul in young talent this year, will this be the year the Connecticut Sun finally get over the hump, or will it be the Sunset for this aging team?
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Connecticut Sun Offseason
The Connecticut Sun didn't make any splash moves during the offseason. However, they did do enough to keep themselves competitive within the WNBA landscape.
They re-signed Brionna Jones and DeWanna Bonner, symbolizing the franchise's faith in the core they built over the years. The Sun also have managed to sign some quality veterans in Tiffany Mitchell and Moriah Jefferson.
Mitchell and Jefferson bring solid veteran depth and should solve the Sun's issue at point guard. Tiffany Mitchell will help in defensive versatility to an already good defensive Sun team. Meanwhile, Moriah Jefferson is known for her three-point shooting, which should help with floor spacing.
Connecticut also re-signed Rachel Banham from the Minnesota Lynx, who had spent time with the Sun from (2016-19) and is familiar with the franchise.
They also drafted French guard Leila Lacan, Kansas' forward Taiyanna Jackson, Arizona's guard Helena Pueyo and Columbia guard Abbey Hsu in the 2024 WNBA Draft.
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The Connecticut Sun Big Three
The Connecticut Sun do have the tools to win it all. However, their window is starting to close. The big three of Thomas, Bonner, and Jones are only getting older; especially DeWanna Bonner, who will be 37 this season.
Alyssa Thomas is still at the peak of her career at 32. She was an MVP runner-up and had another sensational year last season, averaging 15.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game.
Brionna Jones, who will be coming back from an Achilles rupture and missing the entire 2023 season will have to answer the question of if she is the same player as before the injury.
Could a healthy Jones be the difference maker for the Connecticut Sun?
The landscape of the WNBA has changed, with teams like the Seattle Storm reworking their roster in free agency, signing Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike. And a star studded WNBA Draft class including Caitlin Clark to the Indiana Fever and the Los Angeles Sparks drafting Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson.
It seems like it's now or never for the Connecticut Sun.
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