2016 Connecticut Sun season

Last updated
2016 Connecticut Sun season
Coach Curt Miller
Arena Mohegan Sun Arena
Attendance6,728 per game
Results
Record14–20 (.412)
Place5th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid Not Qualify
Team Leaders
Points Alex Bentley – 12.9 ppg
Rebounds Chiney Ogwumike – 6.7 rpg
Assists Jasmine Thomas – 5.1 apg

The 2016 WNBA season was the 18th season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the WNBA. It was the 14th season for the franchise in Connecticut. The season tipped off on May 14 in Chicago versus the Chicago Sky. [1]

Contents

The Sun went 3–0 in the preseason, but could not carry that momentum over to the regular season as they opened with a loss. They won their second game of the season over San Antonio before losing their next four straight games to end May 1–5. Their losing streak extended into June as they lost their first two games before defeating Seattle by a point. The Sun would lose their next three games, including a triple-overtime thriller against Washington 106–109. They defeated San Antonio again to break their losing streak before losing three straight games to finish June 2–8. July started much better for the Sun as they won three of their first four games, matching their win total from the first two months of the season. Their only loss came at home to Atlanta, 63–67. They lost two games and won to games to end the month 5–3. Upon return from the Olympic Break, the Sun went 2–1 in August, defeating Minnesota and San Antonio at home and losing to Atlanta away. They opened September with a win over Phoenix, but lost their next three games. They finished the season with three wins and finished September 4–3. Their 14–20 overall record saw them finish ninth overall, two games out of the final playoff spot.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
13 Morgan Tuck Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Connecticut
14 Rachel Banham Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Minnesota
16 Jonquel Jones Flag of the Bahamas.svg  Bahamas George Washington
217 Jamie Weisner Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Oregon State
327 Aliyyah Handford Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States St. John's

Trades/Roster Changes

DateDetails
February 3, 2016Traded Elizabeth Williams to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for the 4th Overall Pick in the 2016 WNBA draft [2]
April 14, 20216Traded Chelsea Gray the 15th and 23rds pick in the 2016 draft, and the 4th pick in the 2017 WNBA draft to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for the rights to Jonquel Jones and the 17th pick in the 2016 draft. [3]
June 25, 2016Traded Kelsey Bone to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Courtney Williams, the rights to Jillian Alleyne and the 13th pick in the 2017 draft. [4]

Roster

2016 Connecticut Sun roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 1 Flag of the United States.svg Banham, Rachel   Cruz Roja.svg 5' 10" (1.78m)181 lb (82kg)07-15-1993 Minnesota R
G 20 Flag of the United States.svg Bentley, Alex 5' 7" (1.7m)152 lb (69kg)10-27-1990 Penn State 3
G 34 Flag of the United States.svg Faris, Kelly 5' 11" (1.8m)154 lb (70kg)12-31-1991 Connecticut 3
F/C 15 Flag of Jamaica.svg Henry, Aneika 6' 4" (1.93m)192 lb (87kg)02-13-1986 Florida 4
F/C 35 Flag of the Bahamas.svg Jones, Jonquel 6' 6" (1.98m)215 lb (98kg)01-05-1994 George Washington R
F 2 Flag of the United States.svg Little, Camille 6' 2" (1.88m)180 lb (82kg)01-18-1985 North Carolina 9
F/C 13 Flag of the United States.svg Ogwumike, Chiney 6' 3" (1.91m)183 lb (83kg)03-22-1992 Stanford 1
F 40 Flag of the United States.svg Stricklen, Shekinna 6' 2" (1.88m)230 lb (104kg)07-30-1990 Tennessee 4
F 31 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor, Asia 6' 1" (1.85m)167 lb (76kg)08-22-1991 Louisville 1
F 25 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas, Alyssa 6' 2" (1.88m)203 lb (92kg)04-12-1992 Maryland 2
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas, Jasmine 5' 9" (1.75m)143 lb (65kg)09-30-1989 Duke 5
F 33 Flag of the United States.svg Tuck, Morgan   Cruz Roja.svg 6' 2" (1.88m)207 lb (94kg)04-30-1994 Connecticut R
G 10 Flag of the United States.svg Williams, Courtney 5' 8" (1.73m)142 lb (64kg)05-11-1994 South Florida R
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Curt Miller (Baldwin Wallace)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Nicki Collen (Marquette)
Flag of the United States.svg Steve Smith
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Jeremy Norman (Keene State College)
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Tim Yuhas (Connecticut)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Source: [5]

Game log

Preseason

2016 pre-season game log
May: 3–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 4 Chicago W 84–81 Kelsey Bone (15) Alyssa Thomas (7)Bone, A. Thomas, J. Thomas, Tuck (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,207		1–0
2May 5 San Antonio W 76–53 Morgan Tuck (16) Jonquel Jones (12) Kelly Faris (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,025		2–0
3May 8@ Dallas W 82–74 Jonquel Jones (16)Kelly Faris (7) Rachel Banham (7) College Park Center
2,326		3–0
2016 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2016 game log
Total: 14–20 (Home: 8–9; Road: 6–11)
May: 1–5 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 14@ Chicago L 70–93 Alex Bentley (14) A. Thomas, Tuck (7)Alyssa Thomas (4) Allstate Arena
6,719		0–1
2May 19@ San Antonio W 72–68 Camille Little (13) Kelsey Bone (10) Jasmine Thomas (8) AT&T Center
6,267		1–1
3May 21 Washington L 76–84 Alyssa Thomas (18)Kelsey Bone (10)Jasmine Thomas (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,022		1–2
4May 26 Los Angeles L 72–77 Jasmine Thomas (17) Chiney Ogwumike (9) Bentley, J. Thomas (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,766		1–3
5May 28@ Seattle L 81–93 Jasmine Thomas (17)Jasmine Thomas (5)Camille Little (6) KeyArena
4,456		1–4
6May 31@ Phoenix L 90–99 Camille Little (16)Kelsey Bone (8)Jasmine Thomas (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena
8,412		1–5
June : 2–8 (Home: 2–4; Road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
7June 3 Atlanta L 77–83 Alex Bentley (16) Kelsey Bone (7) Jasmine Thomas (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,541		1–6
8June 5 Indiana L 77–88 Alyssa Thomas (20) Jonquel Jones (9) Rachel Banham (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,346		1–7
9June 10 Seattle W 77–76 Morgan Tuck (20)Alyssa Thomas (9)Alyssa Thomas (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,075		2–7
10June 12@ Atlanta L 87–93 Jasmine Thomas (19)Bentley, Ogwumike, Tuck (6)Bentley, Thomas (5) Philips Arena
4,486		2–8
11June 14 Washington L 106–109 3OT Alex Bentley (31)Kelsey Bone (11) Camille Little (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,442		2–9
12June 16 New York L 72–80 Alex Bentley (16)Kelsey Bone (7)Kelsey Bone (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,786		2–10
13June 19 San Antonio W 90–83 Alex Bentley (29)Jones, J. Thomas (9)Jasmine Thomas (10) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,596		3–10
14June 24@ Seattle L 81–98 Alex Bentley (13)Alyssa Thomas (6)Alex Bentley (4) KeyArena
6,568		3–11
15June 26@ Los Angeles L 73–80 Chiney Ogwumike (16)Alyssa Thomas (9)Alyssa Thomas (7) Staples Center
9,441		3–12
16June 29@ Phoenix L 75–86 Alex Bentley (20)Jonquel Jones (9)Alex Bentley (6) Talking Stick Resort Arena
10,551		3–13
July : 5–3 (Home: 1–2; Road: 4–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17July 2@ Dallas W 86–83 Alex Bentley (24) Chiney Ogwumike (9) Jasmine Thomas (7) College Park Center
5,108		4–13
18July 7 Minnesota W 93–83 Alex Bentley (24)Chiney Ogwumike (7)Jasmine Thomas (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,739		5–13
19July 10 Atlanta L 63–67 Alyssa Thomas (19)Ogwumike, J. Thomas (5)Alex Bentley (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,857		5–14
20July 13@ Indiana W 86–64 Chiney Ogwumike (20)Chiney Ogwumike (8)Jasmine Thomas (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
12,272		6–14
21July 15 Los Angeles L 92–98 Alyssa Thomas (17)Chiney Ogwumike (13)Bentley, J. Thomas, Little (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,430		6–15
22July 17@ New York L 76–83 Chiney Ogwumike (18)Chiney Ogwumike (10)Jasmine Thomas (6) Madison Square Garden
9,464		6–16
23July 20@ Dallas W 89–78 Chiney Ogwumike (26)Chiney Ogwumike (15) Morgan Tuck (5) College Park Center
4,873		7–16
24July 22@ Chicago W 94–89 Alex Bentley (21) Jonquel Jones (10)Jasmine Thomas (8) Allstate Arena
6,893		8–16
August : 2–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
25August 26 Minnesota W 84–80 Alyssa Thomas (15) Chiney Ogwumike (10) Jasmine Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,381		9–16
26August 28@ Atlanta L 73–87 Chiney Ogwumike (24) Courtney Williams (7)Jasmine Thomas (4) Philips Arena
7,055		9–17
27August 30 San Antonio W 89–62 Alex Bentley (21)Alyssa Thomas (7) Camille Little (7) Mohegan Sun Arena
5,291		10–17
September : 4–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
28September 2 Phoenix W 87–74 Chiney Ogwumike (22)Chiney Ogwumike (10) Jasmine Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,709		11–17
29September 4@ Minnesota L 79–93 Alex Bentley (16) Jonquel Jones (11)Alex Bentley (6) Target Center
7,632		11–18
30September 9@ New York L 82–89 Ogwumike, Williams (20)Chiney Ogwumike (9)Jasmine Thomas (4) Madison Square Garden
9,482		11–19
31September 11 Chicago Sky L 86–96 Jasmine Thomas (20)Chiney Ogwumike (10)Jasmine Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,620		11–20
32September 13 Indiana W 89–87 Jasmine Thomas (21) A. Thomas, J. Thomas (5)Jasmine Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,407		12–20
33September 16 Dallas W 107–74 Little, Williams (15)Chiney Ogwumike (13)Jasmine Thomas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,228		13–20
34September 18@ Washington W 87–78 Jonquel Jones (21)Ogwumike, A. Thomas (10)Jasmine Thomas (10) Verizon Center
8,991		14–20
2016 season schedule

Standings

Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
3 - New York Liberty 2113.618—10–711–611–5
4 - Chicago Sky 1816.529311–67–108–8
5 - Indiana Fever 1717.50048–99–88–8
6 - Atlanta Dream 1717.500411–66–119–7
e - Connecticut Sun 1420.41278–96–114–12
e - Washington Mystics 1321.38285–128–98–8

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Jasmine Thomas WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week September 19, 2016 [6]
All-Defensive Second Team September 30, 2016 [7]

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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 gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Alex Bentley 343428.838.5%28.6%78.5%1.92.50.90.112.9
Chiney Ogwumike 331824.358.7%—71.9%6.70.71.01.012.6
Jasmine Thomas 343432.140.8%29.7%86.1%4.15.11.30.411.7
Alyssa Thomas 313127.148.7%—63.4%6.02.31.40.211.1
Kelsey Bone 141323.943.3%26.7%66.7%5.41.30.70.210.7
Courtney Williams 19017.242.7%30.8%57.9%3.61.50.60.28.1
Camille Little 332924.638.4%32.2%63.2%3.02.01.20.37.8
Morgan Tuck 26316.741.4%30.4%71.1%2.81.10.40.17.0
Jonquel Jones 34614.153.1%33.3%73.9%3.70.60.61.16.8
Shekinna Stricklen 28010.936.5%35.1%64.3%1.40.50.40.14.0
Rachel Banham 15010.940.8%35.1%66.7%0.70.90.50.13.7
Asia Taylor 404.360.0%—85.7%1.00.80.00.03.0
Kelly Faris 31010.239.6%25.0%93.3%1.20.70.70.12.0
Aneika Henry 1025.038.5%—40.0%1.40.20.10.11.2

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References

  1. ↑ "2016 Connecticut Sun Schedule". Women's National Basketball Association. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Seattle Connecticut Sun trade F/C Elizabeth Williams to Dream for No. 4 draft pick". ESPN . ESPN. February 4, 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  3. ↑ "Sparks acquire Riquna Williams in swap of high picks with Wings". ESPN . ESPN. March 2, 2016. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
  4. ↑ Knight, Joey (June 26, 2016). "Courtney Williams traded to Connecticut". Tampa Bay Times . Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
  5. ↑ "2016 Connecticut Sun Stats". basketball-reference.com. Sports Reference . Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Sun's Jasmine Thomas, Sparks' Nneka Ogwumike Named Players of the Week" (Press release). WNBA. September 19, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  7. ↑ "Sylvia Fowles, Nneka Ogwumike Headline 2016 WNBA All-Defensive Team" (Press release). WNBA. September 30, 2016. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
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