2020 Connecticut Sun season

Last updated

2020 Connecticut Sun season
Coach Curt Miller
ArenaOriginally: Mohegan Sun Arena
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
Attendance0 per game
Results
Record10–12 (.455)
Place2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish7th Seed, Lost in Semifinals to Las Vegas Aces 2–3
Team Leaders
Points DeWanna Bonner – 19.7 ppg
Rebounds Alyssa Thomas – 9.0 rpg
Assists Alyssa Thomas – 4.8 rpg

The 2020 WNBA season was the 22nd season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association. It will also be the 18th season for the franchise in Connecticut. The season tipped off on July 26, 2020, versus the Minnesota Lynx. [1]

Contents

This WNBA season was originally going to feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games. [2] However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league held a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, which started on July 24. [4] [5]

The Sun's season started slowly when the team lost its first five games. They recovered to win four of their next five and were 4–7 at the season's halfway mark. The Sun won six of the next nine to secure a playoff spot with two games to go in the season. The Sun last the final two games of the season to finish 10–12. That earned them the seventh seed in the playoffs.

As the seventh seed, the Sun played in the First Round against the sixth seeded Chicago Sky. The Sun won the game 94–81 and advanced to the Second Round. There they faced off against the third seed Los Angeles Sparks. Again, they triumphed as underdogs, this time 73–59. The win saw them advance to the Semifinals, where they matched up against the first seed Las Vegas Aces. The Sun won games one and three of the best-of-five series, but could not close out games four or five, and lost the series 2–3 to end their season.

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
223 Kaila Charles Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Maryland
335 Juicy Landrum Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Baylor

Trades/Roster Changes

DateDetails
February 10, 2020Re-signed F Jonquel Jones [6]
Traded F Morgan Tuck and Connecticut's 1st Round Draft Pick for Seattle's 1st Round Draft Pick [7]
Re-signed F Natisha Hiedeman [8]
February 11, 2020Traded the 7th and the 10th picks in the 2020 WNBA draft and one first-round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft to Phoenix Mercury for F DeWanna Bonner. [9]
February 15, 2020Re-signed G Bria Holmes [10]
February 19, 2020Acquired G Briann January and a second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft in exchange for Courtney Williams [11]
February 24, 2020Acquired F Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis in exchange for a second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft [12]
February 25, 2020Acquired the Minnesota Lynx's 2nd round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft in exchange for G Rachel Banham. [13]
Signed G Jazmon Gwathmey to Training Camp Contract [14]
February 26, 2020Signed F Valeriane Ayayi to Training Camp Contract [15]
March 13, 2020Signed G Jacki Gemelos to Training Camp Contract [16]
March 14, 2020Signed F Megan Huff to Training Camp Contract [17]
June 22, 2020F Jonquel Jones opts to sit out of the 2020 season. [18]
June 23, 2020Signed F Beatrice Mompremier. [19]
June 25, 2020Signed G Jacki Gemelos on permanent contract. [20]

Roster

2020 Connecticut Sun roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F 24 Flag of the United States.svg Bonner, DeWanna 6' 4" (1.93m)143 lb (65kg)1987-08-21 Auburn 10
G 17 Flag of the United States.svg Carson, Essence 6' 0" (1.83m)163 lb (74kg)1986-07-28 Rutgers 12
G/F 3 Flag of the United States.svg Charles, Kaila 6' 1" (1.85m)167 lb (76kg)1998-03-23 Maryland R
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg Hiedeman, Natisha 5' 8" (1.73m)135 lb (61kg)1997-02-10 Marquette 1
G 32 Flag of the United States.svg Holmes, Bria 6' 3" (1.91m)170 lb (77kg)1994-04-19 West Virginia 3
G 20 Flag of the United States.svg January, Briann 5' 8" (1.73m)144 lb (65kg)1987-01-11 Arizona State 11
F/C 42 Flag of the United States.svg Jones, Brionna 6' 3" (1.91m)230 lb (104kg)1995-12-18 Maryland 3
C 35 Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Jones, Jonquel  Cruz Roja.svg6' 6" (1.98m)190 lb (86kg)1994-01-05 George Washington 4
F 1 Flag of the United States.svg Mompremier, Beatrice 6' 4" (1.93m)190 lb (86kg)1996-08-08 Miami (FL) R
F 23 Flag of the United States.svg Mosqueda-Lewis, Kaleena 5' 11" (1.8m)180 lb (82kg)1993-11-03 Connecticut 5
C 55 Flag of the United States.svg Plaisance, Theresa 6' 5" (1.96m)200 lb (91kg)1992-05-18 LSU 6
F 25 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas, Alyssa 6' 2" (1.88m)185 lb (84kg)1992-04-12 Maryland 6
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Thomas, Jasmine 5' 9" (1.75m)143 lb (65kg)1989-09-30 Duke 9
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Curt Miller (Baldwin Wallace)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Brandi Poole
Flag of the United States.svg Chris Koclanes
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Game log


Regular season

2020 game log
Total: 10–12
July
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1July 26 Minnesota Lynx L 69–77 A. Thomas (20)Tied (8)Tied (4) IMG Academy
0		0–1
2July 28 Washington Mystics 89–94 Bonner (29) A. Thomas (11) Bonner (5)IMG Academy
0		0–2
3July 30 Los Angeles Sparks L 76–81 Bonner (34) A. Thomas (18) A. Thomas (8)IMG Academy
0		0–3
August
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
4August 1 Minnesota Lynx L 69–78 Bonner (28)Tied (7) J. Thomas (4) IMG Academy
0		0–4
5August 4 Seattle Storm L 74–87 Jones (20) A. Thomas (13) Hiedeman (5)IMG Academy
0		0–5
6August 6 Dallas Wings W 91–68 Jones (17) A. Thomas (10) J. Thomas (9)IMG Academy
0		1–5
7August 8 Chicago Sky L 93–100 J. Thomas (22) A. Thomas (6) J. Thomas (6)IMG Academy
0		1–6
8August 10 Atlanta Dream W 93–82 A. Thomas (21) Bonner (9) J. Thomas (7)IMG Academy
0		2–6
9August 12 Dallas Wings W 70–66 Bonner (18) A. Thomas (7)Tied (4)IMG Academy
0		3–6
10August 14 Chicago Sky W 77–74 Bonner (19) A. Thomas (10) A. Thomas (8)IMG Academy
0		4–6
11August 16 Seattle Storm L 72–95 J. Thomas (17) Jones (11) A. Thomas (6)IMG Academy
0		4–7
12August 18 Indiana Fever W 84–62 Bonner (28) A. Thomas (11)Tied (6)IMG Academy
0		5–7
13August 20 Las Vegas Aces 78–99 Tied (15) A. Thomas (7) A. Thomas (7)IMG Academy
0		5–8
14August 22 New York Liberty W 82–65 A. Thomas (25) Bonner (12) Bonner (6)IMG Academy
0		6–8
15August 28 Los Angeles Sparks W 80–76 A. Thomas (19) A. Thomas (9) J. Thomas (6)IMG Academy
0		6–9
16August 30 Washington Mystics W 76–63 Bonner (20)Tied (11) A. Thomas (8)IMG Academy
0		7–9
September
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17September 1 New York Liberty W 70–65 Bonner (27) Bonner (12) A. Thomas (4)IMG Academy
0		8–9
18September 3 Las Vegas Aces L 78–93 Bonner (22) Mompremier (16) January (5)IMG Academy
0		8–10
19September 5 Indiana Fever W 96–77 Bonner (22)3 tied (6) J. Thomas (7)IMG Academy
0		9–10
20September 7 Phoenix Mercury W 85–70 Bonner (25) A. Thomas (9) A. Thomas (9)IMG Academy
0		10–10
21September 9 Phoenix Mercury L 95–100 Bonner (32) A. Thomas (17) A. Thomas (5)IMG Academy
0		10–11
22September 11 Atlanta Dream L 75–82 Bonner (17) A. Thomas (9) Hiedeman (4)IMG Academy
0		10–12
2020 season schedule

Playoffs

2020 playoff game log
Total: 4–3
First Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 15 Chicago Sky W 94–81 A. Thomas (28) A. Thomas (13) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy 1–0
Second Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 17 Los Angeles Sparks 73–59 A. Thomas (19) Bonner (13) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy 1–0
Semifinals
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 20 Las Vegas Aces W 87–62 J. Thomas (31) Bonner (8) A. Thomas (5) IMG Academy 1–0
2September 22 Las Vegas Aces L 75–83 Bonner (23) Mompremier (9) J. Thomas (4) IMG Academy 1–1
3September 24 Las Vegas Aces W 77–68 A. Thomas (23) A. Thomas (12) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy 2–1
4September 27 Las Vegas Aces L 75–84 J. Thomas (25) Bonner (15) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy 2–2
5September 29 Las Vegas Aces L 63–66 A. Thomas (22) Jones (12) Bonner (6) IMG Academy 2–3
2020 playoff schedule

Standings

#Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1x – Las Vegas Aces 184.818–8–2
2x – Seattle Storm 184.818–8–2
3x – Los Angeles Sparks 157.68235–5
4x – Minnesota Lynx 148.63644–6
5x – Phoenix Mercury 139.59154–6
6x – Chicago Sky 1210.54566–4
7x – Connecticut Sun 1012.45587–3
8x – Washington Mystics 913.40996–4
9e – Dallas Wings 814.364101–9
10e – Atlanta Dream 715.318115–5
11e – Indiana Fever 616.273124–6
12e – New York Liberty 220.091162–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs
Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.
Updated to include results from September 13, 2020
Source

Playoffs

First round
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals
Best-of-5
(September 20–29)		 WNBA Finals
Best-of-5
(October 2–11)
1 Las Vegas Aces 3
4 Minnesota Lynx 807 Connecticut Sun 2
5 Phoenix Mercury 855 Phoenix Mercury 791 Las Vegas Aces 0
8 Washington Mystics 842 Seattle Storm 3
2 Seattle Storm 3
3 Los Angeles Sparks 594 Minnesota Lynx 0
6 Chicago Sky 817 Connecticut Sun 73
7 Connecticut Sun 94

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
DeWanna Bonner 222233.342.225.289.57.83.01.70.519.7
Alyssa Thomas 212132.850.0068.69.04.82.00.315.5
Brionna Jones 212126.160.510069.15.61.01.70.711.2
Jasmine Thomas 191925.540.433.391.31.74.01.30.310.2
Natisha Hiedeman 22418.535.435.970.01.91.90.406.1
Kaila Charles 21717.941.236.771.02.60.90.80.35.4
Briann January 131023.329.336.783.31.23.40.60.25.0
Bria Holmes 18416.235.733.366.71.81.10.70.34.9
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 16010.329.725.557.11.30.30.20.13.4
Essence Carson 11211.232.528.675.01.50.60.40.13.2
Theresa Plaisance 1306.937.929.483.31.00.10.40.22.5
Beatrice Mompremier 2108.942.6044.43.30.10.20.62.3

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
DeWanna Bonner WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week August 17, 2020 [21]
Alyssa Thomas August 31, 2020 [22]
DeWanna Bonner September 8, 2020 [23]
Alyssa Thomas 1st Team All-Defense September 29, 2020 [24]
DeWanna Bonner All-WNBA Second Team October 4, 2020 [25]

References

  1. ↑ "2020 Connecticut Sun Schedule". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. ↑ "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. ↑ "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Jonquel Jones Returns to the Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Seattle Completes Trade with Connecticut Acquires Morgan Tuck". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Connecticut Signs Hiedeman". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ Metcalfe, Jeff (February 11, 2020). "Phoenix Mercury All-Star DeWanna Bonner traded to Connecticut Sun". azcentral.com. Arizona Republic. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Connecticut native and dynamic playmaker Bria Holmes re-signs with the Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Sun Acquire All-Star Briann January, 2021 draft pick as a part of a three-team trade". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ↑ "Sun Acquire Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis from Seattle". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Rachel Banham". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Connecticut Signs Gwathmey". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Connecticut Signs Valeriane Ayayi". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Connecticut Signs Jacki Gemelos". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Connecticut Signs Megan Huff". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Jones Opts out for 2020 Season". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Connecticut Welcomes Beatrice Mompremier". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Jacki Gemelos Signs with the Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Bonner, Collier Earn Players Of The Week Honors For Week 3". wnba.com. WNBA. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Thomas, Stewart Earn Player of the Week Honors For Week 5". wnba.com. WNBA. August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Diggins-Smith, Bonner Earn Player Of The Week Honors For Week 6". wnba.com. WNBA. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  24. ↑ "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  25. ↑ "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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