2019 Connecticut Sun season explained

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		California
2	21	Bridget Carleton		Iowa State
3	33	Regan Magarity		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]

Game log

Preseason

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 1| May 13| New York Liberty| W 100–66| J. Jones (19)| J. Thomas (7)| Williams (7)| Mohegan Sun Arena
3,806| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| May 14| Dallas Wings| L 67–71| Holmes (14)| J. Jones (14)| Stricklen (4)| Mohegan Sun Arena
3,965| 1–1|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 3| May 19| vs. New York Liberty| W 98–79| J. Jones (21)| Williams (5)| Williams (5)| Times Union Center| 2–1

Regular season

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

Playoffs

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 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|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 2| September 19| Los Angeles Sparks| W 94–68| J. Jones (27)| Tied (13)| J. Thomas (7)| Mohegan Sun Arena
8,051| 2–0|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 3| September 22| @ Los Angeles Sparks| W 78–56| J. Thomas (29)| Williams (13)| A. Thomas (6)| Walter Pyramid
4,000| 3–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| September 29| @ Washington Mystics| L 86–95| Williams (26)| Tied (6)| A. Thomas (6)| St. Elizabeth's East Arena
4,200| 0–1|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 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|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| October 6| Washington Mystics| L 81–94| Tied (16)| J. Jones (9)| A. Thomas (9)| Mohegan Sun Arena
9,170| 1–2|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 4| October 8| Washington Mystics| W 90–86| J. Jones (18)| J. Jones (13)| A. Thomas (11)| Mohegan Sun Arena
8,458| 2–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 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

Playoffs

See main article: 2019 WNBA Playoffs.

Statistics

Regular season

style= width="16%"	Player	style= width="6%"	GP	style= width="6%"	GS	style= width="6%"	MPG	style= width="6%"	FG%	style= width="6%"	3P%	style= width="6%"	FT%	style= width="6%"	RPG	style= width="5%"	APG	style= width="6%"	SPG	style= width="6%"	BPG	style= width="6%"	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]

External links

• The Official Site of the Connecticut Sun

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2019 Connecticut Sun Schedule. Women's National Basketball Association. February 14, 2019.
2. Web site: Sun Re-Sign Jasmine Thomas. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 7, 2019. February 14, 2019.
3. Web site: Jasmine Thomas re-signs with Sun. theday.com. Ned. Griffen. February 7, 2019. February 14, 2019.
4. Web site: Sun Sign Ariel Edwards. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 27, 2019. February 28, 2019.
5. Web site: Sun Sign Brianna Kiesel. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. March 22, 2019. March 25, 2019.
6. News: WNBA Draft: Lynx bring in Shepard, Dillard, Bell, trade for Brown. April 11, 2019. April 11, 2019. FOX Sports.
7. Web site: Sun Sign Emma Cannon. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. April 11, 2019. April 12, 2019.
8. Web site: Sparks Acquire 2014 No. 1 Overall Pick Chiney Ogwumike. wnba.com. WNBA. April 27, 2019. April 27, 2019.
9. Web site: Sun Waive Kiesel And Edwards. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. May 7, 2019. May 8, 2019.
10. Web site: Wings Acquire Kristine Anigwe from Sun for Theresa Plaisance. wnba.com. WNBA. August 6, 2019. August 9, 2019.
11. Web site: Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard Named WNBA Players of the Week. wnba.com. WNBA. June 3, 2019. June 4, 2019.
12. Web site: Jonquel Jones, DeWanna Bonner Player Of The Week Highlights. wnba.com. WNBA. June 10, 2019. June 11, 2019.
13. Web site: Jonquel Jones, Natasha Howard Win Player of the Week. wnba.com. WNBA. June 17, 2019. June 17, 2019.
14. WNBA. 1150797869135388672. July 15, 2019. ️ Congrats to Jonquel Jones and @Nnemkadi30 for earning this week's #PlayeroftheWeek .
15. Web site: Seven-Time Selection Charles, Dupree, Highlight Reserves For All-Star. wnba.com. WNBA. July 15, 2019. July 16, 2019.
16. Web site: Connecticut’s Williams, Phoenix’s Griner Win Players of the Week. wnba.com. WNBA. September 3, 2019. September 3, 2019.
17. Web site: Phoenix’s Griner, Connecticut’s Jones and Chicago’s Vandersloot Earn 2019 WNBA Peak Performer Awards. wnba.com. WNBA. September 11, 2019. September 9, 2019.