2021 Connecticut Sun season explained

The 2021 WNBA season was the 23rd season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was also the 19th season for the franchise in Connecticut. The season began on May 14, 2021, at the Atlanta Dream.^[1]

The Sun started the season strongly and went on a five-game winning streak before losing their first game. They lost two of their last three games in May to finish with a strong 6–2 record in that month. The month of June was streaky for the Sun, with a three-game losing streak book-ended by a two-game winning streak and a three-game winning streak. Those streaks left the team with a 5–3 record in June. The Sun went 3–1 in July, the last month before the Olympic break. The team headed into the Olympic break with a 14–6 overall record.

The first game back from the Olympic break was the inaugural WNBA Commissioner's Cup, where the Sun faced off against the Seattle Storm in Phoenix. The game was difficult for the Sun and they lost 57–79. However, this result would not portend the rest of the team's results after the Olympic break. The Sun won their remaining seven games in August to finish the month with a 7–0 regular season record. Their dominance continued into September where the Sun went 5–0, to finish the season on a thirteen-game winning streak. Their final regular season record was 26–6, which earned them the top seed in the 2021 WNBA Playoffs. Their 26 wins was tied for the most regular season wins in franchise history with 2005 and 2006.

As the first seed in the playoffs, the Sun earned a double bye into the Semifinals and would have home-court advantage against the lowest remaining seed from the second round. After the second round, it was determined that the Sun would play the Chicago Sky. The series started off with a thrilling double overtime game that the Sun dropped 95–101. The Sun won the next game 79–68 to take a 1–1 series into Chicago. Chicago used their home court to their advantage and won the next two games and the series 3–1.

WNBA Draft

See also: 2021 WNBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	School/Team/Country
2	20	DiJonai Carrington		Baylor
2	21	Micaela Kelly		Central Michigan
3	30	Aleah Goodman		Oregon State

Trades/Roster Changes

Date	Details
January 4, 2021	Extended Qualifying Offer to Natisha Hiedeman^[2]
January 5, 2021	Extended Qualifying Offers to Brionna Jones and Beatrice Mompremier^[3]
January 7, 2021	Signed Natisha Hiedeman to the Qualifying Offer^[4]
January 10, 2021	Signed Beatrice Mompremier to the Qualifying Offer^[5]
February 1, 2021	Signed Kamiah Smalls to a Training Camp Contract^[6]
February 2, 2021	Re-Signed Alyssa Thomas^[7]
February 4, 2021	Re-Signed Jasmine Thomas^[8]
February 5, 2021	Re-Signed Brionna Jones^[9]
February 6, 2021	Signed Sydney Wallace to a Training Camp Contract^[10]
February 15, 2021	Signed Morgan Bertsch to a Training Camp Contract^[11]
March 28, 2021	Signed Stephanie Jones to a Training Camp Contract^[12]
April 9, 2021	Signed Tanaya Atkinson to a Training Camp Contract^[13]
April 16, 2021	Signed Teana Muldrow to a Training Camp Contract^[14]
April 17, 2021	Signed DiJonai Carrington, Micaela Kelly, and Aleah Goodman to Rookie Scale Contracts.^[15]
	Signed Feyonda Fitzgerald, Vionise Pierre-Louis, and Kai James to Training Camp Contracts.^[16]
April 18, 2021	Signed Brianna Fraser to a Training Camp Contract^[17]
April 17, 2021	Waived Sydney Wallace, Vionise Pierre-Louis, Teana Muldrow, and Kai James.^[18]
May 2, 2021	Waived Tanaya Atkinson.^[19]
May 9, 2021	Waived Micaela Kelly, Feyonda Fitzgerald, and Morgan Bertsch.^[20]
May 11, 2021	Waived Aleah Goodman and Brianna Fraser.^[21]
May 12, 2021	Waived Kamiah Smalls.^[22]
	Temporarily Suspended Jasmine Thomas.^[23]
May 14, 2021	Signed Aleah Goodman to a Hardship Contract.^[24]
May 17, 2021	Activate Jasmine Thomas from Temporary Suspension List.^[25]
	Released Aleah Goodman from Hardship Contract.
May 21, 2021	Signed Shatori Walker-Kimbrough to a Hardship Contract.^[26]
May 28, 2021	Released Shatori Walker-Kimbrough from the Hardship Contract.^[27]
June 6, 2021	Temporarily Suspend Jonquel Jones due to Overseas Commitments^[28]
June 7, 2021	Signed Emma Cannon to a Hardship Contract^[29]
June 27, 2021	Release Emma Cannon from the Hardship Contract^[30]
June 29, 2021	Activate Jonquel Jones from Temporary Suspension^[31]

Roster

Depth Chart

Pos.	Starter	Bench
	PG	Jasmine Thomas	Natisha Hiedeman
	SG	Briann January	Kaila Charles
	SF	DeWanna Bonner	DiJonai Carrington
	PF	Jonquel Jones	Alyssa Thomas Stephanie Jones
	C	Brionna Jones	Beatrice Mompremier

Game log

Preseason

|-| 1| May 3| New York| colspan=4 | Scrimmage| Mohegan Sun Arena
0| 0–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| May 8| @ Dallas| W 89–76| Brionna Jones (22)| Brionna Jones (9)| Aleah Goodman (5)| College Park Center
| 1–0

Regular season

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 1| May 14| @ Atlanta| W 78–67| Jonquel Jones (26)| J. Jones
Hiedeman (8)| DeWanna Bonner (5)| Gateway Center Arena
561| 1–0|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 2| May 16| Phoenix| W 86–78| DeWanna Bonner (27)| Jonquel Jones (13)| Briann January (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,042| 2–0|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 3| May 19| Indiana| W 88–67| Natisha Hiedeman (19)| Jonquel Jones (11)| Natisha Hiedeman (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,084| 3–0|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 4| May 21| @ Phoenix| W 84–67| Jonquel Jones (16)| Jonquel Jones (11)| DeWanna Bonner (5)| Phoenix Suns Arena
4,101| 4–0|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 5| May 23| @ Las Vegas| W 72–65| DeWanna Bonner (22)| Jonquel Jones (11)| Jasmine Thomas (5)| Michelob Ultra Arena
1,954| 5–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| May 25| @ Seattle| L 87–90 (OT)| Jonquel Jones (28)| Jonquel Jones (13)| Jasmine Thomas (6)| Angel of the Winds Arena
1,011| 5–1|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 7| May 28| Washington| W 86–81| Jonquel Jones (20)| Jonquel Jones (12)| Jonquel Jones (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,102| 6–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 8| May 30| @ Minnesota| L 74–79 (OT)| Jonquel Jones (22)| Bonner
B. Jones (6)| Bonner
J. Thomas (5)| Target Center
2,007| 6–2|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 9| June 1| Las Vegas| W 74–67| Jonquel Jones (23)| Bonner
B. Jones (8)| Jasmine Thomas (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
N/A| 7–2|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 10| June 5| New York| W 85–64| Jonquel Jones (31)| Jonquel Jones (13)| Jasmine Thomas (9)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,118| 8–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 11| June 13| Seattle| L 66–89| Bonner
Charles (14)| DiJonai Carrington (7)| Briann January (4)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,248| 8–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 12| June 17| @ Chicago| L 75–81| Jasmine Thomas (20)| Brionna Jones (12)| Jasmine Thomas (4)| Wintrust Arena
1,293| 8–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 13| June 19| @ Chicago| L 81–91| Brionna Jones (22)| B. Jones
Bonner (8)| Bonner
January (6)| Wintrust Arena
1,293| 8–5|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 14| June 22| Dallas| W 80–70| Brionna Jones (26)| DeWanna Bonner (13)| DeWanna Bonner (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,076| 9–5|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 15| June 27| Chicago| W 74–58| DeWanna Bonner (23)| Beatrice Mompremier (11)| January
J. Thomas (3)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,014| 10–5|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 16| June 29| @ Washington| W 90–71| Jonquel Jones (23)| Jonquel Jones (16)| DeWanna Bonner (7)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
2,100| 11–5|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 17| July 1| @ Indiana| W 86–80| Brionna Jones (34)| Bonner
B. Jones (7)| Jasmine Thomas (7)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
No Fans| 12–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 18| July 3| @ Indiana| L 67–73| Jonquel Jones (16)| Jonquel Jones (9)| Bonner
Charles (4)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
No Fans| 12–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 19| July 9| Atlanta| W 84–72| Jonquel Jones (24)| Jonquel Jones (16)| Hiedeman (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,286| 13–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 20| July 11| @ New York| W 71–54| Jonquel Jones (17)| Jonquel Jones (17)| Jonquel Jones (5)| Barclays Center
1,988| 14–6|-style="background:#fcc;"| CC| August 12| vs. Seattle| L 57–79| Bonner
Hiedeman (11)| Jonquel Jones (11)| Jasmine Thomas (3)| Footprint Center
5,006| N/A|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 21| August 15| @ Dallas| W 80–59| Jonquel Jones (19)| Jonquel Jones (15)| Briann January (5)| College Park Center
2,399| 15–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 22| August 17| Minnesota| W 72–60| Jasmine Thomas (19)| Jonquel Jones (13)| Jasmine Thomas (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
3,488| 16–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 23| August 19| Minnesota| W 82–71| DeWanna Bonner (31)| DeWanna Bonner (11)| Jasmine Thomas (7)| Mohegan Sun Arena
3,536| 17–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 24| August 24| Las Vegas| W 76–62| Briann January (19)| Jonquel Jones (10)| Jasmine Thomas (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,012| 18–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 25| August 26| Los Angeles| W 76–72| Brionna Jones (23)| Jonquel Jones (11)| Jasmine Thomas (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
3,702| 19–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 26| August 28| Los Angeles| W 76–61| Brionna Jones (16)| Brionna Jones (15)| Jasmine Thomas (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,434| 20–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 27| August 31| @ Washington| W 85–75| Jonquel Jones (31)| Jonquel Jones (14)| Jasmine Thomas (6)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
2,269| 21–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 28| September 7| @ Dallas| W 83–56| Brionna Jones (18)| Brionna Jones (10)| Jasmine Thomas (6)| College Park Center
1,945| 22–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 29| September 9| @ Los Angeles| W 75–57| Jonquel Jones (21)| Jonquel Jones (14)| DeWanna Bonner (5)| Staples Center
1,695| 23–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 30| September 11| @ Phoenix| W 76–67| Jasmine Thomas (17)| Jonquel Jones (16)| Briann January (5)| Footprint Center
9,811| 24–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 31| September 15| New York| W 98–69| Bonner
J. Jones (18)| Jonquel Jones (13)| Natisha Hiedeman (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,012| 25–6|- style="background:#bbffbb;"| 32| September 19| Atlanta| W 84–64| Natisha Hiedeman (16)| Brionna Jones (12)| Briann January (4)| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,724| 26–6

Playoffs

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| September 28| Chicago| L 95–101 (2OT)| Jonquel Jones (26)| Jonquel Jones (11)| January
J. Jones (4)| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,720| 0–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| September 30| Chicago| W 79–68| Bonner
A. Thomas (15)| Alyssa Thomas (11)| Alyssa Thomas (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
6,088| 1–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| October 3| @ Chicago| L 83–86| DeWanna Bonner (22)| Jonquel Jones (10)| Jasmine Thomas (6)| Wintrust Arena
7,421| 1–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| October 6| @ Chicago| L 69–79| Jonquel Jones (25)| Jonquel Jones (11)| Alyssa Thomas (4)| Wintrust Arena|

Statistics

Source:^[32]

Regular Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Jonquel Jones	27	27	31.7	51.5	36.2	80.2	11.2	2.8	1.3	1.3	19.4
DeWanna Bonner	32	32	31.9	39.5	31.7	89.2	6.4	3.4	1.3	0.7	15.2
Brionna Jones	32	32	30.6	57.1	0.0	79.6	7.3	1.8	1.4	0.5	14.7
Jasmine Thomas	30	30	29.6	38.6	40.0	87.5	2.4	4.0	1.3	0.2	10.6
Natisha Hiedeman	32	5	20.1	40.0	39.8	70.0	1.8	1.9	0.8	0.2	7.6
Briann January	29	29	30.2	42.5	38.0	86.8	1.4	3.1	0.9	0.1	7.0
Alyssa Thomas	2	0	17.5	26.7	0.0	75.0	5.0	2.0	0.5	0.0	5.5
Kaila Charles	30	4	16.3	36.8	30.3	87.5	2.8	1.1	0.5	0.4	4.3
DiJonai Carrington	24	1	9.2	32.9	14.3	73.3	2.0	0.5	0.5	0.1	2.8
Beatrice Mompremier	32	0	8.6	49.1	0.0	41.7	2.4	0.2	0.4	0.3	1.8
Stephanie Jones	18	0	5.5	41.1	0.0	50.0	1.2	0.2	0.1	0.1	1.4

Awards and honors

Recipient	Award	Date awarded	Ref.
Jonquel Jones	Eastern Conference Player of the Month	June 2	^[33]
	Eastern Conference Player of the Week	June 7	^[34]
DeWanna Bonner		June 28	^[35]
Brionna Jones	WNBA All-Star Selection	June 30	^[36]
Jonquel Jones
DeWanna Bonner
Brionna Jones	Eastern Conference Player of the Week	July 6	^[37]
Jonquel Jones yay	Eastern Conference Player of the Week	July 12	^[38]
		August 23	^[39]
Brionna Jones	Eastern Conference Player of the Week	August 30	^[40]
Jonquel Jones	Eastern Conference Player of the Month	September 2	^[41]
Curt Miller	WNBA Coach of the Month – August		^[42]
Jonquel Jones	Eastern Conference Player of the Week	September 6	^[43]
Curt Miller	WNBA Coach of the Month – September	September 20	^[44]
Jonquel Jones	Eastern Conference Player of the Month		^[45]
	Peak Performer: Rebounds		^[46]
Briann January	WNBA All-Defensive First Team	September 26	^[47]
Jonquel Jones
Jasmine Thomas	WNBA All-Defensive Second Team
Brionna Jones
Jonquel Jones	WNBA MVP	September 28	^[48]
Brionna Jones	WNBA Most Improved Player		^[49]
Curt Miller	Coach of the Year Award		^[50]
Jonquel Jones	All-WNBA First Team	October 15	^[51]

External links

• • Connecticut Sun at ESPN.com

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2021 Connecticut Sun Schedule. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. April 27, 2021.
2. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. January 4, 2021. June 3, 2021.
3. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. January 5, 2021. June 3, 2021.
4. Web site: Natisha Hiedeman signs qualifying offer. thenext.substack.com. The Next. January 8, 2021. June 3, 2021.
5. Web site: Winisdr Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. January 10, 2021. June 3, 2021.
6. Web site: Connecticut Sun Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. February 1, 2021. June 3, 2021.
7. Web site: Alyssa Thomas returns to the Sun on multi-year contract. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 2, 2021. April 27, 2021.
8. Web site: Jasmine Thomas inks multi-year contract with Connecticut. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 4, 2021. April 27, 2021.
9. Web site: Connecticut remains home for Brionna Jones. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 5, 2021. April 27, 2021.
10. Web site: Connecticut Sun Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. February 6, 2021. June 3, 2021.
11. Web site: Connecticut Sun Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. February 15, 2021. June 3, 2021.
12. Web site: Sisters Brionna and Stephanie Jones reunite in Connecticut Sun training camp. ctpost.com. CT Post. May 7, 2021. June 3, 2021.
13. Web site: Connecticut Sun Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. April 9, 2021. June 3, 2021.
14. Web site: Former Mountaineer Muldrow invited to training camp with Connecticut Sun. wdtv.com. WDTV. April 19, 2021. June 3, 2021.
15. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. April 17, 2021. June 3, 2021.
16. Web site: Connecticut Sun Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. April 17, 2021. June 3, 2021.
17. Web site: Sun have few openings, little cap space. theday.com. The Day. April 24, 2021. June 3, 2021.
18. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. April 28, 2021. June 3, 2021.
19. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. May 2, 2021. June 3, 2021.
20. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. May 9, 2021. June 3, 2021.
21. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. May 11, 2021. June 3, 2021.
22. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. May 12, 2021. June 3, 2021.
23. Web site: Transactions – Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across The Timeline. May 12, 2021. June 3, 2021.
24. Web site: Hoopfeed Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. May 14, 2021. June 3, 2021.
25. Web site: Connecticut Sun parts ways with former Oregon State star Aleah Goodman. nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. May 17, 2021. June 3, 2021. June 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220629190014/https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/oregon-state-beavers/connecticut-sun-parts-ways-former-oregon-state-star-aleah-goodman. dead.
26. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. May 21, 2021. June 3, 2021.
27. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. May 28, 2021. June 3, 2021.
28. Web site: Jones to Compete in FIBA Women's EuroBasket. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 6, 2021. June 8, 2021.
29. Web site: Connecticut Signs Cannon. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 7, 2021. June 8, 2021.
30. Web site: Transactions – Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across The Timeline. June 27, 2021. July 6, 2021.
31. Web site: Transactions – Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across The Timeline. June 29, 2021. July 6, 2021.
32. Web site: Stats - Connecticut Sun. sun.wnba.com. WNBA. October 14, 2021.
33. Web site: Kia WNBA Players of the Month – May: Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones. wnba.com. WNBA. June 2, 2021. June 3, 2021.
34. Web site: Jonquel Jones and Jewell Loyd Named Week 3 Players Of The Week. wnba.com. WNBA. June 7, 2021. June 7, 2021.
35. Web site: Bonner, Fowles Earn Player of the Week Honors (Week 6). wnba.com. WNBA. June 28, 2021. June 28, 2021.
36. Web site: Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 on July 14. wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2020. July 1, 2021.
37. Web site: Jones, Wilson Named Players Of The Week. wnba.com. WNBA. July 6, 2021. July 6, 2021.
38. Web site: WNBA Players of the Week: Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones. wnba.com. WNBA. July 12, 2021. July 13, 2021.
39. Web site: WNBA Players of the Week: Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones. wnba.com. WNBA. August 23, 2021. August 23, 2021.
40. Web site: WNBA Players of the Week: Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brionna Jones. wnba.com. WNBA. August 30, 2021. August 30, 2021.
41. Web site: Kia Players of the Month (August): Jonquel Jones (Eastern) and Sylvia Fowles (Western). wnba.com. WNBA. September 2, 2021. September 2, 2021.
42. Web site: Kia WNBA Coach of the Month (August): Curt Miller. wnba.com. WNBA. September 2, 2021. September 2, 2021.
43. Web site: Week 11 Players of the Week: Jonquel Jones (Eastern) and Brittney Griner (Western). wnba.com. WNBA. September 6, 2021. September 7, 2021.
44. Web site: Coach of the Month, September: Curt Miller. wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. September 22, 2021.
45. Web site: Kia WNBA Players of the Month: Jonquel Jones and Kelsey Plum. wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. September 22, 2021.
46. Web site: 2021 WNBA Peak Performers: Tina Charles, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot. wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. September 22, 2021.
47. Web site: Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles named WNBA Defensive Player of Year for 4th time in career. ESPN. Mechelle. Voepel. September 26, 2021. September 26, 2021.
48. Web site: Connecticut Sun’s Jonquel Jones Named 2021 Kia Most Valuable Player. wnba.com. WNBA. September 28, 2021. September 28, 2021.
49. Web site: Connecticut Sun Brionna Jones Named 2021 KIA Most Improved Player. wnba.com. WNBA. September 28, 2021. September 28, 2021.
50. Web site: Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller Named 2021 Coach Of the Year. wnba.com. WNBA. September 28, 2021. September 28, 2021.
51. Web site: The 2021 All-WNBA First & Second Team Announced. wnba.com. WNBA. October 15, 2021. October 15, 2021.