2021 Connecticut Sun season
WNBA team season
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
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
2021 Connecticut Sun roster Players Coaches Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs G/F 24 Bonner, DeWanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 143 lb (65kg) 1987-08-21 Auburn 11 G/F 21 Carrington, DiJonai 5' 11" (1.8m) 175 lb (79kg) 1998-01-08 Baylor R G/F 3 Charles, Kaila 6' 1" (1.85m) 167 lb (76kg) 1998-03-23 Maryland 1 G 2 Hiedeman, Natisha 5' 8" (1.73m) 135 lb (61kg) 1997-02-10 Marquette 2 G 20 January, Briann 5' 8" (1.73m) 144 lb (65kg) 1987-01-11 Arizona State 12 F 42 Jones, Brionna 6' 3" (1.91m) 230 lb (104kg) 1995-12-18 Maryland 4 F 35 Jones, Jonquel 6' 6" (1.98m) 190 lb (86kg) 1994-01-05 George Washington 4 F 4 Jones, Stephanie 6' 3" (1.91m) 185 lb (84kg) 1998-07-10 Maryland R F 1 Mompremier, Beatrice 6' 4" (1.93m) 190 lb (86kg) 1996-08-08 Miami (FL) 1 F 25 Thomas, Alyssa 6' 2" (1.88m) 185 lb (84kg) 1992-04-12 Maryland 6 G 5 Thomas, Jasmine 5' 9" (1.75m) 143 lb (65kg) 1989-09-30 Duke 9
Head coach
Curt Miller (Baldwin Wallace )
Assistant coaches
Brandi Poole
Chris Koclanes
Athletic trainer
Nicole Alexander
Strength and conditioning coach
Analisse Rios
Legend
(C) Team captain
(DP) Unsigned draft pick
(FA) Free agent
(S) Suspended
Injured
Depth Chart
Game log
Preseason
Regular season
2021 game log Total: 26–6 (Home: 15–1; Road: 11–5)
May: 6–2 (Home: 3–0; Road: 3–2)
June
: 5–3 (Home: 4–1; Road: 1–2)
July
: 3–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 2–1)
August
: 7–0 (Home: 7–0; Road: 0–0)
September
: 5–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 3–0)
2021 season schedule
Playoffs
Standings
Notes
(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
Statistics
Source:[ 32]
Regular Season
Awards and honors
References
^ "2021 Connecticut Sun Schedule" . sun.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved April 27, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. January 4, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. January 5, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Natisha Hiedeman signs qualifying offer" . thenext.substack.com . The Next. January 8, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Winisdr Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. January 10, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. February 1, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Alyssa Thomas returns to the Sun on multi-year contract" . sun.wnba.com . WNBA. February 2, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021 .
^ "Jasmine Thomas inks multi-year contract with Connecticut" . sun.wnba.com . WNBA. February 4, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut remains home for Brionna Jones" . sun.wnba.com . WNBA. February 5, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. February 6, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. February 15, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Sisters Brionna and Stephanie Jones reunite in Connecticut Sun training camp" . ctpost.com . CT Post. May 7, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. April 9, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Former Mountaineer Muldrow invited to training camp with Connecticut Sun" . wdtv.com . WDTV. April 19, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. April 17, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. April 17, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Sun have few openings, little cap space" . theday.com . The Day. April 24, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. April 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. May 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. May 9, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. May 11, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Transactions – Player Movement" . acrossthetimeline.com . Across The Timeline. May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Hoopfeed Tweet" . twitter.com . Twitter. May 14, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun parts ways with former Oregon State star Aleah Goodman" . nbcsports.com . NBC Sports. May 17, 2021. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. May 21, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Transactions" . wnba.com . WNBA. May 28, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Jones to Compete in FIBA Women's EuroBasket" . sun.wnba.com . WNBA. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Signs Cannon" . sun.wnba.com . WNBA. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 8, 2021 .
^ "Transactions – Player Movement" . acrossthetimeline.com . Across The Timeline. June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021 .
^ "Transactions – Player Movement" . acrossthetimeline.com . Across The Timeline. June 29, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021 .
^ "Stats - Connecticut Sun" . sun.wnba.com . WNBA. Retrieved October 14, 2021 .
^ "Kia WNBA Players of the Month – May: Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones" . wnba.com . WNBA. June 2, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021 .
^ "Jonquel Jones and Jewell Loyd Named Week 3 Players Of The Week" . wnba.com . WNBA. June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021 .
^ "Bonner, Fowles Earn Player of the Week Honors (Week 6)" . wnba.com . WNBA. June 28, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2021 .
^ "Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 on July 14" . wnba.com . WNBA. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2021 .
^ "Jones, Wilson Named Players Of The Week" . wnba.com . WNBA. July 6, 2021. Retrieved July 6, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Players of the Week: Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones" . wnba.com . WNBA. July 12, 2021. Retrieved July 13, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Players of the Week: Brittney Griner and Jonquel Jones" . wnba.com . WNBA. August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021 .
^ "WNBA Players of the Week: Skylar Diggins-Smith and Brionna Jones" . wnba.com . WNBA. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021 .
^ "Kia Players of the Month (August): Jonquel Jones (Eastern) and Sylvia Fowles (Western)" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021 .
^ "Kia WNBA Coach of the Month (August): Curt Miller" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021 .
^ "Week 11 Players of the Week: Jonquel Jones (Eastern) and Brittney Griner (Western)" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 7, 2021 .
^ "Coach of the Month, September: Curt Miller" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021 .
^ "Kia WNBA Players of the Month: Jonquel Jones and Kelsey Plum" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021 .
^ "2021 WNBA Peak Performers: Tina Charles, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 20, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021 .
^ Voepel, Mechelle (September 26, 2021). "Minnesota Lynx star Sylvia Fowles named WNBA Defensive Player of Year for 4th time in career" . ESPN . Retrieved September 26, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun's Jonquel Jones Named 2021 Kia Most Valuable Player" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Brionna Jones Named 2021 KIA Most Improved Player" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021 .
^ "Connecticut Sun Head Coach Curt Miller Named 2021 Coach Of the Year" . wnba.com . WNBA. September 28, 2021. Retrieved September 28, 2021 .
^ "The 2021 All-WNBA First & Second Team Announced" . wnba.com . WNBA. October 15, 2021. Retrieved October 15, 2021 .
External links
Franchise Arenas Head coaches Administration All-Stars Seasons Playoff appearances Conference titles / Finals appearances Rivals Media