For years, the Connecticut Sun kept chasing the dream of a championship but somehow always fell just short. The front office, now led by newly appointed GM Morgan Tuck, knew it was time for a reset, though not everything was in its control. Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner decided it was time. Head coach Stephanie White was let go, and starters Brionna Jones and DiJonai Carrington soon followed. Despite all efforts, they ended 11-33 in the regular season. But this offseason, the side remains optimistic.
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Morgan Tuck isn’t panicking even after the team’s poor show last season. She has a clear vision for the offseason, even if the looming uncertainty around the CBA negotiations threatens to make things a lot more complicated. Speaking to Noa Dalzell on WNBA Today on CLNS, Tuck, who is one of the only players to win four NCAA championships, said, “Yeah, I think the young core is going to be key for us. And obviously, with youth, you need to have select vets and really good vets around the team.”
This was the team composition for the Sun this year, too. To surround their young core of Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Saniya Rivers, Aneesah Morrow, and Leila Lacan with veterans like Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey. Of course, they got in another piece in Aaliyah Edwards in exchange for Jacy Sheldon later on in the season. But while an 11-33 finish might not look like a big thing to you, there were big takeaways from the Sun season, one of which showed that their young core has the talent to succeed.
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Tuck continued to highlight her vision for the offseason, saying, “What made the Connecticut Sun really good in the past is that they win by committee, right? We’re able to create stars and superstars over time, but they win by committee. It’s not usually one person carrying the load. So for us, that’s kind of the overall vision…..I think really building around our youth and some of those younger players we have is going to be one of our main focuses as we go forward.”
via Imago
Jul 28, 2025; Uncasville, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Sun guard Bria Hartley (14) and guard Leila Lacan (47) defend against Seattle Storm guard Zia Cooke (7) in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
One of the brightest young sparks for the Sun this season was Leila Lacan. The French international wasn’t initially part of coach Rachid Meziane’s rotation, but after a rough 2-15 start, he decided to shake things up and inserted Lacan into the lineup, and she didn’t disappoint. The 21-year-old played 25 games and started 15 to tie the WNBA record for most assists in a game without committing a turnover, and became the fastest player since 2002 to reach 50 career steals!
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Fortunately for the Sun, most of their young core remains on rookie contracts. Veterans like Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles are set to hit free agency, but the team’s priority will be re-signing Olivia Nelson-Ododa before turning their attention to adding experienced pieces around the roster. When the Sun finally had their full core healthy in August, they went 6-8, a glimpse of the potential this group could build on in the seasons ahead. But the Connecticut Sun might not even call Connecticut home next season….
The Sale of the Connecticut Sun: What You Need to Know
The saga surrounding the sale of the WNBA’s Connecticut Sun became one of the season’s hottest talking points. The Mohegan Tribe, which had owned the franchise since relocating it from Orlando in 2003, announced it was exploring strategic options, including a full or partial sale, amid mounting financial pressures.
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By early August, a $325 million offer from an investment group led by Boston Celtics minority owner Steve Pagliuca had emerged as the frontrunner. The group pledged an additional $100 million for a Boston practice facility and eyed a potential relocation to TD Garden as soon as 2027. For a brief moment, it seemed the deal was all but done, until the WNBA stepped in, declaring it an unapproved attempt at relocation and making it clear the league would not allow it.
Not just that, WNBA did offer to purchase the Sun for $250 million and not charge the new buyer an additional relocation fee. Then, the tribe felt that the W was trying to control how much the team was sold for and where it would be moved.
via Imago
Mandatory Credits: via SportsLogos.Net
Currently, the sale of the franchise remains in limbo, and no one knows what the future holds. Will the team relocate or stay put? For now, there are signs it will remain in Connecticut for the 2026 season, with tickets already going on sale and the franchise announcing it on Facebook. Only time will tell what happens next.