No Cap Space WBB Team Previews: Connecticut Sun
The Sun have blown it all up and appear to be rebuilding for the long haul. Can Rachid Meziane establish a good culture in year one?
For much of their history as a franchise, the Connecticut Sun have been the perennial heartbreaker in the WNBA. For over two decades, CT has put together solid rosters on well run franchises that go deep in the playoffs. But they’ve never been able to simply win the big one. After another season of coming-up-short, and with the tandem of Alyssa Thomas and DeWanna Bonner starting to age out, the Sun decided they’d finally blow it all up and start over.
Out went Stephanie White as head coach and in came Rachid Meziane, the former head coach for the Belgian national team. Team President Jennifer Rizzotti also made a change at the General Manager position, hiring former player-turned-executive Morgan Tuck.
From there, the roster turnover was substantial including additional trades of recently acquired players. But it’s clear that there is a plan and vision for what the Sun can be in the long term. We’ll just have to see if it comes to fruition.
2024 Lookback:
28-12 (4-1 Commissioner’s Cup)
Lost in Semifinals to Minnesota, 3-2
Stephanie White takes head coach position with Indiana Fever
Morgan Tuck hired as general manager
Rachid Meziane hired as head coach
2024 Leaders:
DeWanna Bonner: 15.0 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 2.0 APG
Brionna Jones: 13.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 1.2 SPG
Alyssa Thomas: 10.6 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 7.9 APG
Who Left:
DiJonai Carrington (Dallas Wings via trade)
Ty Harris (Dallas Wings via trade)
Natasha Cloud (New York Liberty via trade — initially traded to CT from PHX)
Rebecca Allen (Chicago Sky via trade — initially traded to CT from PHX)
Alyssa Thomas (Phoenix Mercury via trade)
Veronica Burton (Golden State Valkyries via Expansion Draft)
Brionna Jones (Atlanta Dream via free agency)
DeWanna Bonner (Indiana Fever via free agency)
Tiffany Mitchell (Las Vegas Aces via free agency)
Who’s Back:
Olivia Nelson-Ododa
Marina Mabrey
Leila Lacan (Didn’t play for team in 2024)
Draft Picks:
Aneesah Morrow (Round 1, Pick 7)
Saniya Rivers (Round 1, Pick 8)
Rayah Marshall (Round 2, Pick 25)
Who’s New:
Tina Charles (Atlanta Dream via free agency)
Robyn Parks (Emlak Konut via free agency)
Kariata Diaby (Tango Bourges via free agency)
Brian Hartley (Athletes Unlimited)
Haley Peters (Villeneuve D’Asq via free agency)
2025 Strengths:
Head coach Rachid Meziane has a reputation over in Europe for coaching hard-nosed teams that are all effort, all the time. If you look at Connecticut’s three draft selections, you can see that culture reflected. Aneesah Morrow, Saniya Rivers and Rayah Marshall all were fierce rebounders and excellent on-floor leaders for their respective teams. Morrow, in particular, slide to the seventh pick and now has the chance to become a franchise cornerstone. Tina Charles, who was picked up in free agency, knows exactly what the Sun organization needs. She’s a legend in Uncasville, after all. Sometimes when teams decide to rebuild in this manner there’s a concern that young players, destined to be the next stars, might get used to losing over time if the success isn’t immediate. Charles’ signing allows for there to be a steady vet in the room who can remind everyone what winning is supposed to look and feel like.
Aside from that one cultural benefit, there isn’t a ton of talent here. At least not yet or not at a WNBA level. It doesn’t feel like a tank because Meziane doesn’t strike me as the type of coach that’s brought in somewhere to lose. So you’ll see a heavy dose of the league’s youth. Morrow will be fun to watch and, given Angel Reese’s success as a rookie, projects to be a pretty high value pickup at number seven overall in the draft. Olivia Nelson-Ododa could be due for a breakout season while I’m also interested in Leila Lacan. It may not all lead to a strength that translates to wins but it’s a strength that makes them an interest watch on TV from time to time.
2025 Weaknesses:
Like I said in the last graf, there isn’t a ton of talent on this roster. Marina Mabrey and Tina Charles probably have the most experience out of anyone and both have reputations of intensity that can make or break a locker room. Meziane is used to a more European type of player, which is reflected in their offseason picks and training camp acquisitions. But will his style, fiery and passionate I’ve been told, translate in the States? I’m a huge fan of his and believe he will succeed here but he’ll need to be given the chance to. Right now, the priority seems to be building a positive culture. I just wonder if you can do that while potentially losing the way they might.
The Sun are outgunned pound for pound at nearly every position when stacked against every other team in the league. There are some interesting rotations and lineups to trot out but Morrow is going to be expected to carry a lot of the load early in the season. Rookies have done it in the past but I’m curious how, in a season without the Olympic break, she’ll be able to keep up the effort she plays with night in and night out. There’s a ton of unknowns with Connecticut and while it makes them watchable, it also makes them vulnerable.
2025 Outlook:
I don’t expect much in terms of wins but that’s not why I’m really interested in the Sun. Everything they’ve done this offseason has been fascinating. There’s the departures of your top two players and franchise cornerstones, the Marina Mabrey saga of ‘will-she-won’t-she be traded’, Natasha Cloud’s Scaramucci-like tenure in Uncasville and the hiring of a well-respected but also relatively-unknown head coach. There’s a million little storylines this year in Connecticut especially when you start to factor in the broader discussions around the Mohegan Sun Tribe’s ownership and investment in the team.
So while it might not be competitive or a tough watch at times, this is what the fine fellows at
call ‘year 0’. This is a transition season where there should be no expectations on Meziane at all. He’s starting from the charred remains of a controlled burn and planting seeds in the nutrient-rich soil, hoping something grows. If it does, they have the potential to be a really fun franchise going forward. And if it doesn’t, we might get some all-time crash outs. Entertainment wins.
Great recap. It will be interesting to see if Lacan is ready for the W and if Diaby or Onkonkwo can make the roster. Lastly what position is Rivers? Time will tell.