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]
2021 Connecticut Sun season | |
---|---|
Coach | Curt Miller |
Arena | Mohegan Sun Arena |
Attendance | 2,992 per game |
Results | |
Record | 26–6 (.813) |
Place | 1st (Eastern) |
Playoff finish | 1st seed, Lost in Semifinals to Phoenix Mercury 2–3 |
Team Leaders | |
Points | Jonquel Jones – 19.4 ppg |
Rebounds | Jonquel Jones – 11.2 rpg |
Assists | Jasmine Thomas – 4.0 apg |
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
editRound | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 20 | DiJonai Carrington | Vereinigte Staaten | Baylor |
2 | 21 | Micaela Kelly | Vereinigte Staaten | Central Michigan |
3 | 30 | Aleah Goodman | Vereinigte Staaten | Oregon State |
Trades/Roster Changes
editDate | 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
edit2021 Connecticut Sun roster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Depth Chart
editGame log
editPreseason
edit2021 pre-season game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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May: 1–0 (Home: 0–0; Road: 1–0)
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2021 pre-season schedule |
Regular season
editPlayoffs
edit2021 playoff game log Total: 1–3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Semifinals
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2021 playoff schedule |
Standings
edit# | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Startseite | Road | Cup |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x – Connecticut Sun | 26 | 6 | .813 | - | 12–3 | 15–1 | 11–5 | 9–1 |
2 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 24 | 8 | .750 | 2 | 11–4 | 13–3 | 11–5 | 6–4 |
3 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 22 | 10 | .688 | 4 | 10–5 | 13–3 | 9–7 | 7–3 |
4 | x – Seattle Storm | 21 | 11 | .656 | 5 | 9–6 | 11–5 | 10–6 | 8–2 |
5 | x – Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 13 | .594 | 7 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 12–4 | 5–5 |
6 | x – Chicago Sky | 16 | 16 | .500 | 10 | 10–5 | 6–10 | 10–6 | 6–4 |
7 | x – Dallas Wings | 14 | 18 | .438 | 12 | 7–8 | 7–9 | 7–9 | 3–7 |
8 | x – New York Liberty | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 6–9 | 7–9 | 5–11 | 5–5 |
9 | e – Washington Mystics | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 7–8 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
10 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 12 | 20 | .375 | 14 | 2–13 | 8–8 | 4–12 | 1–9 |
11 | e – Atlanta Dream | 8 | 24 | .250 | 18 | 6–9 | 4–12 | 4–12 | 4–6 |
12 | e – Indiana Fever | 6 | 26 | .188 | 20 | 4–11 | 4–12 | 2–14 | 2–8 |
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from playoff contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs
editFirst round Sept. 23 | Second round Sept. 26 | Semifinals Sept. 28 – Oct. 8 | WNBA Finals Oct. 10 – Oct. 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2 | Las Vegas Aces | 96 | 91 | 60 | 93 | 84 | ||||||||||||||||||||
4 | Seattle Storm | 80 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 90 | 117 | 87 | 76 | 87 | |||||||||||||||||
5 | Phoenix Mercury | 83 | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 85OT | 5 | Phoenix Mercury | 77 | 91OT | 50 | 74 | - | ||||||||||||||
8 | New York Liberty | 82 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 91 | 86 | 86 | 80 | - | |||||||||||||||||
1 | Connecticut Sun | 95 | 79 | 83 | 69 | - | ||||||||||||||||||||
3 | Minnesota Lynx | 76 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 1012OT | 68 | 86 | 79 | - | |||||||||||||||||
6 | Chicago Sky | 81 | 6 | Chicago Sky | 89 | |||||||||||||||||||||
7 | Dallas Wings | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.
Statistics
editLegend | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage | TO | Turnovers per game |
PF | Fouls per game | Team leader | League leader |
Source:[32]
Regular Season
editPlayer | 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
editRecipient | 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] |
References
edit- ^ "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.