2020 Connecticut Sun season

The 2020 WNBA season was the 22nd season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association. It will also be the 18th season for the franchise in Connecticut. The season tipped off on July 26, 2020, versus the Minnesota Lynx.[1]

2020 Connecticut Sun season
CoachCurt Miller
ArenaOriginally: Mohegan Sun Arena
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
Attendance0 per game
Results
Record10–12 (.455)
Place2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finish7th Seed, Lost in Semifinals to Las Vegas Aces 2–3
Team Leaders
PointsDeWanna Bonner – 19.7 ppg
ReboundsAlyssa Thomas – 9.0 rpg
AssistsAlyssa Thomas – 4.8 rpg

This WNBA season was originally going to feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games.[2] However, the plan for expanded games was put on hold on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league held a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, which started on July 24.[4][5]

The Sun's season started slowly when the team lost its first five games. They recovered to win four of their next five and were 4–7 at the season's halfway mark. The Sun won six of the next nine to secure a playoff spot with two games to go in the season. The Sun last the final two games of the season to finish 10–12. That earned them the seventh seed in the playoffs.

As the seventh seed, the Sun played in the First Round against the sixth seeded Chicago Sky. The Sun won the game 94–81 and advanced to the Second Round. There they faced off against the third seed Los Angeles Sparks. Again, they triumphed as underdogs, this time 73–59. The win saw them advance to the Semifinals, where they matched up against the first seed Las Vegas Aces. The Sun won games one and three of the best-of-five series, but could not close out games four or five, and lost the series 2–3 to end their season.

WNBA draft
See also: 2020 WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
2 23 Kaila Charles  United States Maryland
3 35 Juicy Landrum  United States Baylor

Trades/Roster Changes
Date Details
February 10, 2020 Re-signed F Jonquel Jones[6]
Traded F Morgan Tuck and Connecticut's 1st Round Draft Pick for Seattle's 1st Round Draft Pick[7]
Re-signed F Natisha Hiedeman[8]
February 11, 2020 Traded the 7th and the 10th picks in the 2020 WNBA draft and one first-round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft to Phoenix Mercury for F DeWanna Bonner.[9]
February 15, 2020 Re-signed G Bria Holmes[10]
February 19, 2020 Acquired G Briann January and a second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft in exchange for Courtney Williams[11]
February 24, 2020 Acquired F Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis in exchange for a second round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft[12]
February 25, 2020 Acquired the Minnesota Lynx's 2nd round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft in exchange for G Rachel Banham.[13]
Signed G Jazmon Gwathmey to Training Camp Contract[14]
February 26, 2020 Signed F Valeriane Ayayi to Training Camp Contract[15]
March 13, 2020 Signed G Jacki Gemelos to Training Camp Contract[16]
March 14, 2020 Signed F Megan Huff to Training Camp Contract[17]
June 22, 2020 F Jonquel Jones opts to sit out of the 2020 season.[18]
June 23, 2020 Signed F Beatrice Mompremier.[19]
June 25, 2020 Signed G Jacki Gemelos on permanent contract.[20]

Roster
2020 Connecticut Sun roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G/F 24 United States Bonner, DeWanna 6' 4" (1.93m) 143 lb (65kg) 1987-08-21 Auburn 10
G 17 United States Carson, Essence 6' 0" (1.83m) 163 lb (74kg) 1986-07-28 Rutgers 12
G/F 3 United States Charles, Kaila 6' 1" (1.85m) 167 lb (76kg) 1998-03-23 Maryland R
G 2 United States Hiedeman, Natisha 5' 8" (1.73m) 135 lb (61kg) 1997-02-10 Marquette 1
G 32 United States Holmes, Bria 6' 1" (1.85m) 170 lb (77kg) 1994-04-19 West Virginia 3
G 20 United States January, Briann 5' 8" (1.73m) 144 lb (65kg) 1987-01-11 Arizona State 11
F 42 United States Jones, Brionna 6' 3" (1.91m) 230 lb (104kg) 1995-12-18 Maryland 3
F 35 Bosnia and Herzegovina Jones, Jonquel Injured 6' 6" (1.98m) 190 lb (86kg) 1994-01-05 George Washington 4
F 1 United States Mompremier, Beatrice 6' 4" (1.93m) 190 lb (86kg) 1996-08-08 Miami (FL) R
F 23 United States Mosqueda-Lewis, Kaleena 5' 11" (1.8m) 180 lb (82kg) 1993-11-03 Connecticut 5
F 55 United States Plaisance, Theresa 6' 5" (1.96m) 200 lb (91kg) 1992-05-18 LSU 6
F 25 United States Thomas, Alyssa 6' 2" (1.88m) 185 lb (84kg) 1992-04-12 Maryland 6
G 5 United States Thomas, Jasmine 5' 9" (1.75m) 143 lb (65kg) 1989-09-30 Duke 9
Head coach
United States Curt Miller (Baldwin Wallace)
Assistant coaches
United States Brandi Poole
United States Chris Koclanes



Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Game log


Regular season
2020 game log
Total: 10–12
July
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1 July 26 Minnesota Lynx L 69–77 A. Thomas (20) Tied (8) Tied (4) IMG Academy
0		 0–1
2 July 28 Washington Mystics 89–94 Bonner (29) A. Thomas (11) Bonner (5) IMG Academy
0		 0–2
3 July 30 Los Angeles Sparks L 76–81 Bonner (34) A. Thomas (18) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy
0		 0–3
August
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
4 August 1 Minnesota Lynx L 69–78 Bonner (28) Tied (7) J. Thomas (4) IMG Academy
0		 0–4
5 August 4 Seattle Storm L 74–87 Jones (20) A. Thomas (13) Hiedeman (5) IMG Academy
0		 0–5
6 August 6 Dallas Wings W 91–68 Jones (17) A. Thomas (10) J. Thomas (9) IMG Academy
0		 1–5
7 August 8 Chicago Sky L 93–100 J. Thomas (22) A. Thomas (6) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy
0		 1–6
8 August 10 Atlanta Dream W 93–82 A. Thomas (21) Bonner (9) J. Thomas (7) IMG Academy
0		 2–6
9 August 12 Dallas Wings W 70–66 Bonner (18) A. Thomas (7) Tied (4) IMG Academy
0		 3–6
10 August 14 Chicago Sky W 77–74 Bonner (19) A. Thomas (10) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy
0		 4–6
11 August 16 Seattle Storm L 72–95 J. Thomas (17) Jones (11) A. Thomas (6) IMG Academy
0		 4–7
12 August 18 Indiana Fever W 84–62 Bonner (28) A. Thomas (11) Tied (6) IMG Academy
0		 5–7
13 August 20 Las Vegas Aces 78–99 Tied (15) A. Thomas (7) A. Thomas (7) IMG Academy
0		 5–8
14 August 22 New York Liberty W 82–65 A. Thomas (25) Bonner (12) Bonner (6) IMG Academy
0		 6–8
15 August 28 Los Angeles Sparks W 80–76 A. Thomas (19) A. Thomas (9) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy
0		 6–9
16 August 30 Washington Mystics W 76–63 Bonner (20) Tied (11) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy
0		 7–9
September
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17 September 1 New York Liberty W 70–65 Bonner (27) Bonner (12) A. Thomas (4) IMG Academy
0		 8–9
18 September 3 Las Vegas Aces L 78–93 Bonner (22) Mompremier (16) January (5) IMG Academy
0		 8–10
19 September 5 Indiana Fever W 96–77 Bonner (22) 3 tied (6) J. Thomas (7) IMG Academy
0		 9–10
20 September 7 Phoenix Mercury W 85–70 Bonner (25) A. Thomas (9) A. Thomas (9) IMG Academy
0		 10–10
21 September 9 Phoenix Mercury L 95–100 Bonner (32) A. Thomas (17) A. Thomas (5) IMG Academy
0		 10–11
22 September 11 Atlanta Dream L 75–82 Bonner (17) A. Thomas (9) Hiedeman (4) IMG Academy
0		 10–12
2020 season schedule

Playoffs
2020 playoff game log
Total: 4–3
First Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 September 15 Chicago Sky W 94–81 A. Thomas (28) A. Thomas (13) A. Thomas (8) IMG Academy 1–0
Second Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 September 17 Los Angeles Sparks 73–59 A. Thomas (19) Bonner (13) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy 1–0
Semifinals
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1 September 20 Las Vegas Aces W 87–62 J. Thomas (31) Bonner (8) A. Thomas (5) IMG Academy 1–0
2 September 22 Las Vegas Aces L 75–83 Bonner (23) Mompremier (9) J. Thomas (4) IMG Academy 1–1
3 September 24 Las Vegas Aces W 77–68 A. Thomas (23) A. Thomas (12) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy 2–1
4 September 27 Las Vegas Aces L 75–84 J. Thomas (25) Bonner (15) J. Thomas (6) IMG Academy 2–2
5 September 29 Las Vegas Aces L 63–66 A. Thomas (22) Jones (12) Bonner (6) IMG Academy 2–3
2020 playoff schedule

Standings
# Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1 x – Las Vegas Aces184.818–8–2
2 x – Seattle Storm184.818–8–2
3 x – Los Angeles Sparks157.68235–5
4 x – Minnesota Lynx148.63644–6
5 x – Phoenix Mercury139.59154–6
6 x – Chicago Sky1210.54566–4
7 x – Connecticut Sun1012.45587–3
8 x – Washington Mystics913.40996–4
9 e – Dallas Wings814.364101–9
10 e – Atlanta Dream715.318115–5
11 e – Indiana Fever616.273124–6
12 e – New York Liberty220.091162–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs
Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.
Updated to include results from September 13, 2020
Source

Playoffs
Main article: 2020 WNBA Playoffs
First round:
Single elimination
(September 15)		Second round:
Single elimination
(September 17)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(September 20–29)		WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(October 2–11)
1Las Vegas Aces6283688466
4Minnesota Lynx807Connecticut Sun8775777563
5Phoenix Mercury855Phoenix Mercury791Las Vegas Aces809159
8Washington Mystics842Seattle Storm9310492
2Seattle Storm888992
3Los Angeles Sparks594Minnesota Lynx867971
6Chicago Sky817Connecticut Sun73
7Connecticut Sun94

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics

Regular season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
DeWanna Bonner 22 22 33.3 42.2 25.2 89.5 7.8 3.0 1.7 0.5 19.7
Alyssa Thomas 21 21 32.8 50.0 0 68.6 9.0 4.8 2.0 0.3 15.5
Brionna Jones 21 21 26.1 60.5 100 69.1 5.6 1.0 1.7 0.7 11.2
Jasmine Thomas 19 19 25.5 40.4 33.3 91.3 1.7 4.0 1.3 0.3 10.2
Natisha Hiedeman 22 4 18.5 35.4 35.9 70.0 1.9 1.9 0.4 0 6.1
Kaila Charles 21 7 17.9 41.2 36.7 71.0 2.6 0.9 0.8 0.3 5.4
Briann January 13 10 23.3 29.3 36.7 83.3 1.2 3.4 0.6 0.2 5.0
Bria Holmes 18 4 16.2 35.7 33.3 66.7 1.8 1.1 0.7 0.3 4.9
Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis 16 0 10.3 29.7 25.5 57.1 1.3 0.3 0.2 0.1 3.4
Essence Carson 11 2 11.2 32.5 28.6 75.0 1.5 0.6 0.4 0.1 3.2
Theresa Plaisance 13 0 6.9 37.9 29.4 83.3 1.0 0.1 0.4 0.2 2.5
Beatrice Mompremier 21 0 8.9 42.6 0 44.4 3.3 0.1 0.2 0.6 2.3

Awards and honors
Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
DeWanna Bonner WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week August 17, 2020 [21]
Alyssa Thomas August 31, 2020 [22]
DeWanna Bonner September 8, 2020 [23]
Alyssa Thomas 1st Team All-Defense September 29, 2020 [24]
DeWanna Bonner All-WNBA Second Team October 4, 2020 [25]

References
  1. "2020 Connecticut Sun Schedule". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  2. "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  3. "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  4. "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  6. "Jonquel Jones Returns to the Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  7. "Seattle Completes Trade with Connecticut Acquires Morgan Tuck". storm.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  8. "Connecticut Signs Hiedeman". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  9. Metcalfe, Jeff (February 11, 2020). "Phoenix Mercury All-Star DeWanna Bonner traded to Connecticut Sun". azcentral.com. Arizona Republic. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  10. "Connecticut native and dynamic playmaker Bria Holmes re-signs with the Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  11. "Sun Acquire All-Star Briann January, 2021 draft pick as a part of a three-team trade". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. "Sun Acquire Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis from Seattle". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  13. "Minnesota Lynx Acquire Rachel Banham". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  14. "Connecticut Signs Gwathmey". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  15. "Connecticut Signs Valeriane Ayayi". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  16. "Connecticut Signs Jacki Gemelos". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. March 13, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  17. "Connecticut Signs Megan Huff". twitter.com/ConnecticutSun. Connecticut Sun. March 14, 2020. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
  18. "Jones Opts out for 2020 Season". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  19. "Connecticut Welcomes Beatrice Mompremier". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 23, 2020. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  20. "Jacki Gemelos Signs with the Sun". sun.wnba.com. WNBA. June 25, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.
  21. "Bonner, Collier Earn Players Of The Week Honors For Week 3". wnba.com. WNBA. August 17, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
  22. "Thomas, Stewart Earn Player of the Week Honors For Week 5". wnba.com. WNBA. August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  23. "Diggins-Smith, Bonner Earn Player Of The Week Honors For Week 6". wnba.com. WNBA. September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
  24. "Two Atlanta Dream Players And Seattle Storm's Alysha Clark Headline 2020 WNBA All-Defensive Team". wnba.com. WNBA. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  25. "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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