Connecticut Sun
| Connecticut Sun | |
 |
|
| Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Founded | 2003 |
| History | Orlando Miracle (1999-2002) |
| Arena | Mohegan Sun Arena |
| City | Uncasville, Connecticut |
| Team Colors | Blue, Red, Gold |
| Owner | Mohegan Sun |
| General Manager | Chris Sienko |
| Head Coach | Mike Thibault |
| WNBA Championships | 0 |
| Conference Titles | 2 (2004, 2005) |
| Mascot | Blaze [1] |
The Connecticut Sun are a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Uncasville, Connecticut. They began to play in the 2003 WNBA season. The Sun was the first WNBA franchise not to be owned by an NBA owner; the team is owned by the Mohegan Indian tribe. From 1999 to 2002, the team was known as the Orlando Miracle, playing in Orlando, Florida. Capitalizing on the popularity of women's basketball in Connecticut as a result of the success of the UConn Huskies, they have the distinction of being the only WNBA team not to share its market with an NBA team (although the Charlotte Sting were the only professional basketball team in Charlotte for two seasons from the departure of the former Charlotte Hornets to New Orleans in 2002 to the first season of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats in 2004).
Uniforms:
- 2007 - Present: For home games, white with images of basic suns on the sides and Sun logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with images of basic suns on the sides and gold Sun logo text on the chest. The Sun logo is on the shorts.
- 2004 - 2006: For home games, white with sun red on the sides and red Sun logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with sun red with gold trim on the sides and gold Sun logo text on the chest. The Sun logo is on the shorts.
- 2003: For home games, white with sun red on the sides and red Sun logo text on the chest. For away games, pure red with gold trim on the sides and gold Sun logo text on the chest. The Sun logo is on the shorts.
- 1999 - 2002: For home games, white with blue on the sides and shoulders and white Miracle logo text on the chest. For away games, blue with white on the sides and white Miracle logo text on the chest. The Miracle logo is on the shorts.
Franchise History
The Orlando Miracle Years (1999-2002)
The city of Orlando was granted an expansion franchise in 1999, and the Orlando Miracle would take the floor for the 1999 season. The Miracle would play their games at TD Waterhouse Centre as the sister team of the NBA Orlando Magic.
The Miracle posted respectable records in their four years of existence (1999-2002). The Miracle would make the playoffs once, in 2000, and lost in the first round against the Cleveland Rockers. In 2001, the Miracle would take a step backwards, but they hosted a very successful 2001 WNBA All-Star Game. In 2002, the Miracle would post a 16-16 (.500) record, tying for the final playoff spot with the Indiana Fever. But, the Miracle had lost the tie-breaker, so they barely missed the playoffs. Little did anyone know that the 2002 season would prove to be the Miracle's last in Orlando (See below).
Relocation to Connecticut
After the 2002 WNBA Season, the NBA sold off all of the WNBA franchises to the operators of the teams. Orlando Magic ownership was not interested in keeping the Miracle. The team would need to find other ownership or fold. No local ownership was found, so in October of 2002, the Miracle announced their intentions to move out of Orlando, Florida. On January 28, 2003, The Miracle were bought by the Mohegan Sun Native American Tribe, and it was announced that the Miracle would move immediately to Uncasville, Connecticut.
The Connecticut Sun (2003-Present)
The Miracle would undergo a total overhall. The team was renamed the Connecticut Sun, and received new team colors. The team would then acquire former University of Connecticut star Rebecca Lobo. The Sun would lose their first ever game in Connecticut, 79 to 72, to the Houston Comets. But, the Sun would have a stellar season, posting an 18-16 record, good enough to make the playoffs. In the first round, the Sun would win their first playoff series in franchise (includes the Orlando years) history, sweeping the Charlotte Sting 2-0. But, in the East finals, the Sun would be swept by the Detroit Shock, who were on their way to a championship.
In 2004 they drafted Minnesota Golden Gophers star Lindsay Whalen amidst rumors they would trade her to the Minnesota Lynx. However, she remained on the team, as the Sun posted an 18-16 record, in a terrible Eastern Conference, and winning the #1 seed. In the first round, the Sun would defeat the Washington Mystics 2-1. In the East Finals, the Sun would roll on, sweeping the New York Liberty. The Sun had made it to the WNBA Finals in their second season of existence. In the Finals, their run would end, as they lost a hard-fought series three-game series 2-1 to the Seattle Storm.
In 2005, the Sun acquired center Margo Dydek. With a dominant center, the hungry Sun would dominate the Eastern Conference, posting a 26-8 record, the best regular season record for an Eastern conference team in WNBA history. [2] In the playoffs, the Sun would fly to the WNBA Finals, sweeping the Detroit Shock and Indiana Fever. In the 2005 WNBA Finals, the Sun were matched up against an equally dominant Sacramento Monarchs team. Also working against the Sun, Lindsay Whalen played through the series with injuries. The Sun had home-court advantage, but it would be of no use, as the Sun lost the Finals for the second straight year 3 games to 1, in the first WNBA Finals played in a best of 5 format.
In 2006, the Sun would match their 2005 record, and it looked like a return trip to the Finals was certain. In the playoffs, the Sun would quickly sweep the Mystics. But in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Sun were upset by one of their nemesis', the Detroit Shock, 2 games to 1.
In 2007, the Sun took a step backwards record-wise, posting a 19-16 record. It was enough to win the #3 seed in the Eastern Conference. In the playoffs, the Sun would face the Indiana Fever in the first round. The Sun had beaten the Fever many times in the regular season and the playoffs in years past, creating a fierce rivalry between the two teams. The Sun would win game 1 at home, blowing out the Fever. But, with their backs against the wall, the Fever would rally and win games 2 & 3 in Indiana, ending the Sun's 2007 season.
Since moving to Connecticut, the team has been a huge success both on and off the court. The team's attendance has risen each year since its arrival in Connecticut, and in 2005 the Sun hosted the 2005 WNBA All-Star game. Along with the New York Liberty, the Sun are one of the most successful teams in the WNBA yet to win a championship. The Sun also have three main rivals, the Shock, the Fever, and the Liberty.
Season-by-Season Records
Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win-Loss %
| Season | W | L | % | Playoffs | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orlando Miracle | |||||
| 1999 | 15 | 17 | .469 | ||
| 2000 | 16 | 16 | .500 | Lost First Round | Cleveland 2, Orlando 1 |
| 2001 | 13 | 19 | .406 | ||
| 2002 | 16 | 16 | .500 | ||
| Connecticut Sun | |||||
| 2003 | 18 | 16 | .529 | Won First Round Lost Conference Finals |
Connecticut 2, Charlotte 0 Detroit 2, Connecticut 0 |
| 2004 | 18 | 16 | .529 | Won First Round Won Conference Finals Lost WNBA Finals |
Connecticut 2, Washington 1 Connecticut 2, New York 0 Seattle 2, Connecticut 1 |
| 2005 | 26 | 8 | .765 | Won First Round Won Conference Finals Lost WNBA Finals |
Connecticut 2, Detroit 0 Connecticut 2, Indiana 0 Sacramento 3, Connecticut 1 |
| 2006 | 26 | 8 | .765 | Won First Round Lost Conference Finals |
Connecticut 2, Washington 0 Detroit 2, Connecticut 1 |
| 2007 | 19 | 16 | .543 | Lost First Round | Indiana 2, Connecticut 1 |
| Totals | 167 | 132 | .559 | ||
| Playoffs | 16 | 12 | .571 | ||
Stats updated September 15, 2007
Players of note
Hall of Famers
none
Retired numbers
none
Not to be forgotten
- Debbie Black, assistant coach at Ohio State University
- Rebecca Lobo
- Carla McGhee, now a Director of Player Personnel for the WNBA front office
- Taj McWilliams-Franklin
Current Roster
Coaches and others
Head Coaches:
- Carolyn Peck (1999-2001), now a basketball analyst at ESPN
- Dee Brown (2002)
- Mike Thibault (2003-Present)
Trivia
- In 2006 the Connecticut Sun named all 5 starters to the WNBA Eastern Conference All-Star team: Douglas, Dydek, McWilliams-Franklin, Sales, and Whalen. This feat had never before been achieved in NBA history.
External links
| Eastern Conference | Western Conference |
|---|---|
| Chicago Sky | Connecticut Sun | Detroit Shock | Indiana Fever | New York Liberty | Washington Mystics | Houston Comets | Los Angeles Sparks | Minnesota Lynx | Phoenix Mercury | Sacramento Monarchs | San Antonio Silver Stars | Seattle Storm |
| Defunct teams: Charlotte Sting | Cleveland Rockers | Miami Sol | Portland Fire | |
| Media: WNBA on ESPN | List of WNBA Finals broadcasters | |
| Other Women's Leagues: National Women's Basketball League | Women's National Basketball League (Australia) | |
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