2023 Connecticut Sun season
The 2023 Connecticut Sun season was the 25th season for the Connecticut Sun franchise of the Women's National Basketball Association. It was the 21st season for the franchise in Connecticut after relocating from Orlando.

On November 22, 2022, the Sun announced that Stephanie White would be the new head coach for the franchise, after Curt Miller left for the same job with Los Angeles. White previously coached in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, while most recently coaching for the Vanderbilt Commodores women's basketball team.

The season started well for the Sun as they won their first three games of the year, including two in a row against Washington. They would lose their next game to New York, but would win the final game of the month to finish May 4–1. They started off June by winning four of their first five games and they would finish by winning four of six games.  The end of the month also included a four game winning streak. The Sun finished June 8–3. July opened with a loss to Las Vegas but then the sun went on a three-game winning streak. A loss to Phoenix broke that streak, but the Sun followed it up with another three game winning streak. They lost the final game of the month to finish 6–3 in July. They won three games to open August, but followed that streak by losing three games. They ended their three game losing streak on August 20 with a win over Chicago and that win clinched the Sun a playoff birth. They ended the month winning three of four games to finish with a 7–4 August record. The Sun entered September having clinched their playoff birth and being safely in the third seed. The finished the season 2–2 including a final day loss. They finished the regluar season with a 27–13 record and were the third seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs. Their twenty-seven wins were the most in francise history.

As the third seed in the Playoffs Connecticut would host the first two games of a three game series against the sixth seed Minnesota Lynx. Game one started out as a tight affair but Connecticut broke away in the second and fourth quaters to win the first game 90–60. Game two was a closer affair, with the Lynx leading by five points at halftime. Connecticut couldn't break into their lead after the half and eventually lost 75–82. In game three, in Minnesota, the Sun dominated the first half, leading by fifteen at halftime. The Lynx couldn't close the gap, as the second half ended tied. The Sun won the game 90–75 and the series two games to one. The Sun advanced to the semifinals to face-off against the second seed New York Liberty. In the first game of the series Connecticut used a strong second half to win 78–63. In game two, the Sun won the first quarter but the Liberty won the other three quarters and the Sun lost 77–84. Games three and four moved to Connecticut. Homecourt didn't help the Sun in game 3 of the series, as they lost 81–92. In a must-win game four the Sun kept the game close, but ultimately came up short 84–87. The Sun lost the semifinal series one game to three to end their season.

Transactions

WNBA draft

Transactions

Roster Changes

Additions

Subtractions

Roster

Depth Chart

Schedule

Preseason

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 1
| May 10
| New York
| W 63–57
| Brionna Jones (10)
| Rebecca Allen (6)
| Alyssa Thomas (5)
| Mohegan SunN/A
| 1–0
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 2
| May 14
| @ Atlanta
| W 85–68
| Tiffany Hayes (20)
| Alyssa Thomas (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (5)
| Gateway Center ArenaN/A
| 2–0

Regular season

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 1
| May 19
| @ Indiana
| W 70–61
| DeWanna Bonner (19)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| Alyssa Thomas (6)
| Gainbridge Fieldhouse7,356
| 1–0
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 2
| May 21
| Washington
| W 80–74
| DeWanna Bonner (21)
| Alyssa Thomas (16)
| Alyssa Thomas (6)
| Mohegan Sun Arena7,048
| 2–0
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 3
| May 23
| @ Washington
| W 88–81
| Alyssa Thomas (22)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Tiffany Hayes (8)
| Entertainment and Sports Arena3,383
| 3–0
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 4
| May 27
| @ New York
| L 65–81
| Tiffany Hayes (16)
| JonesThomas (8)
| Tiffany Hayes (3)
| Barclays Center7,102
| 3–1
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 5
| May 30
| Indiana
| W 81–78
| Tiffany Hayes (22)
| Alyssa Thomas (17)
| Alyssa Thomas (7)
| Mohegan Sun Arena5,317
| 4–1

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 6
| June 1
| @ Minnesota
| W 89–84
| Natisha Hiedeman (19)
| Alyssa Thomas (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (16)
| Target Center8,124
| 5–1
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 7
| June 4
| Dallas
| W 80–74
| DeWanna Bonner (22)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Alyssa Thomas (6)
| Mohegan Sun Arena5,012
| 6–1
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 8
| June 6
| Las Vegas
| L 84–90
| Rebecca Allen (22)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| HiedemanJones (7)
| Mohegan Sun Arena4,368
| 6–2
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 9
| June 8
| Las Vegas
| W 94–77
| DeWanna Bonner (41)
| Brionna Jones (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Mohegan Sun Arena5,147
| 7–2
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 10
| June 11
| @ Atlanta
| W 89–77
| Brionna Jones (18)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Gateway Center Arena2,690
| 8–2
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 11
| June 15
| Atlanta
| L 88–92 (OT)
| Brionna Jones (28)
| Brionna Jones (13)
| Alyssa Thomas (7)
| Mohegan Sun Arena4,316
| 8–3
|- style="background:#bbffbb"
| 12
| June 18
| @ Los Angeles
| W 83–74
| DeWanna Bonner (20)
| DeWanna Bonner (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Crypto.com Arena6,289
| 9–3
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 13
| June 20
| @ Seattle
| W 85–79
| DeWanna Bonner (20)
| Alyssa Thomas (15)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Climate Pledge Arena7,022
| 10–3
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 14
| June 22
| @ Minnesota
| W 89–68
| Tiffany Hayes (21)
| Alyssa Thomas (9)
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa (4)
| Target Center7,024
| 11–3
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 15
| June 25
| Chicago
| W 96–72
| DeWanna Bonner (26)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| Mohegan Sun Arena6,517
| 12–3
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 16
| June 27
| New York
| L 81–89
| DiJonai Carrington (23)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Mohegan Sun Arena7,344
| 12–4

|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 17
| July 1
| @ Las Vegas
| L 84–102
| DeWanna Bonner (19)
| Alyssa Thomas (5)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| Michelob Ultra Arena8,596
| 12–5
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 18
| July 6
| Seattle
| W 93–73
| BonnerThomas (16)
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (7)
| Mohegan Sun Arena5,479
| 13–5
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 19
| July 9
| Washington
| 92–84
| DeWanna Bonner (28)
| Alyssa Thomas (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (6)
| Mohegan Sun Arena6,558
| 14–5
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 20
| July 12
| @ Chicago
| W 84–72
| Tiffany Hayes (22)
| HayesThomas (7)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Wintrust Arena9,025
| 15–5
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 21
| July 18
| @ Phoenix
| L 66–72
| DeWanna Bonner (19)
| DeWanna Bonner (10)
| Alyssa Thomas (7)
| Footprint Center7,788
| 15–6
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 22
| July 20
| Atlanta
| W 82–71
| Natisha Hiedeman (24)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Alyssa Thomas (7)
| Mohegan Sun Arena8,054
| 16–6
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 23
| July 22
| @ Atlanta
| W 86–78
| DeWanna Bonner (20)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Gateway Center Arena3,209
| 17–6
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 24
| July 25
| @ Dallas
| W 88–83
| DeWanna Bonner (32)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Alyssa Thomas (7)
| College Park Center4,222
| 18–6
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 25
| July 30
| Minnesota
| L 83–87
| DeWanna Bonner (31)
| Alyssa Thomas (14)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| Mohegan Sun Arena8,275
| 18–7

|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 26
| August 1
| Minnesota
| W 79–69
| Alyssa Thomas (21)
| Alyssa Thomas (20)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Mohegan Sun Arena4,894
| 19–7
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 27
| August 4
| @ Indiana
| W 88–72
| Tiffany Hayes (18)
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa (10)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Gainbridge Fieldhouse3,498
| 20–7
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 28
| August 8
| @ Seattle
| W 81–69
| DeWanna Bonner (21)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Climate Pledge Arena10,212
| 21–7
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 29
| August 10
| @ Phoenix
| L 84–90
| Rebecca Allen (24)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Footprint Center7,186
| 21–8
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 30
| August 12
| @ Dallas
| L 81–91
| Alyssa Thomas (26)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Natisha Hiedeman (6)
| College Park Center4,179
| 21–9
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 31
| August 18
| Dallas
| L 75–95
| DeWanna Bonner (25)
| DeWanna Bonner (12)
| Alyssa Thomas (7)
| Mohegan Sun Arena6,584
| 21–10
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 32
| August 20
| @ Chicago
| W 79–73
| Alyssa Thomas (22)
| Rebecca Allen (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Wintrust Arena6,901
| 22–10
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 33
| August 22
| @ Washington
| W 68–64
| Alyssa Thomas (22)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| DeWanna Bonner (5)
| Entertainment and Sports Arena3,058
| 23–10
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 34
| August 24
| New York
| L 90–95 (OT)
| DeWanna Bonner (30)
| DeWanna Bonner (12)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Mohegan Sun Arena9,168
| 23–11
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 35
| August 27
| Los Angeles
| W 83–68
| Alyssa Thomas (17)
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa (11)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Mohegan Sun Arena6,783
| 24–11
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 36
| August 31
| Phoenix
| W 84–74
| HarrisHiedman (18)
| Alyssa Thomas (13)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Mohegan Sun Arena7,794
| 25–11

|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 37
| September 1
| @ New York
| L 58–89
| Tiffany Hayes (11)
| 5 players (4)
| DeWanna Bonner (4)
| Barclays Center8,276
| 25–12
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 38
| September 5
| Los Angeles
| W 90–76
| Alyssa Thomas (27)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Alyssa Thomas (14)
| Mohegan Sun Arena4,783
| 26–12
|- style="background:#bbffbb;"
| 39
| September 8
| Indiana
| W 76–59
| Tiffany Hayes (14)
| Alyssa Thomas (14)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Mohegan Sun Arena5,064
| 27–12
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 40
| September 10
| Chicago
| L 91–102 (OT)
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa (20)
| Olivia Nelson-Ododa (11)
| BrownCarringtonThomas (4)
| Mohegan Sun Arena6,377
| 27–13
|-

Playoffs 

|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 1
| September 13
| Minnesota
| W 90–60
| DeWanna Bonner (17)
| DeWanna Bonner (15)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Mohegan Sun Arena 5,056
| 1–0
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 2
| September 17
| Minnesota
| L 75–82
| Alyssa Thomas (26)
| Rebecca Allen (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (6)
| Mohegan Sun Arena 6,673
| 1–1
|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 3
| September 20
| @ Minnesota
| W 90–75
| Alyssa Thomas (28)
| DeWanna Bonner (10)
| Alyssa Thomas (12)
| Target Center8,724
| 2–1

|- style="background:#cfc;"
| 1
| September 24
| @ New York
| W 78–63
| DeWanna Bonner (20)
| AllenBonnerHayesThomas (7)
| Alyssa Thomas (10)
| Barclays Center9,442
| 1–0
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 2
| September 26
| @ New York
| L 77–84
| Tiffany Hayes (30)
| Alyssa Thomas (8)
| Alyssa Thomas (9)
| Barclays Center10,009
| 1–1
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 3
| September 29
| New York
| L 81–92
| Alyssa Thomas (23)
| Alyssa Thomas (9)
| Alyssa Thomas (14)
| Mohegan Sun Arena9,162
| 1–2
|- style="background:#fcc;"
| 4
| October 1
| New York
| L 84–87
| Alyssa Thomas (17)
| Alyssa Thomas (15)
| Alyssa Thomas (11)
| Mohegan Sun Arena8,196
| 1–3

Standings

Playoffs

Statistics

Regular season

‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

References

External links

Connecticut Sun at ESPN.com

Connecticut Sun seasons
Events in Uncasville, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut Sun