Connecticut Solar make first WNBA free company strikes, however future stays unsure

The Connecticut Solar have formally cored 11-year veteran Alyssa Thomas, per the WNBA transactions web page. That implies that the 5-time All-Star shall be provided a one-year contract on the WNBA’s highest attainable wage ($249,244) — and that she’s unable to barter with different groups as a free agent this offseason. Previously, nonetheless, WNBA gamers have requested trades after receiving the core designation, so the transfer doesn’t essentially imply that Thomas will keep in Connecticut.

Thomas is the sixth WNBA star to be cored this winter, becoming a member of Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), and Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings).

Thomas was one of many high free brokers in the marketplace this winter — she was named to the First Group All-WNBA in every of the final two seasons, averaging 10.6 factors, 8.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per recreation final 12 months. She’s additionally the league’s all-time chief in triple-doubles and certainly one of its most impactful defenders.

Final season, the Solar completed with a 28-12 report and misplaced to the Minnesota Lynx in 5 video games within the WNBA semi-finals. 4 of their 5 starters — Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and DiJonai Carrington — have been all free brokers coming into the offseason, with Carrington being the one restricted of the bunch.

2024 WNBA Playoffs - Minnesota Lynx v Connecticut Sun

Along with coring Thomas, the Solar provided Carrington a qualifying supply. Carrington, the WNBA’s Most Improved Participant in 2024, was an integral a part of the staff’s success final season, usually guarding the opposing groups’ high guards and averaging 12.7 factors, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per evening. The Solar additionally provided reserved participant Caitlin Bickle a qualifying supply.

It’s an unsure offseason for the Connecticut Solar, who employed Rachid Meziane, a French skilled coach, as their new head coach following the departure of Stephanie White to the Indiana Fever. Common supervisor Morgan Tuck advised SB Nation final month that the staff had an “open-minded” strategy to the offseason.

“We’ve had numerous change inside the final couple of months, and extra change to come back, clearly,” Tuck mentioned. “However, we’re a Connecticut staff, and Connecticut is thought for having actually aggressive groups and actually good groups — so I don’t assume we are able to draw back from that and the expectations round how good we have to be. But it surely takes time — and it’s important to have change, and get issues arrange.”

Will Alyssa Thomas return to Connecticut?

Whether or not the core designation means the Solar intends to maintain collectively their Huge 3 of Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones for an additional season. At 29 years previous, Jones has by no means performed for an additional group — and she or he’s coming off a completely wholesome season wherein she averaged 13.7 factors and 5.5 rebounds per recreation.

At 37 years previous, Bonner — Thomas’s fiance — seems to have a lot left within the tank and might be a high-level contributor on a number of championship groups. Bonner was named an All-Star for the sixth time in her profession final season after averaging 15 factors, 6 rebounds, and a couple of assists per recreation. In contrast to Thomas and Jones, she already has a WNBA championship below her belt.

Each Bonner and Jones could select to go elsewhere this offseason, and Tuck acknowledged that some free company choices are out of the Suns’ management.

“There are some gamers that we have now slightly bit extra pull [with], and a few the place, ‘hey, they get to decide on the place they go,” Tuck mentioned.

Thomas has spent her total profession with the Solar however has additionally voiced her displeasure with the staff’s lack of facilities on quite a few events; Connecticut is certainly one of only a handful of groups that don’t have their very own observe facility, nor plans to construct one.

The Solar practices on the Tribal Apply Facility, which is part of the Mohegan Group and Authorities Heart in Uncasville, Connecticut. The staff doesn’t have unique entry to the ability, and final Spring, within the playoffs, Thomas described the very fact the staff needed to share the courtroom with a toddler’s birthday as “the last word disrespect.”

It’s not clear if Thomas’s points with the staff’s restricted facilities will forestall her from wanting to stick with the group. She may additionally desire a change of tempo after spending her total WNBA profession thus far in Uncasville. However, it’s additionally very attainable that the staff will attempt to run it again with the same core to final 12 months. Guards Ty Harris and Marina Mabrey are each again with the staff subsequent season.

“You simply have to have a look at the complete image and see what makes essentially the most sense,” Tuck mentioned. “What’s going that can assist you to stay aggressive, however then additionally set us up for the longer term as nicely.”