Connecticut Sun Finals Appearances

Connecticut Sun was also known as the “Orlando Miracle” until 2002. After the owners faced financial restraints, the franchise was sold to the Mohegan Tribe in 2003 who moved the franchise to Connecticut and it was named the “Connecticut Sun”. At one point in time, the Sun was the only franchise not to share its market with an NBA team until the Seattle Supersonics relocated to Oklahoma City.

The franchise made smart moves in their first WNBA Draft in 1999 as they drafted Taj-McWilliams-Franklin with the 32nd overall pick in the third round who went on to play over 7000 minutes and score 3000+ points for the franchise. The franchise drafted Katie Douglas in 2001 and Lindsay Whalen in 2004 who went on to have Hall-of-Fame careers in WNBA. The franchise then drafted Tina Charles in 2010 and Chelsea Gray in 2014 who went on to become one of the best players in their position in WNBA’s history. However, Sun struck gold when Alyssa Thomas joined via trade in 2014 which sent Tina Charles to the New York Liberty. She went on to become the franchise player and leads the franchise in minutes played, points, rebounds, assists and steals as of September 2024. They also added Brionna Jones and DiJonai Carrington via draft and both of them have played a vital role in Sun’s success in the 2020s.

How many championships have the Connecticut Sun won?

Connecticut Sun has not won a WNBA Championship as of September 2024.

Connecticut Sun Finals Appearance History

Connecticut Sun has made four WNBA Finals appearances and has a record of 0-4. They made the finals back-to-back in 2004 and 2005 and lost on both occasions. Their next final appearance came after a decade and a half in 2019 where they lost again to the Washington Mystics. Sun got a chance in 2022 to win the first title in their history but lost to the Las Vegas Aces in four games.

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What teams did the Connecticut Sun lose the Championship Finals against?

Connecticut Sun lost their first final to the Seattle Storm in a clean sweep in 2004. They faced the duo of Lauren Jackson and Sue Bird who were both young and were drafted in 2001 and 2002 respectively. The 2000 Rookie of the Year, Betty Lenox provided the x-factor to the Storm and averaged 22.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game and was named the 2004 Finals MVP.

In 2005, Sun faced the Sacramento Monarchs and lost 1-3 in their second finals appearance. They faced the 1999 MVP Yolanda Griffith and a core of young players in Nicole Powell, Rebekkah Brunson and Kara Lawson. A close-fought series where three games were decided by seven or fewer points as Griffith was the deciding factor. She scored two double-doubles in games 3 and 4. She averaged 18.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game and was named the 2005 WNBA Finals MVP.

Connecticut Sun made the finals again in 2019 and faced the Washington Mystics who were coming off a 2018 Finals loss to the Seattle Storm. The Suns had one of the best frontcourts in the league in Jonquel and Jones and Alyssa Thomas and were favorites for the title. The series went back and forth and a game 5 was played in Sun’s home ground. The Suns led 64-62 at the end of the third quarter but a fourth-quarter meltdown and they lost the game 78-89. Emma Meesseman was named the 2019 WNBA Finals MVP.

The Suns made the 2022 Finals and faced the Las Vegas Aces who were led by the BIG-4 in A’ja Wilson, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray. The Aces defeated the Suns 3-1 and Chelsea Gray was named the 2022 Finals MVP.

Connecticut Sun Last Finals Appearance

Connecticut Sun’s last final appearance (as of September 2024) came in 2022 when they faced the Las Vegas Aces in a best-of-five series and the Aces emerged victorious by defeating the Sun 3-1

In game 1, Thomas dropped a 19-point and 11 rebound double-double which was answered back by A’ja Wilson as she dropped 24 points and 11 rebounds and the Aces won the game 67-64.

In game 2, the Suns fought back through Jonquel Jones who dropped 18 points and 11 rebounds double-double but the trio of Wilson, Plum and Gray dropped a combined 67 points as the Aces won the game 2 by 85-71.

In game 3, the Suns swept away the Aces and won the game 105-76. Alyssa Thomas made history as she became the first player to drop a triple-double in a Finals series. She recorded 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists and led the Suns to their first win in the series.

In game 4, the Suns were defeated 78-71 despite Alyssa Thomas’ second triple-double in the series and the Aces won the 2022 WNBA title by beating the Suns 3-1. Chelsea Gray was named the Finals MVP as she averaged 18.3 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game.