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 can be provided a one-year contract on the WNBA’s highest potential wage ($249,244) — and that she’s unable to barter with different groups as a free agent this offseason. Up to now, nevertheless, 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 prime free brokers available on the market 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 yr. She’s additionally the league’s all-time chief in triple-doubles and one among its most impactful defenders.

Final season, the Solar completed with a 28-12 file 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 — had been all free brokers coming into the offseason, with Carrington being the one restricted of the bunch.

Photograph by Chris Marion/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

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 group’s success final season, usually guarding the opposing groups’ prime 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 informed SB Nation final month that the group had an “open-minded” method to the offseason.

“We’ve had a number of change inside the final couple of months, and extra change to return, clearly,” Tuck mentioned. “However, we’re a Connecticut group, and Connecticut is thought for having actually aggressive groups and actually good groups — so I don’t assume we will draw back from that and the expectations round how good we have to be. Nevertheless it 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 Massive 3 of Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones for one more season. At 29 years outdated, Jones has by no means performed for one more group — and he or she’s coming off a totally wholesome season by which she averaged 13.7 factors and 5.5 rebounds per recreation.

At 37 years outdated, Bonner — Thomas’s fiance — seems to have loads left within the tank and may very well 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’ve 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 whole profession with the Solar however has additionally voiced her displeasure with the group’s lack of facilities on quite a few events; Connecticut is one among only a handful of groups that don’t have their very own follow facility, nor plans to construct one.

The Solar practices on the Tribal Follow Facility, which is part of the Mohegan Group and Authorities Middle in Uncasville, Connecticut. The group doesn’t have unique entry to the ability, and final Spring, within the playoffs, Thomas described the actual fact the group 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 group’s restricted facilities will stop her from wanting to stick with the group. She may additionally desire a change of tempo after spending her whole WNBA profession to this point in Uncasville. However, it’s additionally very potential that the group will attempt to run it again with an analogous core to final yr. Guards Ty Harris and Marina Mabrey are each again with the group subsequent season.

“You simply have to take a look at the complete image and see what makes probably 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 effectively.”