The WNBA’s time in Connecticut is sunsetting.
The Connecticut Sun, an institution of WNBA excellence, both on the court and in the stands, since 2003 are becoming the Houston Comets in 2027 after the sale of the team.
But before the impending relocation and rebranding , Connecticut will celebrate its Sunset Season.
So, what should we expect from the Sun during their 2026 swan song? Will the organization reward the fans in Uncasville and
across New England with one last memorable season? Or, is the future in Houston already directing franchise decisions? Sun fans, script your ideal farewell, or spill any frustrations, in the comments.
1. Is “No wins for Watkins” the edict for the Sun?
It’s unclear how much influence, official or implicit, the incoming ownership and leadership of the Comets has over the current basketball operations of the Sun.
Can Connecticut autonomously make moves? Or, are they expected to adhere to certain expectations, such not trading away future draft picks, clogging the salary cap sheets with big contracts or doing anything else that could have longer-term ramifications?
The moves the Sun do, or don’t, might provide hints.
Thus far, it seems like the Sun are prioritizing the future over the present, as the organization did not protect Marina Mabrey in the expansion draft, allowing her to be selected by the Toronto Tempo.
There’s an argument that leaving Mabrey up for grabs for one of the expansion team was a smart team-building strategy, regardless of who is calling the shots.
Mabrey’s best WNBA season was as a super sub on the 2024 Sun, as she hasn’t proven to have the true star goods required to elevate a team. However, considering Connecticut made her the offensive No. 1 last season, it’s fair for her to want to maintain that role, and receive a contract requisite of it. The Sun could have cored Mabrey and subsequently traded her, but, after her trade request saga from last offseason, Connecticut might have realized that they were unlikely to secure significant assets in such a deal. In short, letting Marina go allowed the Sun to avoid a contract negotiation standoff and/or a difficult trade market.
Alternatively, the Sun could have kept Mabrey and tried to build a roster better suited to support her talents. However, in their liminal state, the Sun are unlikely to be able to attract the kind of star-adjacent veteran free agents that could maximize Mabrey.
But, biding goodbye to Marina does NOT mean the Sun are, or should-be, in full tank-mode. That is, unless that’s the order from on high.
If dreams of JuJu Watkins are dancing in the heads of folks in Houston, is Connecticut supposed to do what’s necessary—lose lots of games—to possibly gift the Comets, and all the bandwagoners suddenly interested in the WNBA, the No. 1 pick? That would be pretty cruel twist for Sun fans.
What’s your assessment of the Sun’s plan for 2026? Should they have protected Mabrey, whether to re-sign or trade her? Are you concerned that the Comets, and not the Sun, are the priority? Whatever the plan, are Sun fans getting screwed? (Yes.)
2. Can any of the Sun’s young players start to make a star leap?
The Sun also might be too good to rack up losses, and the lottery balls that come with them.
No, the playoffs are not a likely outcome for the Sun. Nevertheless, this team is stocked with enough talent to believe that they’re not doomed to defeat after defeat.
Leïla Lacan, in particular, showed a lot during her first season in the WNBA and seems poised for an even better sophomore season. During her 25 games last season, she flashed star upside, twice scoring more than 20 points in game, registering a 14-assist game and averaging over 2.2 steals per contest. She then has turned in a fantastic season competing in EuroLeague Women, helping Basket Landes overachieve and earn a spot in the Final Six. With good size, excellent perimeter defense, an ability to get to the rim and passing chops, Lacan is a a reliable jumper away from guaranteeing a star guard trajectory.
The Sun’s 2025 first-round draft picks also inspire confidence. Aneesah Morrow’s relentlessness on the glass instantly translated to the WNBA, while Saniya Rivers’ top-tier athleticism made her one of the best defenders in the W from the jump. While both need to find a way to more consistent offensive production to become true stars, they project to provide star-in-their-role impact.
The Sun also have two more young players who have a chance of becoming special. Last season, the team swung a midseason trade for Aaliyah Edwards. On Thursday, they took a similar flier on Diamond Miller.
Edwards is coming off an impactful Unrivaled season, setting the league record for double-doubles. As Beckett Harrison explained during Unrivaled, it’s unwise to think Edwards can totally translate her 3×3 success to a 5×5 setting. Beckett also wrote extensively about her struggles to gain traction as a member of the Washington Mystics.
Even so, Edwards has shown enough to hold out hope that this is the season in which she finds her WNBA niche.
The same applies to Miller, who showed hints of stardom after the Minnesota Lynx drafted her No. 2 overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft. Injuries then interrupted her rise. After she was traded to the Dallas Wings last season, she looked particularly out of sorts. But, she is still a 6-foot-3 25-year-old forward who had five games of more than 20 points as a rookie. The book is far from closed on Miller’s W future.
Watching this fivesome blossom should be tons of fun for Sun fans. There’s also a chance that Connecticut continues to acquire more young players stuck in situations similar to those of Edwards and Miller, further stocking the team with players who could rediscover their promise in a Sun uniform.
Do you think Lacan has real star upside? What about Morrow and Rivers? Are you confident that Edwards and/or Miller can become positive contributors in Connecticut? Are there any young players you would like to see the Sun try to trade for? Or, do you think the team needs some vets to provide stability?
3. Who should the Sun hope falls to No. 12 in the draft?
The No. 12 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft will give the Sun another young talent to development.
After projecting Gianna Kneepkens to the Sun in his pre-Tournament mock draft, our Eric Nemchock now has the Sun selecting Iyana Martín, the Spanish point guard prospect, with Kneepkens off the board. Connecticut certainly could use the 3-point shooting of someone like Kneepkens, although Martín, who just turned 20-years-old, possesses more upside. She could also give the team a different guard archetype, allowing for interesting combinations with Lacan and Rivers.
Depending on the team’s plans with Olivia Nelson-Ododa, a restricted free agent, the Sun might look to buoy their frontcourt size, as both Morrow and Edwards are undersized bigs. Eric has Connecticut taking Madina Okot at No. 15; if they’re concerned about another team grabbing her, they could take her at No. 12.
The 6-foot-6 Okot has showed precocious basketball instincts, rapidly increasing her skill and confidence despite not picking up the game until she was 17-years-old. If Connecticut believes in her shooting stroke, her offensive versatility could make for a fascinating frontcourt partnership with Morrow. They pair might also grab every rebound.
Who should the Sun select at No. 12? Would you like to see them invest in the backcourt or frontcourt? Is there another prospect that intrigues you?
