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 signifies that the 5-time All-Star might 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. Prior 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 high 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 sport 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 getting into the offseason, with Carrington being the one restricted of the bunch.

Photograph by Chris Marion/NBAE through Getty Photographs

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 workforce’s success final season, sometimes guarding the opposing groups’ high guards and averaging 12.7 factors, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per night time. 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. Basic supervisor Morgan Tuck instructed SB Nation final month that the workforce had an “open-minded” strategy to the offseason.

“We’ve had numerous change inside the final couple of months, and extra change to return, clearly,” Tuck mentioned. “However, we’re a Connecticut workforce, 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 must 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 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 he or she’s coming off a completely wholesome season by which she averaged 13.7 factors and 5.5 rebounds per sport.

At 37 years previous, Bonner — Thomas’s fiance — seems to have lots 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 sport. In contrast to Thomas and Jones, she already has a WNBA championship underneath her belt.

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

“There are some gamers that we have now a little bit 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 workforce’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 apply 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 workforce doesn’t have unique entry to the ability, and final Spring, within the playoffs, Thomas described the actual fact the workforce needed to share the court docket with a toddler’s birthday as “the final word disrespect.”

It’s not clear if Thomas’s points with the workforce’s restricted facilities will forestall her from wanting to stick with the group. She can also need a change of tempo after spending her whole WNBA profession to this point in Uncasville. However, it’s additionally very potential that the workforce will attempt to run it again with an analogous core to final 12 months. Guards Ty Harris and Marina Mabrey are each again with the workforce subsequent season.

“You simply have to take a look at the total image and see what makes essentially the most sense,” Tuck mentioned. “What’s going that will help you to stay aggressive, however then additionally set us up for the long run as nicely.”