Established
1999
City
Orlando – Connecticut
League History
1999 – Present / Women’s National Basketball Association
Team History
2003 – Present / Connecticut Sun
1999 – 2002 / Orlando Miracle
Nickname
Sun – The Connecticut Sun is one of the most successful teams in the WNBA and has been around since 2003. But did you know that their name has an interesting origin story? Let's take a look at how this team got its nickname.
In 2002, when the Mohegan Tribe was awarded a franchise to play in Uncasville, Connecticut, they wanted to choose a name that would honor their heritage and location. After much deliberation, they decided on the “Sun” as it symbolized light and energy - essential for any sports team! The logo features two feathers which are common symbols among many Native American tribes, including Mohegan; these feathers represent strength and courage - qualities all athletes need on game day!
This unique combination of symbolism makes perfect sense for such an iconic WNBA franchise like the Connecticut Sun. Not only does it pay tribute to local history, but it also inspires players each time they step onto the court wearing those famous orange jerseys!
Championship
WNBA Championships 0
Arena
2003 – Present / Mohegan Sun Arena
*Orlando*
1999 – 2002 / TD Waterhouse Centre
Owner
2003 – Present / Mohegan Sun
1999 – 2002 / RDV Sports, Inc.
- 2003
- 2004
- 2012
- 2019
- 2021
- 2022
-
Sun Team Creation
Before the franchise relocated to Connecticut in 2003, the team operated as the Orlando Miracle. After the 2002 season, the NBA sold off all of the WNBA franchises to the operators of the respective teams, which placed the league in the middle of team contractions, relocations, and potential labor strife. Since Magic ownership was no longer interested in retaining the ... -
Connecticut Sun won their first Eastern Conference title
On September 19, 2004 — The Sun clinch their first-ever regular season Eastern Conference title with a win at home versus the Indiana Fever. -
Tina Charles 2012 MVP
Tina Charles was named the 2012 MVP of the WNBA, winning 25 of 41 first-place votes. She led the league in the number of double-doubles recorded and set the mark for the fastest player in WNBA history to reach 900, 1,000, and 1,100 rebounds. -
Connecticut Sun reached their third WNBA Finals
In 2019: The Sun reached their third WNBA Finals, led by Jonquel Jones and Courtney Williams, but fell short against the Washington Mystics in five games. -
The Sun secured the top seed in the playoffs
In 2021: The Sun had their best regular season ever, finishing with a 26-6 record and securing the top seed in the playoffs. They also had three All-Stars: Jonquel Jones, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones. Jonquel Jones won her second rebounding title and was named MVP for the first time. However, the Sun were upset by the Chicago Sky in ... -
The Sun hired Stephanie White as their new head coach
In 2022: The Sun hired Stephanie White as their new head coach, replacing Curt Miller who resigned after six seasons. They also re-signed Jonquel Jones and Jasmine Thomas, and acquired Natasha Howard from the New York Liberty.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Sun
The Connecticut Sun, previously known as the Orlando Miracle, is one of women's professional basketball's most successful and beloved teams. The team was founded in 1999 as part of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Since then, they have been a perennial powerhouse, making it to six WNBA Finals appearances and winning two championships. They have also won five Eastern Conference titles since their inception.
Throughout its 20-year history, the Connecticut Sun, formerly known as the Orlando Miracle, has become known for having some of the greatest players ever in women’s basketball. Stars like Nykesha Sales, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Katie Douglas, and Lindsay Whalen all made their mark with this franchise during different eras over time. Even current stars such as Alyssa Thomas continue to make an impact on this storied team today by leading them back into contention year after year for another championship run.
In addition to having great players throughout its tenure with many memorable moments that will live forever amongst sports fans everywhere, what makes this organization truly special is how much they care about giving back both locally within Connecticut but also nationally through supporting various charities across America too! This commitment towards community service has endeared them even further amongst supporters who appreciate all these efforts put forth by ownership & management alike – something which should be applauded given our current climate where social responsibility matters more than ever!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history