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
Miracle – If you’re a sports fan in Orlando, chances are you know all about the city's WNBA team: the Miracle. But do you know where their name came from?
The Miracle was founded in 1999, and it got its nickname from an essay contest held by the Orlando Sentinel newspaper. The winning entry was submitted by Heather Taggart of Winter Park, Florida, who wrote “Miracle” because she felt that it embodied what women can accomplish when given a chance to compete on equal footing with men.
The name also pays homage to one of Central Florida’s most beloved attractions - Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom theme park outside downtown Orlando. The park opened its gates for business on October 1st, 1971, and has since become an iconic symbol for locals and visitors alike!
In addition to this connection, “miracle” also serves as a reminder that anything is possible if we set our minds towards achieving it – something that resonates deeply with athletes everywhere, particularly those playing professional basketball at such high levels! This spirit has been evident throughout the history of this franchise; since joining forces with Shaquille O'Neal (who purchased a majority ownership stake) back in 2004, they have gone on three consecutive playoff appearances, including two conference finals berths, before finally capturing their first-ever championship title last season!
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.
- 1998
- 2002
-
Miracle Team Creation
The Orlando Miracle joined the Women’s National Basketball Association as an expansion franchise for the league’s third season in the summer of 1999. At the time, all WNBA clubs were located in NBA markets and operated by NBA ownership groups. The DeVos family, owners of the NBA Orlando Magic, managed the Miracle, which shared similar colors, logos, and mystical name ... -
NBA Sold Off WNBA Franchises
After the 2002 WNBA season, the NBA sold off all of the WNBA franchises to the operators of the teams. Magic owner Rich DeVos was not interested in keeping the Miracle, and no local ownership group emerged. In January 2003, the Connecticut-based Mohegan Native American Tribe bought the team. The new owners moved the team to Uncasville, Connecticut, and changed the nickname to the Sun ...
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 Miracle
The Orlando Miracle, presently known as the Connecticut Sun, is one of the most successful teams in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Founded in 1999, they have had a long and illustrious history of winning multiple championships. From their first season, when they finished with an impressive record of 21-13, to their most recent championship victory in 2019, the Miracle has been a force to be reckoned with on the court.
Since joining the WNBA two decades ago, Orlando has become one of its top franchises. They’ve won three Eastern Conference Championships and four division titles throughout their tenure and made six playoff appearances. In addition to these accolades, numerous individual awards have been given to players such as Sue Bird, who was named MVP twice during her time at Orlando, or Taj McWilliams-Franklin, who was awarded Defensive Player Of The Year honors back in the 2004/2005 season.
The future looks bright for this team. It continues to attract some of basketball’s biggest stars, like Candace Parker and Sylvia Fowles, while developing young talent through its draft picks, such as A'ja Wilson from South Carolina University last year, 2018/2019 season. With all these assets combined, fans can expect more success coming soon from The Pride Of Florida—The Orlando Miracle!
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history