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 supplied a one-year contract on the WNBA’s highest doable wage ($249,244) — and that she’s unable to barter with different groups as a free agent this offseason. Up to now, nonetheless, 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 in the marketplace this winter — she was named to the First Workforce 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 — 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 supplied Carrington a qualifying provide. Carrington, the WNBA’s Most Improved Participant in 2024, was an integral a part of the crew’s success final season, usually guarding the opposing groups’ prime guards and averaging 12.7 factors, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per night time. The Solar additionally supplied reserved participant Caitlin Bickle a qualifying provide.

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. Normal supervisor Morgan Tuck advised SB Nation final month that the crew had an “open-minded” strategy to the offseason.

“We’ve had a number of change throughout the final couple of months, and extra change to come back, clearly,” Tuck mentioned. “However, we’re a Connecticut crew, and Connecticut is understood 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 you need 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 Large 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 totally wholesome season through which she averaged 13.7 factors and 5.5 rebounds per sport.

At 37 years previous, Bonner — Thomas’s fiance — seems to have loads left within the tank and might 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 beneath her belt.

Each Bonner and Jones might 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 now we have just a little 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 complete profession with the Solar however has additionally voiced her displeasure with the crew’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 observe facility, nor plans to construct one.

The Solar practices on the Tribal Observe Facility, which is part of the Mohegan Group and Authorities Heart in Uncasville, Connecticut. The crew doesn’t have unique entry to the ability, and final Spring, within the playoffs, Thomas described the actual fact the crew needed to share the court docket with a toddler’s birthday as “the last word disrespect.”

It’s not clear if Thomas’s points with the crew’s restricted facilities will forestall her from wanting to stick with the group. She may desire a change of tempo after spending her complete WNBA profession so far in Uncasville. However, it’s additionally very doable that the crew will attempt to run it again with an identical core to final 12 months. Guards Ty Harris and Marina Mabrey are each again with the crew subsequent season.

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