Connecticut Sun have rough hill to climb during franchise ‘reset'
Nothing about the past six months has been easy for the Connecticut Sun.
After six straight trips to the WNBA semifinals with no championship trophies to show for them, change was inevitable.
But what followed was a series of blows that left Connecticut reeling.
Coach Stephanie White left before her contract ended to take the same job with the Indiana Fever, the first major domino to topple this offseason.
A mass exodus of players followed, with all of its regular starters and several other key players wanting out or leaving in free agency.
That left first-year general manager Morgan Tuck to pick up the pieces.
5 Morgan Tuck poses on the pink carpet during the Kicks4Kay Sneakerball, benefitting the Kay Yow Cancer Fund on July 17, 2022, at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT.
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'It's time for a reset,' Tuck told The Post on Friday before the Sun played the Liberty in a preseason game at Barclays Center. 'We knew things are changing, and it's hard to go through that. It's hard … as a new GM and as a staff to take on so much uncertainty, but I think for us, I definitely feel like it's gonna set us up for the future.'
Tuck, at 31 the league's youngest GM, has her work cut out for her. Right now, she's stuck between a rock and a hard place.
'I'll be real honest: You do get overwhelmed,' Tuck said. 'There's moments where you're like, 'What? Oh my God. Like, what's happening.' But I think you trust your work.
'It might look a little crazy on the outside. A lot of people might be saying things because they don't really understand what's going on. But I think for us, as long as we know that we have the vision in sight.'
The Sun hired Frenchman Rachid Meziane as the team's new head coach.
As for filling out the roster, it's been a chore.
Some disadvantages that make Connecticut one of the least desirable franchises to play for are out of Tuck's control.
The Sun play at the Mohegan Sun Arena and split practice between there and the Mohegan Tribal Community and Government Center, a mixed-use facility shared with the general public.
5 A general view of fans in the arena during Connecticut Sun starting lineup introductions before Game 2 of the first round of the WNBA Playoffs between the Indiana Fever and the Connecticut Sun on September 25, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
An infamous incident during last year's playoffs occurred in which a Sun practice was disrupted by a 2-year-old's birthday party.
The Sun haven't shared any plans to revamp their facilities.
That's only part of Tuck's battle.
5 Former player of the Connecticut Sun Morgan Tuck talks to the media during practice during the 2019 WNBA Finals.
NBAE via Getty Images
'Even before the facility race,' Tuck said, 'Connecticut is maybe not the most sexy market that people want to be in.'
Uncasville is the WNBA's smallest market. It's a pain to get to for visiting teams and traveling fans.
Even the team's star, Marina Mabrey, asked to be traded this offseason, though she's since accepted the fact the Sun had to deny her request.
The Sun never really have been a highly requested free agent destination. In the past, they built through the draft and with trades. Tuck plans to follow that path moving forward.
The Sun added former LSU forward Aneesah Morrow and former N.C. State forward Saniya Rivers with the Nos. 7 and 8 picks, respectively, in this year's draft to be part of the team's new core.
5 Tina Charles of the Connecticut Sun gets up a shot against Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty during a preseason matchup at Barclays Center.
Michelle Farsi/New York Post
5 Olivia Nelson-Ododa of the Connecticut Suns protects the ball from Isabelle Harrison of the New York Liberty in the second half of the game at Barclays Center on May 09, 2025.
Getty Images
Rebuilds aren't fun and never have been.
There's no guarantee a team like the Sun will return to its pinnacle or, they hope, break through and win a championship.
As Connecticut enters Year 1 of this overhaul, Tuck is trying to keep the big picture in mind while also trying to stay patient through the process.
'We knew it's hard to totally change a team and then be, like, ready to go Day 1,' Tuck said. 'It's going to take some time. And I think we did a good job with kind of rolling with the punches a little bit. And, you know, making decisions that are going to help set us up for the long term.'
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