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[Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 WNBA Preview print magazine. Order your copy today online, or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.]
Three years removed from a run to the WNBA championship, the Connecticut Sun have embarked on a bold rebuild, starting with new head coach Rachid Meziane and new general manager Morgan Tuck. Tuck, a former Sun player who has quickly risen through the ranks, should bring a unique perspective to her position as one of the few former players in current front office roles. She’s also the youngest current GM.
On the court, the Sun will welcome an array of fresh faces after losing all five starters and several bench players this offseason. The exodus followed the departure of two-year head coach Stephanie White, who left for the Indiana Fever. In White’s short tenure, the Sun went 55-25 and lost in the semifinals twice.
In one of their most significant moves, the Sun signed veteran center Tina Charles, an eight-time All-Star who is suiting up for her 14th season in the WNBA. Charles, whom the Sun drafted No. 1 overall in 2010, has had an interesting run since sitting out the 2020 Wubble season, signing with Washington, Phoenix, Seattle and Atlanta. She also sat out the 2023 season after a down year with the Storm in which she played a career-low 25.2 minutes per game. However, she returned to sign with the Dream last year and ended up playing a critical role, starting 39 games while averaging 14.9 points and 9.6 rebounds.
More WNBA team previews:
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The Sun also signed Diamond DeShields, a sixth-year guard who played limited minutes for Chicago last season while recovering from 2023 knee surgery. When healthy, DeShields has been a go-to starter for Chicago and Phoenix and a consistent double-digit scorer.
The Sun’s most experienced returning player, Marina Mabrey, is in an interesting place after requesting a trade in February. The franchise denied her request, so she will remain for a second season after ranking second on the team with 14.9 points per game a year ago. The Notre Dame grad has had a somewhat nomadic professional career, having been drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2019 and then playing for Dallas, Chicago and Connecticut.
A few of the other newcomers to watch include Lindsay Allen, Yvonne Anderson, Jacy Sheldon and Abbey Hsu, all guards.
Eight-time WNBA All-Star Tina Charles rejoins the Connecticut Sun this season. Charles played for the Sun from 2010-13 and won the WNBA MVP award in 2012.Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Charles should be a leader for this squad, specifically for Connecticut’s young frontcourt rotation. Though her past few seasons have been a bit of a roller coaster, Charles is one of the league’s most decorated players as a two-time scoring champion, four-time rebounding champion and four-time All-Defensive team selection. At her best, Charles is an extremely skilled scorer who can dominate the paint but isn’t afraid to step out and hit a shot from a few feet away. Although it’s not a huge part of her game, Charles can also knock down 3-pointers, recording a career-high 50 in 2021. She is not the traditional vocal leader the Sun may need, so it will be interesting to see how she embraces that role after a few years as more of a bench contributor.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa is the next-oldest frontcourt regular, with three years in the league, two of them with Connecticut. She averaged 11.8 minutes across 37 games last year but may be in line for a bigger role in 2025.
Outside of those two, there is a lot of opportunity in Connecticut, with a handful of players on training camp contracts battling for a spot in the rotation. Kariata Diaby, a 6-foot-4 center from the Ivory Coast, could be an intriguing prospect out of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball in France. She has been playing with Tango Bourges Basket and posted another strong showing in EuroLeague this season. Her teammate Amy Okonkwo, a 6-foot-2 forward, is another player to watch. She played college ball at USC and TCU, earning Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2018 for the Horned Frogs. She is also a two-time Olympian for Nigeria.
Diamond DeShields reacts during the 2023 NBA All-Star celebrity game at Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Feb. 17, 2023.Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Connecticut is definitely deeper at guard with veterans DeShields and Allen leading the way. Although young, Sheldon brings valuable experience as well after 26 starts as a rookie last year in Dallas.
DeShields, who revealed her private struggle with a tumor in her spine in 2020, is one of the league’s toughest players and easiest to cheer for. She set an ACC record with 648 points as a freshman at North Carolina, then transferred to Tennessee, where she led the Lady Vols with 17.4 points per game in 2016-17. She took that momentum with her into the WNBA as the third overall pick and was a consistent starter for the Sky in her first two seasons.
Understandably, 2020 was a difficult season, but she roared back in 2021, playing 26.9 minutes per game and averaging double digits once again. Last season, in 10 starts and half those minutes, she found a way to contribute in Chicago, but it will be interesting to see how she fits into this very fluid roster.
Allen, whom the Sun acquired via a trade with Chicago, is entering her eighth WNBA season. She started 28 of the 40 games she played with the Sky last year and averaged 6.6 points per game — a tenth of a point shy of her career high. Expect her to be a leading option for the third guard spot.
The Sun will also have Anderson, a two-time Olympian who has played most recently for CBK Mersin in Turkey. The Texas grad made her WNBA debut with the Sun in 2022 and appeared in 11 games.
Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey speaks with an official during Game 2 of the 2024 WNBA semifinals against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center on Oct. 1, 2024.Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
The Sun will have a fascinating camp with a few rotation spots up for grabs behind Charles, Mabrey, DeShields and Allen. Given their approach this offseason, expect Meziane to experiment with different lineups throughout the year as the Sun try to find a new identity. And they clearly aren’t afraid to try out some international talent with the addition of players like Okonkwo.
With so much change, the 2022 championship series run seems like ages ago, but could a Charles comeback lead this new-look Connecticut squad to the postseason? Only time will tell.
Belgian Ballers: Head coach Rachid Meziane led the Belgian women’s national team to its first-ever FIBA EuroBasket Gold Medal in 2023 with a perfect 6-0 record in the tournament and a victory over Spain in the title game. He also led Belgium to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That squad featured WNBA players Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo. Previously, he was an assistant with France’s women’s national team that took silver at the European Championships in 2015, ’17, ’19 and ’21. France won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
DeShields DNA: Sixth-year player Diamond DeShields has already made a sizable mark on the league. Looking at her family tree, it’s no surprise. DeShields’ father and brother — both named Delino — played Major League Baseball, and her mother Tisha was an All-America track and field heptathlete at Tennessee. Her father played 13 years in MLB with stints with the Expos, Angels, Cardinals, Orioles and Cubs. Her brother was drafted eighth overall by the Houston Astros in 2010. He made his debut with the Rangers in 2015 and played five years there before stops in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Her mother was a four-time high jump champion — both indoor and outdoor — during her high school career. At Tennessee, she qualified twice for the NCAA championships.
1. Aneesah Morrow, F, 6-1, LSU
1. Saniya Rivers, G, 6-1, NC State
2. Rayah Marshall, C/F, 6-4, USC
Analysis: The Sun picked up one of the draft’s most intriguing players in Aneesah Morrow of LSU. Morrow is a difficult matchup because she is so mobile despite playing most of her minutes at power forward. And at the rim, she will absolutely body up for a rebound, leading the nation twice in four years and ranking third all-time in total rebounds. She may be in a good position to play big minutes alongside Tina Charles. Connecticut also picked up NC State’s Saniya Rivers, who could provide a big boost defensively with her ability to guard nearly every position. Boasting a 6-foot-5 wingspan, she is a tricky matchup for smaller players.
More WNBA team previews:
Aces | Dream | Fever | Liberty | Lynx | Mercury | Mystics | Sky | Sparks | Storm | Valkyries | Wings
Continue reading...
Three years removed from a run to the WNBA championship, the Connecticut Sun have embarked on a bold rebuild, starting with new head coach Rachid Meziane and new general manager Morgan Tuck. Tuck, a former Sun player who has quickly risen through the ranks, should bring a unique perspective to her position as one of the few former players in current front office roles. She’s also the youngest current GM.
On the court, the Sun will welcome an array of fresh faces after losing all five starters and several bench players this offseason. The exodus followed the departure of two-year head coach Stephanie White, who left for the Indiana Fever. In White’s short tenure, the Sun went 55-25 and lost in the semifinals twice.
In one of their most significant moves, the Sun signed veteran center Tina Charles, an eight-time All-Star who is suiting up for her 14th season in the WNBA. Charles, whom the Sun drafted No. 1 overall in 2010, has had an interesting run since sitting out the 2020 Wubble season, signing with Washington, Phoenix, Seattle and Atlanta. She also sat out the 2023 season after a down year with the Storm in which she played a career-low 25.2 minutes per game. However, she returned to sign with the Dream last year and ended up playing a critical role, starting 39 games while averaging 14.9 points and 9.6 rebounds.
More WNBA team previews:
Aces | Dream | Fever | Liberty | Lynx | Mercury | Mystics | Sky | Sparks | Storm | Valkyries | Wings
The Sun also signed Diamond DeShields, a sixth-year guard who played limited minutes for Chicago last season while recovering from 2023 knee surgery. When healthy, DeShields has been a go-to starter for Chicago and Phoenix and a consistent double-digit scorer.
The Sun’s most experienced returning player, Marina Mabrey, is in an interesting place after requesting a trade in February. The franchise denied her request, so she will remain for a second season after ranking second on the team with 14.9 points per game a year ago. The Notre Dame grad has had a somewhat nomadic professional career, having been drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2019 and then playing for Dallas, Chicago and Connecticut.
A few of the other newcomers to watch include Lindsay Allen, Yvonne Anderson, Jacy Sheldon and Abbey Hsu, all guards.
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Eight-time WNBA All-Star Tina Charles rejoins the Connecticut Sun this season. Charles played for the Sun from 2010-13 and won the WNBA MVP award in 2012.Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Frontcourt
Charles should be a leader for this squad, specifically for Connecticut’s young frontcourt rotation. Though her past few seasons have been a bit of a roller coaster, Charles is one of the league’s most decorated players as a two-time scoring champion, four-time rebounding champion and four-time All-Defensive team selection. At her best, Charles is an extremely skilled scorer who can dominate the paint but isn’t afraid to step out and hit a shot from a few feet away. Although it’s not a huge part of her game, Charles can also knock down 3-pointers, recording a career-high 50 in 2021. She is not the traditional vocal leader the Sun may need, so it will be interesting to see how she embraces that role after a few years as more of a bench contributor.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa is the next-oldest frontcourt regular, with three years in the league, two of them with Connecticut. She averaged 11.8 minutes across 37 games last year but may be in line for a bigger role in 2025.
Outside of those two, there is a lot of opportunity in Connecticut, with a handful of players on training camp contracts battling for a spot in the rotation. Kariata Diaby, a 6-foot-4 center from the Ivory Coast, could be an intriguing prospect out of the Ligue Féminine de Basketball in France. She has been playing with Tango Bourges Basket and posted another strong showing in EuroLeague this season. Her teammate Amy Okonkwo, a 6-foot-2 forward, is another player to watch. She played college ball at USC and TCU, earning Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year honors in 2018 for the Horned Frogs. She is also a two-time Olympian for Nigeria.
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Diamond DeShields reacts during the 2023 NBA All-Star celebrity game at Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Feb. 17, 2023.Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Backcourt
Connecticut is definitely deeper at guard with veterans DeShields and Allen leading the way. Although young, Sheldon brings valuable experience as well after 26 starts as a rookie last year in Dallas.
DeShields, who revealed her private struggle with a tumor in her spine in 2020, is one of the league’s toughest players and easiest to cheer for. She set an ACC record with 648 points as a freshman at North Carolina, then transferred to Tennessee, where she led the Lady Vols with 17.4 points per game in 2016-17. She took that momentum with her into the WNBA as the third overall pick and was a consistent starter for the Sky in her first two seasons.
Understandably, 2020 was a difficult season, but she roared back in 2021, playing 26.9 minutes per game and averaging double digits once again. Last season, in 10 starts and half those minutes, she found a way to contribute in Chicago, but it will be interesting to see how she fits into this very fluid roster.
Allen, whom the Sun acquired via a trade with Chicago, is entering her eighth WNBA season. She started 28 of the 40 games she played with the Sky last year and averaged 6.6 points per game — a tenth of a point shy of her career high. Expect her to be a leading option for the third guard spot.
The Sun will also have Anderson, a two-time Olympian who has played most recently for CBK Mersin in Turkey. The Texas grad made her WNBA debut with the Sun in 2022 and appeared in 11 games.
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Connecticut Sun guard Marina Mabrey speaks with an official during Game 2 of the 2024 WNBA semifinals against the Minnesota Lynx at Target Center on Oct. 1, 2024.Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
Final Analysis
The Sun will have a fascinating camp with a few rotation spots up for grabs behind Charles, Mabrey, DeShields and Allen. Given their approach this offseason, expect Meziane to experiment with different lineups throughout the year as the Sun try to find a new identity. And they clearly aren’t afraid to try out some international talent with the addition of players like Okonkwo.
With so much change, the 2022 championship series run seems like ages ago, but could a Charles comeback lead this new-look Connecticut squad to the postseason? Only time will tell.
Beyond the Arc
Belgian Ballers: Head coach Rachid Meziane led the Belgian women’s national team to its first-ever FIBA EuroBasket Gold Medal in 2023 with a perfect 6-0 record in the tournament and a victory over Spain in the title game. He also led Belgium to a fourth-place finish at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That squad featured WNBA players Emma Meesseman and Julie Vanloo. Previously, he was an assistant with France’s women’s national team that took silver at the European Championships in 2015, ’17, ’19 and ’21. France won bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
DeShields DNA: Sixth-year player Diamond DeShields has already made a sizable mark on the league. Looking at her family tree, it’s no surprise. DeShields’ father and brother — both named Delino — played Major League Baseball, and her mother Tisha was an All-America track and field heptathlete at Tennessee. Her father played 13 years in MLB with stints with the Expos, Angels, Cardinals, Orioles and Cubs. Her brother was drafted eighth overall by the Houston Astros in 2010. He made his debut with the Rangers in 2015 and played five years there before stops in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Her mother was a four-time high jump champion — both indoor and outdoor — during her high school career. At Tennessee, she qualified twice for the NCAA championships.
Draft Recap
1. Aneesah Morrow, F, 6-1, LSU
1. Saniya Rivers, G, 6-1, NC State
2. Rayah Marshall, C/F, 6-4, USC
Analysis: The Sun picked up one of the draft’s most intriguing players in Aneesah Morrow of LSU. Morrow is a difficult matchup because she is so mobile despite playing most of her minutes at power forward. And at the rim, she will absolutely body up for a rebound, leading the nation twice in four years and ranking third all-time in total rebounds. She may be in a good position to play big minutes alongside Tina Charles. Connecticut also picked up NC State’s Saniya Rivers, who could provide a big boost defensively with her ability to guard nearly every position. Boasting a 6-foot-5 wingspan, she is a tricky matchup for smaller players.
More WNBA team previews:
Aces | Dream | Fever | Liberty | Lynx | Mercury | Mystics | Sky | Sparks | Storm | Valkyries | Wings
Related: Athlon Sports 2025 WNBA Preview Magazine Available Now
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