Connecticut Sun’s WNBA Free Agency Moves: What It Means for Alyssa Thomas and Team Future

The Connecticut Sun have announced the cored status of 11-year veteran Alyssa Thomas and have extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent DiJonai Carrington. The core designation ensures that the five-time All-Star will receive a one-year contract at the highest salary cap of $249,244, preventing her from negotiating with other teams this offseason. However, history shows that WNBA players sometimes request trades after being cored, leaving Thomas’s future in Connecticut uncertain.

Thomas is among the six WNBA stars to be cored during this winter, alongside Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), and Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings).

As one of the most sought-after free agents this winter, Thomas was named to the First Team All-WNBA for the past two seasons, boasting impressive averages of 10.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per game last year. Furthermore, she holds the record for the most triple-doubles in league history and is recognized as one of the top defenders.

Last season, the Sun finished with a strong 28-12 record but were eliminated by the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA semi-finals. With four starters—Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and DiJonai Carrington—entering free agency, Carrington is the only restricted free agent among them.

Alongside Alyssa Thomas, the Sun have also provided a qualifying offer to Carrington, who earned the title of the WNBA’s Most Improved Player in 2024. Carrington was pivotal to the team’s success, often taking on the task of guarding the top players from opposing teams, and averaged 12.7 points, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game. The Sun have also extended a qualifying offer to reserve player Caitlin Bickle.

This offseason is particularly uncertain for the Connecticut Sun, who have appointed Rachid Meziane, a French professional coach, as their new head coach after the departure of Stephanie White to the Indiana Fever. General manager Morgan Tuck has expressed an “open-minded” approach for the offseason, acknowledging the significant changes the team has undergone in recent months.

“We’ve had a lot of change within the last couple of months, and more change to come, obviously,” Tuck said. “But, we’re a Connecticut team, and Connecticut is known for having really competitive teams and really good teams — so I don’t think we can shy away from that and the expectations around how good we need to be. But it takes time — and you have to have change, and get things set up.”

Will Alyssa Thomas return to Connecticut?

The core designation raises questions about whether the Sun plans to maintain their core trio of Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones for another season. At just 29 years old, Jones has spent her entire career with the Sun and is coming off a fully healthy season, averaging 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.

Despite being 37, Bonner, who is also Thomas’s fiancée, still demonstrates significant potential and could contribute to several championship teams. Last season, she was recognized as an All-Star for the sixth time in her career, averaging 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Unlike Thomas and Jones, Bonner has already secured a WNBA championship.

Both Bonner and Jones may consider other options during free agency, and Tuck recognizes that certain decisions are beyond the team’s control. “There are some players that we have a little bit more pull [with], and some where, ‘hey, they get to choose where they go,” Tuck explained.

Having spent her entire career with the Sun, Thomas has previously voiced concerns about the team’s lack of amenities, as Connecticut is one of the few teams without its own practice facility, nor are there plans to build one. The team currently practices at the Tribal Practice Facility, which is part of the Mohegan Community and Government Center in Uncasville, Connecticut. This facility is not exclusively available to the team, leading Thomas to describe sharing the court during the playoffs with a toddler’s birthday party as “the ultimate disrespect.”

It remains unclear whether Thomas’s grievances regarding the team’s limited amenities will influence her decision to stay. Additionally, after spending her entire WNBA career in Uncasville, she may desire a change. Nonetheless, there is a possibility of the team retaining a similar core to last season’s lineup, with guards Ty Harris and Marina Mabrey returning for the next season.

“You just have to look at the full picture and see what makes the most sense,” Tuck concluded. “What’s going to help you to remain competitive, but then also set us up for the future as well.”