2005 Connecticut Sun season

2005 Connecticut Sun season
Coach Mike Thibault
Arena Mohegan Sun Arena
Attendance 7,173 per game
Results
Record 26–8 (.765)
Place 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish Lost in WNBA Finals
Team Leaders
Points Nykesha Sales (15.6)
Rebounds Taj McW.-Franklin (7.3)
Assists Lindsay Whalen (5.1)

The 2005 WNBA season was their seventh season and their third in Connecticut. The Sun attempted to return to the postseason for the third consecutive season and were successful. They also attempted to return to the WNBA Finals for the second consecutive year and were successful.

Offseason

WNBA Draft

[1]

Transactions

  • May 16: The Sun waived Maria Conlon and Anna Montanana.
  • May 11: The Sun waived Jess Strom.
  • May 9: The Sun waived Jennifer Lacy.
  • May 5: The Sun signed Taj McWilliams-Franklin to a contract extension.
  • May 5: The Sun waived Erika Valek.
  • May 3: The Sun waived Candace Futrell.
  • April 29: The Sun waived Katie Endress, Beth Swink, Dena Williams, Petra Glaeser, and Shannon Howell.
  • April 27: The Sun signed Beth Swink and Jennifery Lacy.
  • April 22: The Sun signed Jess Strom.
  • April 21: The Sun signed Katie Endress.
  • April 19: The Sun signed Anna Montanana.
  • April 18: The Sun signed Dena Williams and Maria Conlon.
  • April 13: The Sun signed Erika Valek.

[2]

Roster

Connecticut Sun roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 10 United States Carey, Jamie 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 135 lb (61 kg) Texas
F 22 United States Brungo, Jessica 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Penn State
G 34 United States Derevjanik, Jennifer 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 140 lb (64 kg) George Mason
G/F 32 United States Douglas, Katie 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Purdue
C 12 Poland Dydek, Margo 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Poland
F 15 United States Jones, Asjha 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Connecticut
G/F 24 United States Mahoney, Megan (DP) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Kansas State
F/C 11 United States McWilliams-Franklin, Taj (C) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) St. Edward's College
G 31 Australia Phillips, Erin (DP) 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 162 lb (73 kg) Australia
G/F 42 United States Sales, Nykesha (C) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Connecticut
C 14 Australia Summerton, Laura 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 167 lb (76 kg) Australia
G 13 United States Whalen, Lindsay 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Minnesota
F 43 United States Willingham, Le'Coe 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Auburn
F 21 United States Wyckoff, Brooke 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 183 lb (83 kg) Florida State
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Athletic trainer
  • United States Jen Brodeur
Strength and conditioning coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Season standings

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Connecticut Sun x268.765–14–312–513–7
Indiana Fever x2113.6185.014–37–1014–6
New York Liberty x1816.5298.010–78–99–11
Detroit Shock x1618.47110.012–54–1311–9
Washington Mystics o1618.47110.010–76–119–11
Charlotte Sting o628.17620.05–121–164–16

Schedule

Preseason

2005 Game Log: Preseason

Regular season

2005 Game Log: Regular Season

Playoffs

In the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face the Detroit Shock. Since the Sun had the better record, the series would be played with game 1 at Detroit, game 2 at Connecticut, and game 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. Even though Detroit had won three of the four regular season meetings, the Sun swept the Shock and game 3 was not needed. In the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face the Indiana Fever. Again, the Sun had the better record and the series would be played with game 1 at Indiana and games 2 and 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. The Sun swept the Fever and game 3 was not needed. The Sun advanced to the WNBA Finals. The team would be facing off against the Sacramento Monarchs. The Sun had the better record so the series would be played with games 1, 2, and 5 at Connecticut and games 3 and 4 at Sacramento. In the regular season, the Sun had beaten the Monarchs in both meetings. It was not enough, however. The Monarchs beat the Sun 3 games to 1 to win the WNBA Finals.

  • For the third consecutive season, the Sun qualify for the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
  • For the third consecutive season, the Sun advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
  • For the second consecutive season, the Sun advance to the WNBA Finals.
2005 Game Log: Postseason

Depth

Pos. Starting 5 Bench Inactive
C Margo Dydek Brooke Wyckoff Laura Summerton
PF Taj McWilliams-Franklin Asjha Jones
SF Nykesha Sales Le'Coe Willingham Jessica Brungo
SG Katie Douglas Jennifer Derevjanik
PG Lindsay Whalen Jamie Carey

Player stats

Awards and honors

  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Nykesha Sales were named to the WNBA All-Star team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
  • Katie Douglas was named to the All-Defensive First Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was given the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.
  • Lindsay Whalen was given the Off Season Community Assist Award.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named WNBA Player of the Week for the week of June 13, 2005.
  • Lindsay Whalen was named WNBA Player of the Week for the week of June 27, 2005.
  • Katie Douglas was named WNBA Player of the Week for the week of August 15, 2005.

References

  1. ↑ WNBA.com: 2005 WNBA Draft Board
  2. ↑ WNBA.com: 2005 WNBA Transactions
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.