2006 Connecticut Sun season

2006 Connecticut Sun season
Coach Mike Thibault
Arena Mohegan Sun Arena
Attendance 7,417 per game
Results
Record 26–8 (.765)
Place 1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish Lost in Eastern Conference Finals
Team Leaders
Points Katie Douglas (16.4)
Rebounds Taj McW.-Franklin (9.6)
Assists Lindsay Whalen (4.6)

The 2006 WNBA season was their eighth season and their fourth in Connecticut. The Sun attempted to return to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season and were successful. Before the season started, many thought the Sun would make their third consecutive trip to the WNBA Finals, but lost to the eventual champion Detroit Shock in 3 games.

Offseason

WNBA Draft

[1]

Transactions

  • July 24: The Sun signed Jessica Brungo.
  • July 13: The Sun signed Brooke Queenan.
  • June 29: The Sun waived Ambrosia Anderson.
  • May 19: The Sun waived Donna Loffhagen and Jennifer Derevjanik.
  • May 16: The Sun waived Brooke Queenan.
  • May 15: The Sun waived Monique Coker.
  • May 13: The Sun waived Katie Cronin and Jessica Brungo.
  • May 12: The Sun signed Brooke Queenan.
  • May 11: The Sun signed Ambrosia Anderson.
  • April 6: The Sun signed Katie Cronin.
  • March 27: The Sun have agreed to terms with Erin Phillips.
  • March 15: The Sun signed Monique Coker.
  • March 1: The Sun resigned Jennifer Derevjanik.
  • February 28: The Sun resigned Jamie Carey.
  • February 27: The Sun resigned Laura Summerton and Le'Coe Willingham and signed Donna Loffhagen.
  • February 10: The Sun resigned Asjha Jones.
  • February 7: The Sun resigned Nykesha Sales.
  • February 1: The Sun announced the signings of Megan Mahoney and Candace Futrell.

[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/F 32 United States Douglas, Katie (C) 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
G/F 21 United States Hairston, Kamesha 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 146 lb (66 kg) Temple
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 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Kansas State
F/C 11 United States McWilliams-Franklin, Taj 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) St. Edward's College
G 31 Australia Phillips, Erin 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) 162 lb (73 kg) Australia
F 2 United States Queenan, Brooke 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Boston University
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
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Athletic trainer
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.
z - Connecticut Sun268.765–14–312–515–5
x - Detroit Shock2311.6763.014–39–814–6
x - Indiana Fever2113.6185.012–59–812–8
x - Washington Mystics1816.5298.013–45–1212–8
e - New York Liberty1123.32415.07–104–137–13
e - Charlotte Sting1123.32415.07–104–36–14
e - Chicago Sky529.14721.03–142–154–16

Schedule

Preseason

2006 Game Log: Preseason

Regular season

2006 Game Log: Regular Season

Playoffs

In the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face the Washington Mystics. Since the Sun had the better record, the series would be played with game 1 at Washington, game 2 at Connecticut, and game 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. The Sun swept the Mystics and game 3 was not needed. In the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face rival Detroit Shock. Again, the Sun had the better record and the series would be played with game 1 at Detroit and games 2 and 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. Even though the Sun had a better record in the regular season, Detroit had managed to beat Connecticut in all four of the season meetings. Surprisingly, the Sun won game two of the series but went on to lose game three on their home court. Detroit advanced to the WNBA Finals. Had Connecticut advanced, it would have been the third consecutive season the Sun had made it to the WNBA Finals.

  • For the fourth consecutive season, the Sun qualify for the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
  • For the fourth consecutive season, the Sun advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
2006 Game Log: Postseason

Depth

Pos. Starter Bench Inactive
C Margo DydekLaura Summerton
PF Taj McWilliams-FranklinAsjha Jones -- Le'Coe Willingham
SF Nykesha SalesMegan Mahoney
SG Katie DouglasErin Phillips
PG Lindsay WhalenJamie Carey

Player stats

Awards and honors

  • Katie Douglas, Margo Dydek, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales, and Lindsay Whalen were named to the All-Star Team.
  • Katie Douglas was named the All-Star Game MVP.
  • Head Coach Mike Thibault was named Coach of the Year.
  • Katie Douglas was named to the All-WNBA First Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
  • Katie Douglas was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team for the second consecutive year.
  • Margo Dydek was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of July 24, 2006.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of August 7, 2006.

References

  1. ↑ WNBA.com: 2006 WNBA Draft Board Archived 2009-03-01 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ WNBA.com: 2006 WNBA Transactions
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