UConn Women Trounce Georgetown for 22nd Big East Title

By Bob Phillips

UNCASVILLE—Playing without star forward Aaliyah Edwards, who suffered a broken nose vs. Providence in the quarterfinals, it was time for sure-fire first team All-American Paige Bueckers to take the reigns in the championship game—and boy, did she ever! The feisty spark plug from Edina, MN, scored 27 points and blocked five shots, leading the 10th-ranked Huskies to a resounding 78-42 victory over Georgetown before 7,918 delirious fans at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The Huskies, who have never dropped a conference tournament contest, captured their 22nd Big East Tournament title.

“A year ago I would have done anything to be in basketball shoes instead of street wear and to be playing in the most important month of basketball,” said Bueckers, who was sidelined with an ACL tear at this time last season. “I wanted to embrace it and have fun. I'm extremely grateful and happy to be playing basketball.”

It was the 29th title overall for the Huskies, who haven't lost in a conference championship contest since 2013, when Notre Dame beat them for the Big East Tournament championship. The tournament then was held in Hartford at the XL Center (then called the Hartford Civic Center).

UConn (29-5), which has been in 20 consecutive conference tournament championship games, has won all four titles since rejoining The Big East in 2020-21 after taking seven straight during its run in the American Athletic Conference. Coach Geno Auriemma said this title was special with all the Huskies have been through this season. Five Huskies were out with injuries.

“I don't think any of them were quite as challenging for this team and these kids,” Auriemma said.

Georgetown, which was making its first championship game appearance in school history, ended the regular season at 22-11 (including the Big East Tournament) and already have the most wins since 2011-12 when they had 23 “W’s.” That was the last time the school made the NCAA Tournament. Despite making a run to the conference finals, the Hoyas are thought to be a long shot to be invited to the NCAAs this season due to an extremely weak non-conference schedule.

“I never thought we’d be in The Big East Championship; be a tournament team,” said Graceann Bennett, who paced the Hoya offense with 12 points. Members of the Georgetown staff wore pink for the championship game in honor of Tasha Butts, the Hoyas coach who died of breast cancer on Oct. 23. Her 42nd birthday would have been Sunday.

UConn played its signature hard-nosed defense throughout the tournament. In the semifinals, the Huskies held Marquette without a point for the final 14:49 of the game. It was the first time a team had been held scoreless for an entire period in Big East Championship Tournament history. In the title game on Monday night, the Huskies held Georgetown scoreless for the first 4:09 and took an11-0 lead before grad student Graceann Bennett put the Hoyas on the board. Georgetown continued to struggle on offense, as the Huskies' lead ballooned to 19.

Bueckers, voted the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament for the second time, had a four-point play with 1:24 left in the opening quarter that staked UConn to a 25-9 cushion. On the next possession, the Huskies swung the ball around the perimeter with all five players touching it before freshman K.K. Arnold nailed a three-pointer from the corner. UConn led 28-11 at the end of the first period.

The Huskies extended their lead to 44-15 midway through the second quarter before the Hoyas went on a 10-0 run, cutting the Connecticut lead to 19. Ashlynn Shade finally ended the Huskies scoring drought with a trey from the corner and the Huskies entered the locker room with a 22-point lead, 47-25, at halftime.

Play was briefly stopped in the third period when Bueckers took an accidental shot to the face resulting in a bloody nose. When she returned, she played a few minutes with gauze hanging out of her left nostrils to stop the bleeding. Bennett also had gauze in her nose from an earlier nose bleed before the half.

Both players were missing their post players. Aaliya Edwards, who broke her nose against Providence in the quarterfinals, was sidelined for the second straight game. She is expected to return for the NCAAs—likely with a mask. Georgetown was playing without Brianna Scott, who hurt her knee with 1:13 left in the semifinal win over Creighton. She was on crutches and had a giant brace on her right knee.

Now it's simply a matter of sit around and wait. The Huskies will undoubtedly be invited to The Dance. The only question is how high they will be seeded. The answer will come on Sunday (March 17) when the NCAA will fill its bracket. ESPN projects a No. 3 seed for the Huskies in the Albany Region. Their first and second round games would be played in Storrs before moving on to Albany.

Sun Announces Several Signings

By Bob Phillips

Photos by Bill Harper

UNCASVILLE—The Connecticut Sun took several large steps this past week to prepare for what they hope will be a title run in 2024. First, the Sun announced that two-time WNBA All-Star and seven-year league veteran Brionna Jones has re-signed with the team on a one-year deal. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are looking forward to a full year with Breezy on the floor,” remarked Sun Head Coach Stephanie White. “She is the ultimate teammate, competitor and leader. She’s worked hard through the process of her recovery and rehab and we are ready to get to work with her.”

Jones, originally drafted eighth overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft, has spent all seven seasons in the league in Connecticut. Last season, the Maryland native averaged a career-best 15.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 steals over 13 games, prior to a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture on June 20 against Seattle. Despite her limited number of games played, Jones was able to record a new career-high in assists with seven against Las Vegas on June 6 and minutes played with 41 minutes played against Atlanta on June 15.

“We are super excited that Brionna Jones will remain in a Connecticut Sun uniform,” said Sun General Manager Darius Taylor. “She was significantly missed last season and having her back will be tremendous for our organization on and off the court.”

A 6-3 center, Jones has earned a plethora of accolades over the course of her career including WNBA Sixth Player of the Year (2022), WNBA All-Star (2021, 2022) and WNBA Most Improved Player (2021). She enters the 2024 season climbing the Connecticut Sun record books where she currently sits ninth all-time in games played (179), 15th all-time in scoring (1,652), ninth all-time in rebounding (793) and 14th all-time in blocked shots (66). She is also currently one of eight players in franchise history to tally at least 1,600 points, 750 rebounds, 150 assists, 150 steals and 60 blocks in a Connecticut Sun uniform.

While rehabbing from her injury this offseason, Jones returned to her alma mater, the University of Maryland, as the Director of Player Personnel for the women’s basketball program. She also is one of six players signed to the WNBA’s Player Marketing Agreement cohort, serving as brand ambassadors for the league and its partners.

BONNER BACK

The next major move for the Sun was re-signing two-time WNBA champion and five-time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner to a one-year deal.

“We’re excited to have DB return to the Sun,” said Sun head coach Stephanie White. “She’s a Hall of Fame player whose legacy extends beyond the court. She’s a cornerstone of everything we do, and we are grateful to have her back.”

Originally drafted fifth overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Phoenix Mercury, Bonner has spent the last four seasons with the Sun after being traded from the Mercury prior to the 2020 season. Throughout her 14-year WNBA career, the 6-4 forward/guard has earned a plethora of accolades including WNBA Sixth Player of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011), WNBA All-Star (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2023), WNBA Champion (2009, 2014), All-WNBA First Team (2015), All-WNBA Second Team (2020) and AP Comeback Player of the Year (2018).

Last season, Bonner started in all 40 regular-season games for Connecticut, averaging a team-high 17.4 points, along with 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. In addition, she set franchise records for most points scored in a single regular season (697) and for most points in a single game with a career-high 41 against Las Vegas on June 8, 2023.

Bonner hit a handful of personal statistical milestones last season, tallying her 1,000th career assist, 500th career three-point field goal and 300th career block in 2023. She joined Tamika Catchings as one of two players in WNBA history to record at least 6,800 points, 2,800 rebounds, 1,000 assists, 550 steals and 300 blocks in their career. Bonner enters the 2024 season climbing the WNBA record books, currently sitting at 6th all-time in scoring (6,881), 10th in rebounds (2,829), 13th in steals (556), 11th in three-point field goals made (565) and 10th in games played (462).

“We’re excited to have DB return to the Sun,” said White. “She’s a Hall of Fame [type] player whose legacy extends beyond the court. She’s a cornerstone of everything we do, and we are grateful to have her back.”

“We are elated to be able to keep DeWanna Bonner in a Connecticut Sun uniform,” added Taylor. “DeWanna’s impact on our team and organization on and off the court is something we treasure. We look forward to her continuing to be a huge part of our organization and helping our quest for our first title.”

BEEFING UP THE PAINT

Next, the Sun announced that Astou Ndour-Fall (pronounced ahh-stoo doo-fall) has inked a one-year deal. Originally drafted No. 16 overall by the San Antonio Stars in 2014 out of Gran Canaria, Spain, the 6-5 center comes to Connecticut after having helped lead the Chicago Sky during the 2021 WNBA season. The 6-5 center also played in Chicago during the 2018 and 2019 seasons, with the San Antonio Stars in 2014 and 2016, and with the Dallas Wings in 2020 over the course of her WNBA career. Over 114 career games in the WNBA, Ndour-Fall has averaged 5.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game.

Born in Dakar, Senegal, Ndour-Fall moved to Spain during her childhood and obtained her Spanish citizenship in 2011. She has been a member of the Spanish National Team since 2014, winning a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2018 FIBA World Cup. Ndour-Fall has found great success playing professionally in the EuroLeague and EuroCup having played with clubs in Italy, Russia, Turkey and Spain. Most recently, she signed with Spanish league team, Gran Canaria, where she is averaging 14.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game.

“Astou brings an all-around dimension to our team with her length, experience and ability to stretch the floor,” said Taylor. “We look forward to her coming back to the W in a Connecticut Sun uniform and providing depth in the paint.”

WELCOME HOME MORIAH!

Next, the Sun offered up some home cooking by announcing the team has signed former UConn star Moriah Jefferson in a sign-and-trade transaction with the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Rebecca Allen. Jefferson’s contract extends through the next two seasons.

Originally drafted second overall by the San Antonio Stars in the 2016 WNBA Draft, Jefferson returns to the Nutmeg State with seven seasons of professional experience under her belt. Last season, the Glenn Heights, TX native played for the Phoenix Mercury where she averaged 10.5 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Prior to Phoenix, the 5-6 point guard played three seasons with San Antonio Stars/Las Vegas Aces, two with the Dallas Wings and one with the Minnesota Lynx. In 2016 Jefferson earned WNBA All-Rookie Team honors, and in 2022 she became one of just 15 players in WNBA history to record a triple-double when she recorded 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for the Lynx on June 28, 2022.

“We are excited to add Moriah to our team,” said White. “She gives us an experienced guard that can impact the game on both ends with her speed, quickness and playmaking ability.”

“We are overjoyed to welcome Moriah back to the Connecticut community and the Sun organization,” added Taylor. “She will have an immediate impact on the court and in the locker room.”

Jefferson left UConn as a four-time NCAA National Champion, a two-time Nancy Liberman Award winner (2015, 2016), a two-time WBCA All-American (2015, 2016) and the program’s all-time leader in assists (659). Jefferson, who along Husky teammates Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck compiled a record of 151-5 through illustrious college careers, marking the most wins by a senior class in NCAA history.

The Sun will tip-off the 2024 season on Tuesday, May 14 against the Indiana Fever at 8 p.m. EST at Mohegan Sun Arena. Stay tuned for radio/television/streaming information on the upcoming season.