Sun Finalize 2017 Roster

By Bob Phillips



The Connecticut Sun will open their 2017 season vs. the Atlanta Dream.

UNCASVILLE– The Connecticut Sun finalized their roster on Friday as it prepares to embark on their 15th season in the Nutmeg State.

Eight members from last year’s team will return to tip-off the 2017 campaign: Former UConn star and last year’s first-round pick Morgan Tuck, Rachel Banham, Alex Bentley, Jonquel Jones, Shekinna Stricklen, Alyssa Thomas, Jasmine Thomas and Courtney Williams. Bentley led the Sun in scoring with a 12.9 points per game average, while Jasmine Thomas led the Sun in assists (172) and was third in scoring (11.7 ppg).

“It was better because our core group was back and they know our terminology and the expectations,” said head coach and general manager Curt Miller. “We could add more things quickly. We had a very competitive training camp.”

Perhaps the most prominent final cut—certainly among UConn fans—was former Husky Kelly Faris. Selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, Faris played in 112 games in her four seasons with the Sun, averaging 2.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per contest.

“We appreciate all that Kelly Faris has done for the Connecticut Sun and the entire state,” continued Miller. “I truly appreciate her professionalism and approach to this great game. We wish her nothing but success in the future.”

Jessica January also failed to survive the gallows. Selected No.28 overall in the 2017 WNBA Draft, January totaled 13 points and grabbed eight boards in three preseason games for the Sun. One of the new players Sun fans will be welcoming this season is Jordan Hooper, who was signed by Connecticut off the waiver wire on Wednesday.

Originally drafted out of Nebraska with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2014 WNBA Draft by the Tulsa Shock (now the Dallas Wings), Hooper, a 6-2 forward appeared, has appeared in 100 games with seven career starts. The 2014 Big Ten Player of the Year, Hooper has averaged 4.8 points and 1.9 rebounds per game over the course of her three-year WNBA career.

Newcomers in 2017 include forward Brionna Jones—this season’s first-round pick—along with veterans Lynetta Kizer, Danielle Adams and Jordan Hooper.

“I’m definitely a little nervous,’ said Jones, a 6-3 center who played collegiately at Maryland, “but the fans here are great. I’m really looking forward to this season.”

The Sun will open their 15th season in Connecticut tomorrow night when they entertain the Atlanta Dream. Tip-off at the Mohegan Sun Arena is at 7 p.m. Ticket information is available by calling 877-SUN-TIXX, by email at tickets@connecticutsun.com, by visiting www.connecticutsun.com, or by clicking HERE.

—with staff reports

                                  2017 CONNECTICUT SUN ROSTER

No.          Player                      Pos.          Ht.            DOB                         College             WNBA Exp.
11            Danielle Adams      F/C           6-1           2/19/89                   Texas A&M             5
1              Rachel Banham       G             5-9           7/15/93                   Minnesota               1
20            Alex Bentley            G             5-7           10/27/90                 Penn State               4
15            Jordan Hooper         F              6-2           2/20/92                   Nebraska                 3
35            Jonquel Jones          F/C           6-6           1/5/94                     GW                          1
42            Brionna Jones          F              6-3           12/18/95                 Maryland                 R
12            Lynetta Kizer           F              6-4           4/4/90                     Maryland                 5
40            Shekinna Stricklen   G/F          6-2           7/30/90                   Tennessee               5
25            Alyssa Thomas        F              6-2           4/12/92                   Maryland                 3
5              Jasmine Thomas     G             5-9           9/30/89                   Duke                        6
33            Morgan Tuck           F              6-2           4/30/94                   UConn                     1
10            Courtney Williams  G             5-8           5/11/94                   South Florida           1