The Connecticut Solar have formally cored 11-year veteran Alyssa Thomas, per the WNBA transactions web page. That implies that the 5-time All-Star might be supplied a one-year contract on the WNBA’s highest potential wage ($249,244) — and that she’s unable to barter with different groups as a free agent this offseason. Up to now, nevertheless, WNBA gamers have requested trades after receiving the core designation, so the transfer doesn’t essentially imply that Thomas will keep in Connecticut.
Thomas is the sixth WNBA star to be cored this winter, becoming a member of Gabby Williams (Seattle Storm), Kelsey Plum (Las Vegas Aces), Kelsey Mitchell (Indiana Fever), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), and Satou Sabally (Dallas Wings).
Thomas was one of many prime free brokers available on the market this winter — she was named to the First Staff All-WNBA in every of the final two seasons, averaging 10.6 factors, 8.4 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals per recreation final yr. She’s additionally the league’s all-time chief in triple-doubles and considered one of its most impactful defenders.
Final season, the Solar completed with a 28-12 document and misplaced to the Minnesota Lynx in 5 video games within the WNBA semi-finals. 4 of their 5 starters — Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, Brionna Jones, and DiJonai Carrington — had been all free brokers getting into the offseason, with Carrington being the one restricted of the bunch.
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Picture by Chris Marion/NBAE through Getty Photographs
Along with coring Thomas, the Solar supplied Carrington a qualifying supply. Carrington, the WNBA’s Most Improved Participant in 2024, was an integral a part of the staff’s success final season, sometimes guarding the opposing groups’ prime guards and averaging 12.7 factors, 5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per night time. The Solar additionally supplied reserved participant Caitlin Bickle a qualifying supply.
It’s an unsure offseason for the Connecticut Solar, who employed Rachid Meziane, a French skilled coach, as their new head coach following the departure of Stephanie White to the Indiana Fever. Basic supervisor Morgan Tuck instructed SB Nation final month that the staff had an “open-minded” method to the offseason.
“We’ve had plenty of change throughout the final couple of months, and extra change to come back, clearly,” Tuck stated. “However, we’re a Connecticut staff, and Connecticut is understood for having actually aggressive groups and actually good groups — so I don’t suppose we are able to draw back from that and the expectations round how good we have to be. However it takes time — and you need to have change, and get issues arrange.”
Will Alyssa Thomas return to Connecticut?
Whether or not the core designation means the Solar intends to maintain collectively their Huge 3 of Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Brionna Jones for one more season. At 29 years previous, Jones has by no means performed for one more group — and he or she’s coming off a totally wholesome season wherein she averaged 13.7 factors and 5.5 rebounds per recreation.
At 37 years previous, Bonner — Thomas’s fiance — seems to have a lot left within the tank and could possibly be a high-level contributor on a number of championship groups. Bonner was named an All-Star for the sixth time in her profession final season after averaging 15 factors, 6 rebounds, and a pair of assists per recreation. In contrast to Thomas and Jones, she already has a WNBA championship below her belt.
Each Bonner and Jones might select to go elsewhere this offseason, and Tuck acknowledged that some free company selections are out of the Suns’ management.
“There are some gamers that we have now slightly bit extra pull [with], and a few the place, ‘hey, they get to decide on the place they go,” Tuck stated.
Thomas has spent her complete profession with the Solar however has additionally voiced her displeasure with the staff’s lack of facilities on quite a few events; Connecticut is considered one of only a handful of groups that don’t have their very own practice facility, nor plans to construct one.
The Solar practices on the Tribal Apply Facility, which is part of the Mohegan Community and Government Center in Uncasville, Connecticut. The staff doesn’t have unique entry to the ability, and final Spring, within the playoffs, Thomas described the very fact the staff needed to share the courtroom with a toddler’s birthday as “the ultimate disrespect.”
It’s not clear if Thomas’s points with the staff’s restricted facilities will stop her from wanting to stick with the group. She may need a change of tempo after spending her complete WNBA profession to this point in Uncasville. However, it’s additionally very potential that the staff will attempt to run it again with the same core to final yr. Guards Ty Harris and Marina Mabrey are each again with the staff subsequent season.
“You simply have to have a look at the complete image and see what makes essentially the most sense,” Tuck stated. “What’s going that can assist you to stay aggressive, however then additionally set us up for the longer term as nicely.”
