WNBA: Will Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner leave the Connecticut Sun?

Since their 2024 season ended with a loss to the Minnesota Lynx in Game 5 of the semifinals, the Connecticut Sun have experienced significant change.

Head coach Stephanie White, the 2023 WNBA Coach of the Year who complied a 55-25 record across two seasons in Connecticut, was lured to the Indiana Fever, returning to her home state. The Sun subsequently hired Rachid Meziane, bringing the experienced European coach to Uncasville.

More change is coming to Connecticut during free agency. And as with White’s move, the organization might not have much control over what unfolds. While they can hope that the members of the team’s title-contending core choose to stay in Connecticut, they have to be prepared for an alternative future for the franchise. In short, new general manger Morgan Tuck does not have any easy job in her first offseason at the helm.

Here’s where the Sun stand entering free agency, followed by three big questions facing Connecticut:

Facts and figures*

Players under contract (contract status; 2025 salary)

• Tyasha Harris (unprotected; $100,013)
• Marina Mabrey (protected veteran; $210,000)
• Olivia Nelson-Ododa (protected rookie scale; $80,823)

Free agent (type; 2024 salary)

• Caitlin Bickle (reserved; $22,231)
• DeWanna Bonner (unrestricted; $209,593)
• DiJonai Carrington (restricted; $78,469)
• Brionna Jones (unrestricted; $212,000)
• Tiffany Mitchell (unrestricted; $139,050)
• Astou Ndour-Fall (unrestricted; $125,000)
• Alyssa Thomas (unrestricted; $218,000)

Total salary of free agents: $1,004,343

Total team salary: $390,836

Cap space: $1,116,264

Unsigned draftees (2025 salary)

• LeÏla Lacan ($71,753)
• Abbey Hsu ($65,438)

2025 WNBA Draft picks (2025 salary)

• Round 2, No. 25 ($69,267)

1. What happens with AT and DB?

Photo by Kate Frese/NBAE via Getty Images

Is “The Engine” revving up for her 12th season with Sun? Or, is she ready to motor away to a new location?

When asked about her impending WNBA free agency decision in an Unrivaled press conference, Alyssa Thomas offered little indication of her leanings. Her noncommittal response shouldn’t provide much comfort for Connecticut.

The Sun could choose to core Thomas, although doing so still would not guarantee that she stays in Connecticut. The core designation traditionally served as way for organizations to retain talent and prevent players from exercising their free agency. But in this rising moment of empowerment, players have increasingly blunted the intended purpose of the core designation. Rather than a means of player retention, coring now serves as a last resort for organizations, allowing them to get something in return for a star player who seeks a new WNBA home. This is what happened with Jordin Canada last season, with the Los Angeles Sparks coring her before trading her to the Atlanta Dream. It also seems to be unfolding with Satou Sabally and the Dallas Wings, and, possibly, with Kelsey Plum and the Las Vegas Aces and Gabby Williams of the the Seattle Storm.

So, whether the organization cores her or not, Thomas likely still controls her free agency. She can choose to stay with the only WNBA franchise she has ever played for, or she can maneuver her way to a new destination of her choice. Presumably, Thomas and DeWanna Bonner, partners on and off the court, are a package deal. Either both unrestricted free agents are back in Connecticut, or the Sun will have set on the Thomas-Bonner era.

2. What about DiJonai, Breezy?

Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images

A restricted free agent, DiJonai Carrington has less control over her future. Maybe.

The same spirit of player empowerment that has zapped the core designation could also trickle down to restricted free agency. The ongoing negotiations for a new CBA between the WNBA and WNBPA, the implicit pressure applied by Unrivaled’s player-first ethos and players’ ability to use social media platforms to amplify their intentions combine to reduce organizations’ leverage over their players. If a restricted free agent wants to go somewhere else, she’ll probably get her way. While that may or may not be the case with Carrington, it would be unwise to assume that her restricted status assures that she will be a Sun in 2025.

Twice cored by the Sun, Brionna Jones, an unrestricted free agent, is ineligible to have the designation applied to her once again. So, she will not have to engage in any behind-the-scenes machinations if she wishes to join another team.

Whether or not Connecticut chooses to try to retain her services, however, might depend on the decision of the Thomas-Bonner duo. The Sun have made a frontcourt featuring Thomas and Jones work better than should be possible, as both players are severely limited shooters. Through Thomas’ effectiveness in transition and Jones’ efficiency as a post scorer, the Sun have found enough offensive success, despite a lack of spacing. That said, it has been the offensive end of the floor that has prevented Connecticut from breaking through and winning a championship. And as Beckett Harrison has analyzed, the WNBA’s best teams are beginning to eschew two-big alignments and embrace four-out or five-out offensive systems.

If Thomas stays, Connecticut might need to say goodbye to Jones, even though she is a reliable, All-Star-level player. Alternatively, if Thomas departs, the Sun can choose to build around Jones as their single big, as long as she is amenable to remaining in Uncasville.

3. Is Emma an option?

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Connecticut’s hiring of Meziane, who has served as the head coach of the Belgium National Team since late 2022, surely sparked dreams of a certain former WNBA Finals MVP returning to the league and suiting up for the Sun. Hello, Emma Meesseman?

Meesseman last played in the WNBA in 2022, since choosing to prioritize playing for Belgium, as well as Fenerbahçe in EuroLeague Women. Possibly, the opportunity to play for a coach with whom she is familiar could entice her back to the W? Connecticut certainly should gauge her interest, especially if the Thomas-Bonner tandem returns. The 6-foot-4 Meesseman’s ability to operate as a true stretch 5 would make her an amazing frontcourt partner for the shooting-limited Thomas, while the team would have enough defensive length elsewhere to guard against Messseman’s shortcomings as a traditional rim protector. Even if Thomas and Bonner go elsewhere, Meesseman would offer Connecticut a high-level offensive hub around which to begin building a new era of Sun basketball.

While fun to envision, those Emma imaginings might be a bit farfetched. More realistically, a Sun team that loses the services of Thomas, Bonner and/or Jones will have to work hard to convince free agents to give Uncasville a try. In a world where players increasingly eye markets considered more glamorous, that might require Connecticut overpaying prospective free agents. Maybe Tuck could leverage her UConn connections to convince Tiffany Hayes, most recently of the Las Vegas Aces, to come back to Connecticut? Could another Husky, Tina Charles, close out her career with a full-circle moment and suit up again for the Sun?

Otherwise, targeting younger players by offering them a path to playing time, allowing them to increase their value before, in all likelihood, they hit the market again after the 2025 season and the ratification of the league’s next CBA, could be the Sun’s surest free agency strategy.

*Thanks to Her Hoop Stats for all roster information and salary numbers.