2006 Connecticut Sun season

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.

2006 Connecticut Sun season
CoachMike Thibault
ArenaMohegan Sun Arena
Attendance7,417 per game
Results
Record26–8 (.765)
Place1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in Eastern Conference Finals
Team Leaders
PointsKatie Douglas (16.4)
ReboundsTaj McW.-Franklin (9.6)
AssistsLindsay Whalen (4.6)

Offseason

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WNBA draft

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RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
228Debbie Merrill  United StatesOhio State
342Marita Payne  United StatesAuburn

[1]

Transactions

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  • 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

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Connecticut Sun roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G10 Carey, Jamie5' 6" (1.68m)135 lb (61kg)Texas
F22 Brungo, Jessica6' 1" (1.85m)165 lb (75kg)Penn State
G/F32 Douglas, Katie (C)6' 0" (1.83m)165 lb (75kg)Purdue
C12 Dydek, Margo7' 2" (2.18m)223 lb (101kg)Poland
G/F21 Hairston, Kamesha6' 0" (1.83m)146 lb (66kg)Temple
F15 Jones, Asjha6' 2" (1.88m)196 lb (89kg)Connecticut
G/F24 Mahoney, Megan6' 0" (1.83m)160 lb (73kg)Kansas State
F/C11 McWilliams-Franklin, Taj6' 2" (1.88m)184 lb (83kg)St. Edward's College
G31 Phillips, Erin5' 7" (1.7m)162 lb (73kg)Australia
F2 Queenan, Brooke6' 2" (1.88m)185 lb (84kg)Boston University
G/F42 Sales, Nykesha (C)6' 0" (1.83m)175 lb (79kg)Connecticut
C14 Summerton, Laura6' 2" (1.88m)167 lb (76kg)Australia
G13 Whalen, Lindsay5' 8" (1.73m)150 lb (68kg)Minnesota
F43 Willingham, Le'Coe6' 0" (1.83m)200 lb (91kg)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

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Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
z - Connecticut Sun268.76514–312–515–5
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

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Preseason

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2006 Game Log: Preseason
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
1May 7DetroitL 58-77Carey (10)Jones (8)Phillips (6)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,272
0-1
2May 9@ SacramentoL 73-74Sales (19)Jones (7)N/AUniversity Arena
6,392
0-2
3May 13@ PhoenixW 96-85Sales (30)McWilliams-Franklin (9)Douglas (4)US Airways Center
2,069
1-2

Regular season

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2006 Game Log: Regular Season
May
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
1May 20New YorkW 91-74Sales (19)Sales (10)Whalen, Sales (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
8,316
1-0
2May 23@ MinnesotaW 81-69Douglas (28)McWilliams-Franklin (11)Whalen (6)Target Center
9,471
2-0
3May 27DetroitL 73-77 (OT)Douglas (18)McWilliams-Franklin, Douglas (7)Whalen (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,738
2-1
August
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
28August 1New YorkW 66-52Jones (22)McWilliams-Franklin, Dydek (10)Phillips (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,159
22-6
29August 3Los AngelesW 72-63McWilliams-Franklin (22)Jones (10)Phillips (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
8,675
23-6
30August 6@ HoustonW 86-67McWilliams-Franklin (21)McWilliams-Franklin (13)Whalen (9)Toyota Center
8,726
24-6
31August 8@ ChicagoW 85-59Douglas (19)McWilliams-Franklin (12)Whalen, Jones (5)UIC Pavilion
3,520
25-6
32August 9@ IndianaW 71-63Jones (21)McWilliams-Franklin (14)Sales (4)Conseco Fieldhouse
7,368
26-6
33August 11IndianaL 68-87Whalen (16)McWilliams-Franklin (5)Phillips (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
9,341 (sellout)
26-7
34August 13@ DetroitL 65-88McWilliams-Franklin (13)McWilliams-Franklin, Sales (5)Phillips, Dydek (3)Palace of Auburn Hills
11,558
26-8

Playoffs

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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
Eastern Conference Semifinals
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceSeries
1August 18@ WashingtonW 76-61Whalen (22)McWilliams-Franklin (14)McWilliams-Franklin (6)Verizon Center
8,547
1-0
2August 20WashingtonW 68-65Douglas (16)McWilliams-Franklin (14)Sales (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,579
2-0
Eastern Conference Finals
GameDateOpponentScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceSeries
1August 24@ DetroitL 59-70Whalen, Phillips (13)Dydek (8)McWilliams-Franklin, Whalen, Phillips (3)Palace of Auburn Hills
9,476
0-1
2August 26DetroitW 77-73McWilliams-Franklin (18)Jones (8)Sales (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,377
1-1
3August 27DetroitL 55-79McWilliams-Franklin (12)Dydek (9)Sales (3)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,820
1-2

Depth

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Pos.StarterBenchInactive
CMargo DydekLaura Summerton
PFTaj McWilliams-FranklinAsjha Jones -- Le'Coe Willingham
SFNykesha SalesMegan Mahoney
SGKatie DouglasErin Phillips
PGLindsay WhalenJamie Carey

Player stats

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Awards and honors

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  • 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

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