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2005 Connecticut Sun season

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2005 Connecticut Sun season
CoachMike Thibault
ArenaMohegan Sun Arena
Attendance7,173 per game
Results
Record26–8 (.765)
Place1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in WNBA Finals
Team Leaders
PointsNykesha Sales (15.6)
ReboundsTaj McW.-Franklin (7.3)
AssistsLindsay Whalen (5.1)

The 2005 WNBA season was their seventh season and their third in Connecticut. The Sun attempted to return to the postseason for the third consecutive season and were successful. They also attempted to return to the WNBA Finals for the second consecutive year and were successful.

Offseason

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WNBA draft

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Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 8 Katie (Feenstra) Mattera  United States Liberty
2 21 Erin Phillips  Australia Australia
3 34 Megan Mahoney  United States Kansas State

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Transactions

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  • May 16: The Sun waived Maria Conlon and Anna Montanana.
  • May 11: The Sun waived Jess Strom.
  • May 9: The Sun waived Jennifer Lacy.
  • May 5: The Sun signed Taj McWilliams-Franklin to a contract extension.
  • May 5: The Sun waived Erika Valek.
  • May 3: The Sun waived Candace Futrell.
  • April 29: The Sun waived Katie Endress, Beth Swink, Dena Williams, Petra Glaeser, and Shannon Howell.
  • April 27: The Sun signed Beth Swink and Jennifery Lacy.
  • April 22: The Sun signed Jess Strom.
  • April 21: The Sun signed Katie Endress.
  • April 19: The Sun signed Anna Montanana.
  • April 18: The Sun signed Dena Williams and Maria Conlon.
  • April 13: The Sun signed Erika Valek.

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Roster

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Connecticut Sun roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 10 United States Carey, Jamie 5' 6" (1.68m) 135 lb (61kg) Texas
F 22 United States Brungo, Jessica 6' 1" (1.85m) 165 lb (75kg) Penn State
G 34 United States Derevjanik, Jennifer 5' 10" (1.78m) 140 lb (64kg) George Mason
G/F 32 United States Douglas, Katie 6' 0" (1.83m) 165 lb (75kg) Purdue
C 12 Poland Dydek, Margo 7' 2" (2.18m) 223 lb (101kg) Poland
F 15 United States Jones, Asjha 6' 2" (1.88m) 196 lb (89kg) Connecticut
G/F 24 United States Mahoney, Megan (DP) 6' 0" (1.83m) 160 lb (73kg) Kansas State
F/C 11 United States McWilliams-Franklin, Taj (C) 6' 2" (1.88m) 184 lb (83kg) St. Edward's College
G 31 Australia Phillips, Erin (DP) 5' 7" (1.7m) 162 lb (73kg) Australia
G/F 42 United States Sales, Nykesha (C) 6' 0" (1.83m) 175 lb (79kg) Connecticut
C 14 Australia Summerton, Laura 6' 2" (1.88m) 167 lb (76kg) Australia
G 13 United States Whalen, Lindsay 5' 8" (1.73m) 150 lb (68kg) Minnesota
F 43 United States Willingham, Le'Coe 6' 0" (1.83m) 200 lb (91kg) Auburn
F 21 United States Wyckoff, Brooke 6' 1" (1.85m) 183 lb (83kg) Florida State
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Athletic trainer
  • United States Jen Brodeur
Strength and conditioning coach

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Season standings

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Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Connecticut Sun x 26 8 .765 14–3 12–5 13–7
Indiana Fever x 21 13 .618 5.0 14–3 7–10 14–6
New York Liberty x 18 16 .529 8.0 10–7 8–9 9–11
Detroit Shock x 16 18 .471 10.0 12–5 4–13 11–9
Washington Mystics o 16 18 .471 10.0 10–7 6–11 9–11
Charlotte Sting o 6 28 .176 20.0 5–12 1–16 4–16

Schedule

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Preseason

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2005 Game Log: Preseason
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Record
1 May 1 Minnesota W 76-71 Whalen (13) Willingham (7) N/A Mohegan Sun Arena 1-0
2 May 8 Charlotte W 69-64 Jones (15) Jones (6) N/A Mohegan Sun Arena 2-0
3 May 12 @ Houston L 57-67 Whalen, Sales (14) Dydek, Sales (7) N/A Toyota Center 2-1
4 May 14 @ Minnesota W 91-66 Whalen (16) McWilliams-Franklin (9) N/A Target Center 3-1

Regular season

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2005 Game Log: Regular Season
May
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Record
1 May 21 @ Detroit L 67-78 McWilliams-Franklin (25) McWilliams-Franklin (10) Whalen (7) Palace of Auburn Hills
9,245
0-1
2 May 22 @ Washington W 68-67 Douglas (16) McWilliams-Franklin (6) Whalen (4) MCI Center
11,155
1-1
3 May 28 Phoenix W 85-68 McWilliams-Franklin (25) McWilliams-Franklin (9) Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
9,341 (sellout)
2-1
June
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Record
4 June 4 San Antonio W 80-69 Douglas, Dydek, McWilliams-Franklin (15) Jones (7) Douglas, Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,252
3-1
5 June 7 Seattle W 81-69 Douglas (20) Dydek (14) Whalen (8) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,080
4-1
6 June 10 @ Houston W 77-57 Sales (21) Dydek (12) Whalen (6) Toyota Center
5,736
5-1
7 June 11 @ San Antonio W 78-69 McWilliams-Franklin (17) Douglas, McWilliams-Franklin (9) Whalen (6) AT&T Center
9,772
6-1
8 June 18 Detroit W 73-63 Sales (17) McWilliams-Franklin (10) Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,427
7-1
9 June 20 @ Los Angeles W 90-70 Sales (26) Dydek (10) Douglas, Whalen (6) STAPLES Center
7,246
8-1
10 June 22 @ Seattle L 86-95 McWilliams-Franklin (21) Dydek, McWilliams-Franklin, Whalen (5) Whalen (6) KeyArena
8,120
8-2
11 June 24 @ Sacramento W 61-50 McWilliams-Franklin (15) McWilliams-Franklin (14) Whalen (3) ARCO Arena
10,067
9-2
12 June 25 @ Phoenix W 77-69 Sales (22) Wyckoff (9) Sales, Wyckoff (3) US Airways Center
8,091
10-2
13 June 28 Sacramento W 70-66 Sales (19) McWilliams-Franklin (7) Whalen (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,789
11-2
14 June 30 Minnesota W 71-56 Sales (18) McWilliams-Franklin (9) Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,869
12-2
July
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Record
15 July 7 @ New York L 79-89 Whalen (24) McWilliams-Franklin (8) Whalen (5) Madison Square Garden 12-3
16 July 13 @ Indiana L 53-64 Sales (15) Douglas (7) Whalen (4) Conseco Fieldhouse 12-4
17 July 15 Houston W 70-66 Sales (22) Dydek (7) Whalen (5) Mohegan Sun Arena 13-4
18 July 17 @ Minnesota W 72-53 Dydek (17) Dydek (8) Douglas, Dydek (4) Target Center 14-4
19 July 19 @ Charlotte W 64-55 Douglas (15) Dydek (11) Whalen (6) Charlotte Bobcats Arena 15-4
20 July 20 @ Detroit L 57-66 Sales (17) McWilliams-Franklin (11) Sales, Whalen, Wyckoff (3) Palace of Auburn Hills 15-5
21 July 22 Charlotte W 73-63 Sales (21) Sales (8) Whalen (7) Mohegan Sun Arena 16-5
22 July 26 Indiana W 68-55 Sales (19) Dydek (12) Whalen (5) Mohegan Sun Arena 17-5
23 July 28 New York W 73-70 Sales (21) Douglas, Jones, McWilliams-Franklin (6) Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena 18-5
24 July 30 Detroit L 66-75 Dydek (16) Dydek (9) Douglas (4) Mohegan Sun Arena 18-6
August
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location Record
25 August 2 @ New York W 72-65 McWilliams-Franklin (19) McWilliams-Franklin (7) Whalen (6) Madison Square Garden 19-6
26 August 6 @ Indiana W 74-65 Sales (26) McWilliams-Franklin (12) Whalen (6) Conseco Fieldhouse 20-6
27 August 9 Los Angeles W 64-51 Douglas (22) Douglas (8) Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena 21-6
28 August 11 @ Washington W 80-65 Sales (20) McWilliams-Franklin (10) Douglas, Whalen (4) MCI Center 22-6
29 August 14 Washington W 80-77 Sales (17) McWilliams-Franklin (7) Douglas (5) Mohegan Sun Arena 23-6
30 August 18 Charlotte W 84-70 Whalen (28) McWilliams-Franklin (11) Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena 24-6
31 August 20 New York L 58-64 Whalen (22) McWilliams-Franklin (11) Sales, Whalen (3) Mohegan Sun Arena 24-7
32 August 23 Indiana L 63-69 McWilliams-Franklin (16) McWilliams-Franklin (4) Whalen (5) Mohegan Sun Arena 24-8
33 August 26 Washington W 81-47 Sales (20) Dydek (11) Whalen (4) Mohegan Sun Arena 25-8
34 August 27 @ Charlotte W 78-69 Jones (22) Dydek, Jones (9) Whalen (4) Charlotte Bobcats Arena 26-8

Playoffs

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In the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face the Detroit Shock. Since the Sun had the better record, the series would be played with game 1 at Detroit, game 2 at Connecticut, and game 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. Even though Detroit had won three of the four regular season meetings, the Sun swept the Shock and game 3 was not needed. In the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face the Indiana Fever. Again, the Sun had the better record and the series would be played with game 1 at Indiana and games 2 and 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. The Sun swept the Fever and game 3 was not needed. The Sun advanced to the WNBA Finals. The team would be facing off against the Sacramento Monarchs. The Sun had the better record so the series would be played with games 1, 2, and 5 at Connecticut and games 3 and 4 at Sacramento. In the regular season, the Sun had beaten the Monarchs in both meetings. It was not enough, however. The Monarchs beat the Sun 3 games to 1 to win the WNBA Finals.

  • For the third consecutive season, the Sun qualify for the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
  • For the third consecutive season, the Sun advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
  • For the second consecutive season, the Sun advance to the WNBA Finals.
2005 Game Log: Postseason
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 August 31 @ Detroit W 73-62 Sales (19) McWilliams-Franklin (9) Whalen (5) Palace of Auburn Hills
5,930
1-0
2 September 2 Detroit W 75-67 Whalen (27) Sales (12) Whalen (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,167
2-0
Eastern Conference Finals
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 September 8 @ Indiana W 73-68 McWilliams-Franklin (24) Whalen (7) Douglas (3) Conseco Fieldhouse
8,777
1-0
2 September 10 Indiana W 77-67 (OT) McWilliams-Franklin (15) McWilliams-Franklin, Dydek (7) Whalen, Derevjanik (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,588
2-0
WNBA Finals
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 September 14 Sacramento L 55-79 Sales (23) McWilliams-Franklin (10) Sales (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,157
0-1
2 September 15 Sacramento W 77-70 (OT) McWilliams-Franklin (24) McWilliams-Franklin (16) Sales, Carey, Derevjanik (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,444
1-1
3 September 18 @ Sacramento L 55-66 Sales (17) McWilliams-Franklin (13) McWilliams-Franklin, Whalen, Sales (2) ARCO Arena
14,073
1-2
4 September 20 @ Sacramento L 59-62 Jones (21) McWilliams-Franklin (10) Whalen (5) ARCO Arena
15,002
1-3

Depth

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Pos. Starting 5 Bench Inactive
C Margo Dydek Brooke Wyckoff Laura Summerton
PF Taj McWilliams-Franklin Asjha Jones
SF Nykesha Sales Le'Coe Willingham Jessica Brungo
SG Katie Douglas Jennifer Derevjanik
PG Lindsay Whalen Jamie Carey

Player stats

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Awards and honors

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  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Nykesha Sales were named to the WNBA All-Star team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
  • Katie Douglas was named to the All-Defensive First Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named to the All-Defensive Second Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was given the Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.
  • Lindsay Whalen was given the Off Season Community Assist Award.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named WNBA Player of the Week for the week of June 13, 2005.
  • Lindsay Whalen was named WNBA Player of the Week for the week of June 27, 2005.
  • Katie Douglas was named WNBA Player of the Week for the week of August 15, 2005.

References

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