Sam Cheung

Saved by the Bell was sacred in my house. This Mr. Belding moment still gets me every time. Rest in Peace, Dennis Haskins.

The Connecticut Sun will be no more following the conclusion of this season, so below we’re highlighting six notable players from 24 seasons of Connecticut Sun basketball ⤵️ 🌞Nykesha Sales: Sales arrived in Connecticut when the Orlando Miracle relocated in 2003 and became the first player in Sun history to earn an All-Star selection. She led Connecticut in scoring for three consecutive seasons and was at the center of the Sun’s early success. Sales averaged (15.2) points and (2.2) steals during Connecticut’s first WNBA Finals run in 2004, then a team-high (15.6) points the following season as the Sun returned to the Finals. 🌞Taj McWilliams-Franklin: Like Sales, McWilliams-Franklin came to Connecticut during the relocation from Orlando and became the centerpiece of the Sun’s frontcourt during its back-to-back Finals appearances. She averaged (12.1) points and (7.2) rebounds in 2004 before increasing those numbers to (13.9) points and (7.3) rebounds in 2005. She was even better during the 2005 postseason, leading Connecticut with (15.9) points and (9.4) rebounds per game. 🌞Lindsay Whalen: Drafted by Connecticut in 2004, Whalen immediately became the starting point guard for the first two Finals teams in Sun history. She averaged (8.9) points and (4.8) assists as a rookie before raising her production to (13.4) points and (5.1) assists during the playoffs. By her second season, Whalen was averaging (12.1) points and ranked third in the WNBA with (5.1) assists per game. 🌞Tina Charles: Charles became the first Connecticut Sun player to win WNBA MVP, capturing the award in 2012 after averaging (18.0) points and (10.5) rebounds while helping lead Connecticut to a (25-9) record. She was one of the greatest rebounders to ever play for the Sun, averaging a double-double in each of her four seasons in Connecticut. 🌞Alyssa Thomas: Thomas has a case as one of the greatest players to ever wear a Connecticut Sun jersey. While she never secured an MVP like Charles or Jonquel Jones, she developed into one of the WNBA’s most versatile players and became the league’s triple-double queen during her time in Connecticut. Over her final five seasons with the Sun, Thomas averaged (13.3) points, (8.8) rebounds, (6.8) assists and (1.7) steals. She helped lead Connecticut to its two most recent Finals appearances, finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting twice and placed in the top five of MVP voting three times. 🌞Jonquel Jones: Jones became the second Sun player to win WNBA MVP when she won the award in 2021. As a full-time starter in Connecticut, she averaged (15.0) points, (9.3) rebounds and (1.4) blocks while playing a major role alongside Thomas in two Finals runs. Jones was also selected as an All-Star four times and won three rebounding titles during her time with the Sun.

"To be your little sister is the greatest honor!" Chiney Ogwumike gives a special shoutout to Nneka Ogwumike ahead of her final road game tonight against the Aces on ESPN 🥹 (via: @espnW)

Doc Rivers will join Austin Rivers this season as part of the NBA on NBC crew! Son: "Doc, you guys are 8-6 on the year" Dad: "Doc? That's my name?" Son: "Why couldn't you have gotten me a mid-level contract this summer?" 😂 teapaw.org/NBA/status/19905733924…