Connecticut Sun fan’s guide: What to know as the 2021 WNBA season kicks off
The Connecticut Sun are back and ready after a long offseason.
The WNBA team opens its season on the road Friday against the Atlanta Dream (7:30 p.m. ET, Twitter) before returning to Mohegan Sun Arena for their home opener on Sunday against the Phoenix Mercury at 7 p.m. ET on NESN and CBS Sports Network.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the 2021 season:
Who are the players on the 2021 roster?
Guard Jasmine Thomas wrapped up her season with the Turkish League on Tuesday, coming away with the championship. Since returning to the U.S., she must complete six consecutive days of negative COVID-19 testing before she joins the team. In the meantime, she’s been temporarily suspended. The Sun will use a hardship waiver to replace her spot on the roster and ensure they have 10 available players until she returns.
Center Jonquel Jones, who opted out of the last season with health concerns, has wrapped up her time with the UMMC Ekaterinburg and practiced with the team for the first time Wednesday. Guard Briann January just completed her season with Sopron Basket in Hungary and will join the team Thursday.
Forward DeWanna Bonner is returning for her 12th season in the WNBA, second with the team. Bonner is a two-time WNBA champion and three-time WNBA All-Star. In 2020, Bonner was named to the All-WNBA Second Team. In her first season with the Sun, Bonner finished third in the WNBA in scoring (19.7 ppg), tied for sixth in steals (1.68 spg) and 10th in rebounding (7.8 rpg). Bonner helped lead her team the WNBA semifinals after the Sun started the season 0-5. In 2019 with the Mercury, she was one of only two players in the league to average at least 17 points and seven rebounds per game while shooting approximately 90% from the line — Elena Delle Donne is the only other WNBA player to accomplish this feat.
Other names on the roster right now include returners Natisha Hiedeman, Kaila Charles, Brionna Jones and Beatrice Mompremier, 2021 second-round draft pick DiJonai Carrington and training camp contract signee Stephanie Jones.
Star forward Alyssa Thomas is out on injury rehabilitation after she tore her Achilles tendon in January playing for the USK Praha in the Czech Republic.
What are some key matchups this season?
The Sun’s home opener against the Mercury will be their first at Mohegan Sun Arena since Game 4 of the WNBA Finals in October 2019. The two team will also meet in Phoenix on May 21 and Sept. 11 The Mercury have a loaded University of Connecticut alumni roster featuring former Huskies stars Diana Taurasi, Bria Hartley, Kia Nurse and Megan Walker.
On May 23, the Sun travel to Las Vegas to meet up with the Aces, who were responsible for knocking them out of the 2020 playoffs in Game 5 of last season’s semifinals. They also face them at home on June 1.
Defending WNBA champion Seattle, with former UConn All-Americans Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart and Katie Lou Samuelson, will host the Sun on May 25 and travel to Connecticut on June 13.
One of the more exciting teams entering the season is the Chicago Sky. With a new look and Candace Parker under their belt, there’s sure to be some heat in at least one of their three matchups beginning with the June 17 game in Chicago.
Delle Donne, the 2019 WNBA MVP, will be back on the court for the Washington Mystics after opting to sit due to pre-existing health concerns last season. The Sun will face the Mystics at home on May 28 and in Washington D.C. on June 29 and Aug. 31.
Sabrina Ionescu and the New York Liberty will play the Sun on July 11 in New York before the WNBA takes a one month pause for the Olympic Games. Activities are to resume Aug. 15.
The season will continue through Sept. 19, totaling 32 games out of the typical 36.
What are the COVID-19 protocols?
The 2021 season starts with limited capacity following CDC guidelines of six feet between seats for safe physical distancing.
Every person who enters Mohegan Sun Arena must wear a mask at all times when not eating or drinking. There will be pre-packaged snack foods available for purchase along with fountain drinks. All food and beverages should be consumed in the person’s seat.
Mohegan Sun Arena developed a no bag policy as of April 1. Only wristlets or handheld wallets are acceptable.
Who can get in and how?
The Sun plan to host both their full and partial plan season ticket holders for the first half of the season up until the Olympic break.
In order to keep the arena physically distant, approximately 2,300 masked fans will be allowed to attend the first nine games through July 9 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Information on groups and individual ticket sales will come at a later date. For more information, call a Sun sales representative at 877-SUN-TIXX (786-8499) or send them a message at tickets@connecticutsun.com.
Where can fans watch the games?
The Sun announced its 2021 broadcast schedule and 2021 broadcast team on Thursday. Brendan Glasheen will serve as the Sun’s play-by-play announcer, Rebecca Lobo, Kim Adams and Monica McNutt will be color analysts while Robyn Brown stands as the sideline reporter.
This season, the Sun have a deal with the New England Sports Network (NESN) to air some games locally. Games should also be available to fans nationally on WNBA League Pass.
Here is the full broadcast schedule (all times ET):
5/14 @ Atlanta Dream, 7:30 p.m.
6/17 @ Chicago Sky, 8 p.m.
5/21 @ Phoenix Mercury, 10 p.m.
5/23 @ Las Vegas Aces, 6 p.m.
5/28 v. Washington Mystics, 7 p.m.
6/13 v. Seattle Storm, 2 p.m.
8/15 @ Dallas Wings, 4 p.m.
CBS
6/19 @ Chicago Sky, 2 p.m.
CBS Sports Network
5/16 v. Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.
5/19 v. Indiana Fever, 7 p.m.
5/25 @ Seattle Storm, 10 p.m.
7/9 v. Atlanta Dream, 7 p.m.
9/15 v. New York Liberty, 7 p.m.
ESPN2
6/29 @ Washington Mystics, 7 p.m.
ESPN3
6/1 v. Las Vegas Aces, 7 p.m.
6/27 v. Chicago Sky, 2 p.m.
7/11 @ New York Liberty, 2 p.m.
8/24 v. Las Vegas Aces, 7 p.m.
Amazon Prime Video
7/1 @ Indiana Fever, 7 p.m.
8/17 v. Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.
9/7 @ Dallas Wings, 8 p.m.
NBA TV
7/3 @ Indiana Fever, 1 p.m.
8/19 v. Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.
8/28 v. Los Angeles Sparks, 7 p.m.
8/31 @ Washington Mystics, 7 p.m.
9/9 @ Los Angeles Sparks, 10:30 p.m.
9/11 @ Phoenix Mercury, 10 p.m.
FINAL GAME on 9/19 v. Atlanta Dream, 1 p.m.
NESN
5/16 v. Phoenix Mercury, 7 p.m.
5/30 @ Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.
6/5 v. New York Liberty, 7 p.m.
7/1 @ Indiana Fever, 7 p.m.
7/3 @ Indiana Fever, 1 p.m.
8/19 v. Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.
9/9 @ Los Angeles Sparks, 10:30 p.m.
NESN+
5/25 @ Seattle Storm, 10 p.m.
6/1 v. Las Vegas Aces, 7 p.m.
6/22 v. Dallas Wings, 7 p.m.
6/27 v. Chicago Sky, 2 p.m.
7/9 v. Atlanta Dream, 7 p.m.
7/11 @ New York Liberty, 2 p.m.
8/17 v. Minnesota Lynx, 7 p.m.
8/24 v. Las Vegas Aces, 7 p.m.
8/26 v. Los Angeles Sparks, 7 p.m.
8/28 v. Los Angeles Sparks, 7 p.m.
8/31 @ Washington Mystics, 7 p.m.
9/7 @ Dallas Wings, 8 p.m.
9/11 @ Phoenix Mercury, 10 p.m.
9/15 v. New York Liberty, 7 p.m.
FINAL GAME on 9/19 v. Atlanta Dream, 1 p.m.
