2005 Connecticut Sun season

The 2005 WNBA season was their 7th season and their 3rd 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

WNBA Draft

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

• 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

Connecticut Sun roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight From 1.5 !G 10 USA ! Carey, Jamie style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 66 !5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) 135 lb (61 kg) Texas 4.0 !F 22 USA ! Brungo, Jessica style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 73 !6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Penn State 1.5 !G 34 USA ! Derevjanik, Jennifer style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 70 !5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 140 lb (64 kg) George Mason 2.5 !G/F 32 USA ! Douglas, Katie style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 72 !6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Purdue 6.0 !C 12 Poland ! Dydek, Margo style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 86 !7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 223 lb (101 kg) Poland 4.0 !F 15 USA ! Jones, Asjha style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 74 !6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 196 lb (89 kg) Connecticut 2.5 !G/F 24 USA ! Mahoney, Megan (DP) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 72 !6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg) Kansas State 5.5 !F/C 11 USA ! McWilliams-Franklin, Taj (C) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 74 !6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 184 lb (83 kg) St. Edward's College 1.5 !G 31 Australia ! Phillips, Erin (DP) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 67 !5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) 162 lb (73 kg) Australia 2.5 !G/F 42 USA ! Sales, Nykesha (C) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 72 !6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Connecticut 6.0 !C 14 Australia ! Summerton, Laura style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 74 !6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 167 lb (76 kg) Australia 1.5 !G 13 USA ! Whalen, Lindsay style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 68 !5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) 150 lb (68 kg) Minnesota 4.0 !F 43 USA ! Willingham, Le'Coe style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 72 !6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Auburn 4.0 !F 21 USA ! Wyckoff, Brooke style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; | 73 !6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 183 lb (83 kg) Florida State	Head coach Mike Thibault (St. Martin's University) Assistant coaches Scott Hawk (Nebraska-Omaha) Bernadette Mattox (Georgia) Athletic trainer Jen Brodeur Strength and conditioning coach Lisa Ciaravella (Lynn University) Legend (C) Team captain (FA) Free agent (IN) Inactive (S) Suspended Injured

Season standings

Schedule

Preseason

Regular season

Playoffs

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.

Depth

Player stats

• http://www.wnba.com/sun/stats/2005/

Awards and honors

• 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

External links