Connecticut Sun Legends

Last Updated on March 15, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

The Connecticut Sun have been one of the WNBA’s steadiest franchises for a long time. They have had MVPs, Finals teams, retired jerseys and a run of stars who kept the club relevant across different eras. Some players built the franchise from the ground up, some carried it deep into the playoffs, and some left such a strong mark that their names still feel tied to the Sun even years later. (sun.wnba.com)

1. Alyssa Thomas

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2014–2024
Position: Forward
Notable achievements:
- Multiple-time All-WNBA selection
- 2023 WNBA Peak Performer in rebounds
- Franchise leader in rebounds
- One of the defining players of the modern Sun era

Alyssa Thomas gets the top spot because her case is built on more than numbers. She became the heartbeat of the team. Connecticut’s official coverage noted that she passed Taj McWilliams-Franklin for the franchise rebounding record in June 2023, and the Sun later highlighted her All-WNBA First Team season and league-leading work on the glass. Over time, she turned into the player most closely identified with the franchise’s recent contender years, and that kind of staying power matters on a list like this. (sun.wnba.com)

2. Tina Charles

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2010–2013
Position: Center
Notable achievements:
- 2012 WNBA MVP
- 2010 WNBA Rookie of the Year
- Four-time All-Star during her Sun career
- One of the most dominant interior players in franchise history

Tina Charles did not spend as many years in Connecticut as some others, but her peak was so strong that it would be hard to leave her this high. The Sun’s official material notes that she was drafted No. 1 overall by Connecticut in 2010, played four seasons there, and won league MVP in 2012. When a player reaches that level and becomes one of the most feared bigs in the league while wearing your jersey, she belongs near the top. (sun.wnba.com)

3. Nykesha Sales

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2003–2004
Position: Guard
Notable achievements:
- Jersey retired by the franchise
- One of the foundational stars of the early Sun years
- Key figure in helping establish the team’s identity in Connecticut

Nykesha Sales ranks this high because she represents the start of real Connecticut Sun history. Her number hanging in the rafters says plenty on its own. The team’s official jersey-retirement coverage for Katie Douglas identified Sales as one of the franchise legends already honored in the rafters, and that tells you how strongly the organization values her place in its story. She helped give the Sun credibility early, and that kind of impact lasts long after a playing career ends. (sun.wnba.com)

4. Jonquel Jones

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2016–2022
Position: Forward/Center
Notable achievements:
- 2021 WNBA MVP
- 2018 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year
- 2017 WNBA Most Improved Player
- Three-time WNBA Peak Performer in rebounding

Jonquel Jones had one of the highest peaks any Sun player has ever reached. Connecticut’s official MVP announcement made that clear in 2021, and the team also noted that she won the rebounding Peak Performer award for the third time that same season. She was not just excellent; she was matchup-breaking at her best. When a player gives a franchise an MVP season and anchors one of its strongest title pushes, she is a lock for this list. (sun.wnba.com)

5. Lindsay Whalen

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2004–2010
Position: Guard
Notable achievements:
- Jersey retired by the franchise
- Led Connecticut to multiple Finals appearances
- One of the best point guards in team history
- Cornerstone of the mid-2000s Sun contenders

Lindsay Whalen helped turn Connecticut into a team people had to take seriously every season. The Sun retired her No. 13 in 2019, and that was not ceremonial fluff. She was the floor general on some of the best teams the franchise has ever had and was central to those runs to the WNBA Finals. Some stars put up numbers; Whalen helped set a standard. (sun.wnba.com)

6. Taj McWilliams-Franklin

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2003–2010
Position: Center/Forward
Notable achievements:
- Five-time All-Star with the franchise
- Helped lead the Sun to the 2004 and 2005 WNBA Finals
- Honored in the rafters by Connecticut
- One of the most important frontcourt players in franchise history

Taj McWilliams-Franklin has a stronger case than people sometimes remember. When Connecticut honored her in 2023, the team highlighted that she was a five-time All-Star with the Sun and helped the club win the Eastern Conference regular-season title and reach the WNBA Finals in both 2004 and 2005. That is not background contribution. That is centerpiece-level value on elite teams. (sun.wnba.com)

7. Katie Douglas

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2008–2013
Position: Guard/Forward
Notable achievements:
- Jersey retired by the franchise
- One of the best three-point shooters in team history
- Multiple-time All-Star
- Major scorer on playoff teams

Katie Douglas brought skill, edge and reliability to some very good Connecticut teams. When the Sun retired her No. 23, the club described her as one of the greatest three-point shooters in franchise history. That fits. She was a high-level perimeter player who could stretch the floor, score in bunches and make big shots without needing a lot of fanfare around her. (sun.wnba.com)

8. Margo Dydek

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2003–2004
Position: Center
Notable achievements:
- Jersey retired by the franchise
- Early defensive anchor
- One of the most recognizable players in franchise history

Margo Dydek did not spend forever with the Sun, but she left a mark that was impossible to miss. Her number is up in the rafters with the franchise’s other honored legends, and her presence helped give those early Connecticut teams a real interior backbone. She was one of those players who changed the geometry of the court just by being out there, and that made her part of the franchise’s foundation years. (sun.wnba.com)

9. Jasmine Thomas

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2015–2022
Position: Guard
Notable achievements:
- Multi-time WNBA All-Defensive selection
- Team captain
- Starting guard on several deep playoff teams
- Key backcourt leader of the late-2010s and early-2020s Sun

Jasmine Thomas deserves this spot because she was one of the players who held the Sun together during a long winning stretch. Connecticut’s official releases note that she made the All-Defensive First Team multiple times, including in 2018, and later described her as the team’s point guard and captain. She was tough, organised, and dependable, and every good Sun team of that period seemed to work better because she was in it. (sun.wnba.com)

10. Asjha Jones

Years with Connecticut Sun: 2003–2012
Position: Forward
Notable achievements:
- Honored in the rafters by the franchise
- Longtime frontcourt mainstay
- Important piece on multiple high-level Sun teams
- One of the most respected veterans in team history

Asjha Jones rounds out the top 10 because she gave Connecticut a long run of quality and was part of the fabric of the franchise for years. The Sun’s 2022 season review noted that her No. 15 was added to the rafters during the team’s 20th anniversary celebration. That recognition was deserved. She may not always be the first name casual fans remember, but anyone looking honestly at Sun history knows she mattered. (sun.wnba.com)

Honorable mentions

DeWanna Bonner
Brionna Jones
Courtney Williams
Chiney Ogwumike

Bonner and Brionna Jones both have strong cases because they were major figures on recent Connecticut contenders, while Courtney Williams and Chiney Ogwumike each had memorable stretches with the franchise as well. (sun.wnba.com)

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