Meet the players who make Connecticut Sun one of WNBA’s best

The Connecticut Sun will be making a trip up the New England coast to face the Los Angeles Sparks at TD Garden on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

It will offer a chance for Boston basketball fans to see one of the WNBA’s top teams over the last few seasons. In 2024, Connecticut (19-7) is once again in the midst of a strong year, second in the overall standings to the New York Liberty despite a loss on Sunday at Atlanta.

Connecticut has been a consistent force since 2019, advancing to at least the semifinals of the playoffs each year in that time. Still, the team’s first WNBA championship has remained elusive; the Sun lost in the finals in both 2019 and 2022.

Though the Sun are not the most prolific scorers, they have an effective style predicated on defense (one of the best in the league) and collective contributions on offense. All five of Connecticut’s regular starters average double digits in points.

Here’s a rundown of the Sun’s roster:

Caitlin Bickle, F: Recently signed to a seven-day contract, Bickle won an NCAA championship with Baylor in 2019. Prior to her latest stint with Connecticut, she featured for Greek club Eleftheria Moschatou.

DeWanna Bonner, F-G: The 6-foot-4 Bonner has been one of the team’s most important players since arriving via trade in 2020, making three All-Star appearances since. Now 36, Bonner remains a force, leading the team in scoring (16.9 ppg) and also grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game.

Veronica Burton, G: Burton was signed to a rest-of-season contract by the Sun at the end of May and has added to the backcourt depth. She will be a recognizable name to New England sports fans, as her father (Steve) and sister (Kayla) are both former athletes who work in local media.

DiJonai Carrington, G-F: Now in her fourth season in the league (all spent with the Sun), Carrington’s role has grown each season. In 2024, the former second-round pick has become a starter in the reworked backcourt, and ranks fourth on the team in scoring (12.6 ppg).

Tyasha Harris, G: Along with Carrington, Harris has gone from a bench role with the Sun in 2023 to a starting guard. She’s also one of the team’s best options from 3-point range, hitting a team-best 36.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Brionna Jones, F: The 2022 WNBA Sixth Player of the Year has subsequently become a regular starter. Third on the team with 13.2 points per game, the 6-3 Jones was selected as an All-Star earlier in 2024.

Marina Mabrey, G: Traded to Connecticut from Chicago shortly before the Olympic break, the former Notre Dame shooting guard has a 14.0 points-per-game average in her first two games with the team.

Tiffany Mitchell, G: Mitchell made the WNBA All-Rookie Team in 2016, and has become a go-to option off the bench since arriving in a trade from Minnesota in January.

Astou Ndour-Fall, C-F: Born in Senegal, the 6-5 Ndour-Fall grew up in Spain and has become a naturalized citizen (representing Spain at the international level). She signed with Connecticut prior to the season.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa, C: The 6-5 center played her college basketball at UConn. She returned to Connecticut in 2023 as part of a trade between the Sun and the Sparks.

Celeste Taylor, G: Taylor is the newest addition to the Sun’s roster, signing a seven-day contract on Aug. 16. A rookie, she was originally drafted by Indiana, and has also featured for Phoenix in the 2024 season.

Alyssa Thomas, F: One of the most dynamic players in the WNBA, Thomas helped Team USA win yet another gold at the Paris Olympics. As the only player in the league to rank in the top five in both rebounds and assists (11.5 ppg, team-best 9.1 rpg), she remains one of the crucial components in the Sun’s title aspirations.

Head coach Stephanie White: In her second season at the helm, White won the WNBA Coach of the Year Award in 2023. Prior to that, she coached the Fever for two seasons, guiding Indiana to a WNBA Finals appearance in 2015.