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2006 Connecticut Sun season

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2006 Connecticut Sun season
CoachMike Thibault
ArenaMohegan Sun Arena
Attendance7,417 per game
Results
Record26–8 (.765)
Place1st (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in Eastern Conference Finals
Team Leaders
PointsKatie Douglas (16.4)
ReboundsTaj McW.-Franklin (9.6)
AssistsLindsay Whalen (4.6)

The 2006 WNBA season was their eighth season and their fourth in Connecticut. The Sun attempted to return to the postseason for the fourth consecutive season and were successful. Before the season started, many thought the Sun would make their third consecutive trip to the WNBA Finals, but lost to the eventual champion Detroit Shock in 3 games.

Offseason

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WNBA draft

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Round Pick Player Nationality School/team/country
2 28 Debbie Merrill  United States Ohio State
3 42 Marita Payne  United States Auburn

[1]

Transactions

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  • July 24: The Sun signed Jessica Brungo.
  • July 13: The Sun signed Brooke Queenan.
  • June 29: The Sun waived Ambrosia Anderson.
  • May 19: The Sun waived Donna Loffhagen and Jennifer Derevjanik.
  • May 16: The Sun waived Brooke Queenan.
  • May 15: The Sun waived Monique Coker.
  • May 13: The Sun waived Katie Cronin and Jessica Brungo.
  • May 12: The Sun signed Brooke Queenan.
  • May 11: The Sun signed Ambrosia Anderson.
  • April 6: The Sun signed Katie Cronin.
  • March 27: The Sun have agreed to terms with Erin Phillips.
  • March 15: The Sun signed Monique Coker.
  • March 1: The Sun resigned Jennifer Derevjanik.
  • February 28: The Sun resigned Jamie Carey.
  • February 27: The Sun resigned Laura Summerton and Le'Coe Willingham and signed Donna Loffhagen.
  • February 10: The Sun resigned Asjha Jones.
  • February 7: The Sun resigned Nykesha Sales.
  • February 1: The Sun announced the signings of Megan Mahoney and Candace Futrell.

[2]

Roster

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Connecticut Sun roster
Players Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs
G 10 United States Carey, Jamie 5' 6" (1.68m) 135 lb (61kg) Texas
F 22 United States Brungo, Jessica 6' 1" (1.85m) 165 lb (75kg) Penn State
G/F 32 United States Douglas, Katie (C) 6' 0" (1.83m) 165 lb (75kg) Purdue
C 12 Poland Dydek, Margo 7' 2" (2.18m) 223 lb (101kg) Poland
G/F 21 United States Hairston, Kamesha 6' 0" (1.83m) 146 lb (66kg) Temple
F 15 United States Jones, Asjha 6' 2" (1.88m) 196 lb (89kg) Connecticut
G/F 24 United States Mahoney, Megan 6' 0" (1.83m) 160 lb (73kg) Kansas State
F/C 11 United States McWilliams-Franklin, Taj 6' 2" (1.88m) 184 lb (83kg) St. Edward's College
G 31 Australia Phillips, Erin 5' 7" (1.7m) 162 lb (73kg) Australia
F 2 United States Queenan, Brooke 6' 2" (1.88m) 185 lb (84kg) Boston University
G/F 42 United States Sales, Nykesha (C) 6' 0" (1.83m) 175 lb (79kg) Connecticut
C 14 Australia Summerton, Laura 6' 2" (1.88m) 167 lb (76kg) Australia
G 13 United States Whalen, Lindsay 5' 8" (1.73m) 150 lb (68kg) Minnesota
F 43 United States Willingham, Le'Coe 6' 0" (1.83m) 200 lb (91kg) Auburn
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Athletic trainer
Strength and conditioning coach
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Season standings

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Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
z - Connecticut Sun 26 8 .765 – 14–3 12–5 15–5
x - Detroit Shock 23 11 .676 3.0 14–3 9–8 14–6
x - Indiana Fever 21 13 .618 5.0 12–5 9–8 12–8
x - Washington Mystics 18 16 .529 8.0 13–4 5–12 12–8
e - New York Liberty 11 23 .324 15.0 7–10 4–13 7–13
e - Charlotte Sting 11 23 .324 15.0 7–10 4–3 6–14
e - Chicago Sky 5 29 .147 21.0 3–14 2–15 4–16

Schedule

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Preseason

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2006 Game Log: Preseason
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
1 May 7 Detroit L 58-77 Carey (10) Jones (8) Phillips (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,272		 0-1
2 May 9 @ Sacramento L 73-74 Sales (19) Jones (7) N/A University Arena
6,392		 0-2
3 May 13 @ Phoenix W 96-85 Sales (30) McWilliams-Franklin (9) Douglas (4) US Airways Center
2,069		 1-2

Regular season

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2006 Game Log: Regular Season
May
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
1 May 20 New York W 91-74 Sales (19) Sales (10) Whalen, Sales (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,316 		1-0
2 May 23 @ Minnesota W 81-69 Douglas (28) McWilliams-Franklin (11) Whalen (6) Target Center
9,471 		2-0
3 May 27 Detroit L 73-77 (OT) Douglas (18) McWilliams-Franklin, Douglas (7) Whalen (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,738 		2-1
June
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
4 June 1 @ Charlotte W 89-65 Sales (18) Dydek (15) Douglas (5) Charlotte Bobcats Arena
3,632 		3-1
5 June 3 Charlotte W 89-71 Dydek (17) McWilliams-Franklin (15) Sales (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,318 		4-1
6 June 7 @ New York W 75-60 Douglas (17) McWilliams-Franklin (7) Sales, Phillips (4) Madison Square Garden
10,180 		5-1
7 June 9 Seattle W 85-81 Douglas (18) Dydek (12) Whalen (9) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,138 		6-1
8 June 13 Washington W 85-71 Douglas (26) Douglas (7) Whalen, Jones (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,339 		7-1
9 June 16 @ Phoenix L 86-91 Douglas (27) McWilliams-Franklin (17) Whalen (4) US Airways Center
6,378 		7-2
10 June 17 @ Los Angeles L 70-82 Jones (16) Sales, Dydek, Jones (5) Whalen (5) STAPLES Center
7,991 		7-3
11 June 20 @ Charlotte W 90-66 Sales (15) McWilliams-Franklin (9) Whalen (6) Charlotte Bobcats Arena
4,243 		8-3
12 June 22 Minnesota W 79-62 Whalen, Dydek (16) Jones (11) Sales (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,573 		9-3
13 June 23 @ Chicago W 84-79 Sales (23) McWilliams-Franklin (14) Whalen (6) UIC Pavilion
2,818 		10-3
14 June 25 @ Washington L 80-87 McWilliams-Franklin, Sales, Jones (15) McWilliams-Franklin (11) Whalen (6) MCI Center
7,216 		10-4
15 June 27 Houston W 73-57 Sales (19) Dydek (13) Whalen (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,220 		11-4
16 June 30 Detroit L 64-70 Jones (16) McWilliams-Franklin (10) Whalen (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,003 		11-5
July
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
17 July 1 @ Indiana W 76-66 Douglas (22) Whalen (10) Whalen, Sales (3) Conseco Fieldhouse
7,033 		12-5
18 July 6 Charlotte W 76-71 Whalen (20) Dydek (9) Whalen (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,019 		13-5
19 July 8 Phoenix W 82-77 Douglas (22) McWilliams-Franklin (12) McWilliams-Franklin (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
9,341 		14-5
20 July 15 @ Sacramento L 63-69 McWilliams-Franklin (13) McWilliams-Franklin (10) Phillips (4) ARCO Arena
7,997 		14-6
21 July 16 @ Seattle W 92-83 Douglas (26) Dydek (14) McWilliams-Franklin (7) KeyArena
8,952 		15-6
22 July 20 Chicago W 86-72 Douglas (19) McWilliams-Franklin (8) Phillips (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,740 		16-6
23 July 22 @ San Antonio W 79-61 Dydek (18) McWilliams-Franklin (10) McWilliams-Franklin, Whalen (7) AT&T Center
N/A 		17-6
24 July 24 @ New York W 89-71 McWilliams-Franklin (22) Dydek (10) Douglas (6) Madison Square Garden
8,419 		18-6
25 July 25 Washington W 73-86 Douglas (28) McWilliams-Franklin (12) McWilliams-Franklin (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,535 		19-6
26 July 28 Sacramento W 75-68 Douglas (19) McWilliams-Franklin (14) Douglas (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,558 		20-6
27 July 30 San Antonio W 72-65 Jones (22) Jones, Dydek (8) Carey (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,454 		21-6
August
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Record
28 August 1 New York W 66-52 Jones (22) McWilliams-Franklin, Dydek (10) Phillips (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,159 		22-6
29 August 3 Los Angeles W 72-63 McWilliams-Franklin (22) Jones (10) Phillips (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
8,675 		23-6
30 August 6 @ Houston W 86-67 McWilliams-Franklin (21) McWilliams-Franklin (13) Whalen (9) Toyota Center
8,726 		24-6
31 August 8 @ Chicago W 85-59 Douglas (19) McWilliams-Franklin (12) Whalen, Jones (5) UIC Pavilion
3,520 		25-6
32 August 9 @ Indiana W 71-63 Jones (21) McWilliams-Franklin (14) Sales (4) Conseco Fieldhouse
7,368 		26-6
33 August 11 Indiana L 68-87 Whalen (16) McWilliams-Franklin (5) Phillips (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
9,341 (sellout) 		26-7
34 August 13 @ Detroit L 65-88 McWilliams-Franklin (13) McWilliams-Franklin, Sales (5) Phillips, Dydek (3) Palace of Auburn Hills
11,558 		26-8

Playoffs

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In the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face the Washington Mystics. Since the Sun had the better record, the series would be played with game 1 at Washington, game 2 at Connecticut, and game 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. The Sun swept the Mystics and game 3 was not needed. In the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face rival Detroit Shock. Again, the Sun had the better record and the series would be played with game 1 at Detroit and games 2 and 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. Even though the Sun had a better record in the regular season, Detroit had managed to beat Connecticut in all four of the season meetings. Surprisingly, the Sun won game two of the series but went on to lose game three on their home court. Detroit advanced to the WNBA Finals. Had Connecticut advanced, it would have been the third consecutive season the Sun had made it to the WNBA Finals.

  • For the fourth consecutive season, the Sun qualify for the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
  • For the fourth consecutive season, the Sun advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
2006 Game Log: Postseason
Eastern Conference Semifinals
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 August 18 @ Washington W 76-61 Whalen (22) McWilliams-Franklin (14) McWilliams-Franklin (6) Verizon Center
8,547 		1-0
2 August 20 Washington W 68-65 Douglas (16) McWilliams-Franklin (14) Sales (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,579 		2-0
Eastern Conference Finals
Game Date Opponent Score High points High rebounds High assists Location/Attendance Series
1 August 24 @ Detroit L 59-70 Whalen, Phillips (13) Dydek (8) McWilliams-Franklin, Whalen, Phillips (3) Palace of Auburn Hills
9,476 		0-1
2 August 26 Detroit W 77-73 McWilliams-Franklin (18) Jones (8) Sales (4) Mohegan Sun Arena
7,377 		1-1
3 August 27 Detroit L 55-79 McWilliams-Franklin (12) Dydek (9) Sales (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,820 		1-2

Depth

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Pos. Starter Bench Inactive
C Margo Dydek Laura Summerton
PF Taj McWilliams-Franklin Asjha Jones -- Le'Coe Willingham
SF Nykesha Sales Megan Mahoney
SG Katie Douglas Erin Phillips
PG Lindsay Whalen Jamie Carey

Player stats

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Awards and honors

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  • Katie Douglas, Margo Dydek, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Nykesha Sales, and Lindsay Whalen were named to the All-Star Team.
  • Katie Douglas was named the All-Star Game MVP.
  • Head coach Mike Thibault was named Coach of the Year.
  • Katie Douglas was named to the All-WNBA First Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
  • Katie Douglas was named to the WNBA All-Defensive First Team for the second consecutive year.
  • Margo Dydek was named to the WNBA All-Defensive Second Team.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of July 24, 2006.
  • Taj McWilliams-Franklin was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of August 7, 2006.

References

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  1. ^ WNBA.com: 2006 WNBA Draft Board Archived 2009-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ WNBA.com: 2006 WNBA Transactions
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