WNBA: Are they any reasons for fans to be optimistic about the Sun?

A shot one minute into the Sun’s last game—a 102-63 whooping by the championship-hopeful Lynx—says it all about the season that the team from Connecticut is having.

Minnesota’s Courtney Williams fired a 3 from the top of the key and the ball hit the back of the rim, bounced to the top of the backboard and bounced back right into the basket. The Sun players looked on helplessly. This is more than bad luck. This is fate playing with you in the cruelest of ways.

The Sun, though, invite the damage, as it’s primarily self-inflicted.

The team is dead last in offensive and defensive rating. And if they were just making mistakes while trying to figure stuff out, all while being somewhat entertaining, that would be great.

But the Sun are mostly bland and boring. Second to last in pace. Second to last in free throw attempts. Last in rebounds. It’s like they’re not even trying. Lack of effort is the cardinal sin a team can commit and the 2-15 Sun seem to be really intent on repeating it again and again. But maybe, just maybe, we can find some positives in their terrible, horrible, no good, very bad season.

Jacy, ONO show progress and promise

Jacy Sheldon and Olivia Nelson-Ododa are both 24 years old and talented. On a team in the Sun’s situation, they get a chance to work on their abilities in a (somewhat) competitive environment. Sheldon recently caused an uproar among WNBA casuals, as she got into it with Caitlin Clark during the Sun’s June 17 loss to the Indiana Fever. Both players were pushing and showing, but it was Sheldon who got criticized for her intense play. The overblown incident overshadowed the season she’s been having, steadily improving after a rookie campaign with the Dallas Wings.

Nelson-Ododa is profiting from playing next to Tina Charles, who she often takes a backseat to, which is understandable, at least for now. Soon, she should be expected to do more. Sheldon, in contrast, doesn’t have a veteran teacher like Charles, considering that the Sun decided to part ways with experienced international point guard Yvonne Anderson, who never shies away from being the team leader. So, it’s quite possible that Sheldon is the better player for now, but Nelson-Ododa, due to the lessons she’s learning, could have the brighter future.

The rooks are alright

The Sun picked back-to-back rookies in the 2025 WNBA Draft, with Aneesah Morrow selected No. 7 overall and Saniya Rivers at No. 8.

While they’re averaging similar numbers, Rivers is the starter, getting to play twice as many minutes as Morrow. More minutes for Morrow would mean less minutes for Charles though, and her veteran presence remains necessary for such a young team. Nevertheless, in the limited minutes that she’s getting, Morrow is proving that she’s WNBA-ready, primarily with her rebounding (11.3 per 36 minutes). As the season progresses, she should get more playing time.