In 2003, the Mohegan Tribe purchased the Orlando Miracle and brought the team to Connecticut. The move made history twice: the Sun became the first Native American-owned franchise in professional sports and the first WNBA team owned independently of an NBA organization.
Success came quickly. Behind early stars like Taj McWilliams-Franklin and Lindsay Whalen, the Sun reached back-to-back WNBA Finals in 2004 and 2005, setting the tone for a franchise that would stay among the league's best for years to come.
That tradition carried through every era. The Sun returned to the Finals in 2019 and 2022 and produced two league MVPs in Tina Charles (2012) and Jonquel Jones (2021). Alyssa Thomas became the heart of the team and its all-time leading rebounder, while Hall of Famer Anne Donovan led the team from the sidelines. Few franchises have been home to as many of the game's greatest names.
Just as important were the people in the stands. Season after season, Sun fans built one of the most passionate communities in the WNBA, and they helped make the team part of the fabric of Connecticut. Now, as the Sun close out their Sunset Season, the franchise is honoring the players and fans who built its legacy.
Few people know that story better than Jen Rizzotti. A Connecticut basketball icon from her playing days at UConn, Rizzotti was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013 and now serves as the Sun's president. She sat down with the Hall to reflect on her time with the franchise and what the Sun have meant to the game. She hopes the team will be remembered for a "legacy of excellence."
Watch the full conversation.
