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Sun Mark Franchise's Last Game in Connecticut with Victory
Confirmed
In Short: The Connecticut Sun played their final game in Connecticut on Thursday, securing a 95-81 victory over the Toronto Tempo in front of a sellout crowd of 8,911 at Mohegan Sun Arena.
Guard Ashlon Jackson's 3-pointer with 51 seconds remaining marked the final points in the franchise's history in Connecticut.
The Sun's victory was bittersweet, as the franchise's sale to the Fertitta family and relocation to Houston was announced in March.
The past 13 months have been marked by confusion and heartache for the Sun and their fans as the franchise's sale and relocation became a reality.
The team's final game in Connecticut was a testament to their resilience and the support of their fans.
In a separate development, Olivia Miles of the Minnesota Lynx broke Caitlin Clark's WNBA record for points by a rookie in a season on Sunday, scoring 21 points in the Lynx's 101-89 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
Miles, who entered the game averaging 19.7 points, 6.0 assists, and 4.7 rebounds, made a free throw in the second quarter to surpass Clark's previous record of 769 points.
Miles also became the fastest rookie to reach 350 points, 100 rebounds, and 100 assists in her career, doing it in 21 games.
She will likely add to her record with two more games remaining in the 44-game regular season.
What this adds
The Sun's final game in Connecticut marked the end of an era for the franchise, which had been in the league since 1996.
The relocation to Houston is set to take place after the 2026 season, with the team's future uncertain until then.
Background
The Connecticut Sun secured a 95-81 victory over the Toronto Tempo in their final game at Mohegan Sun Arena before relocating to Houston.
What's confirmed
- — Olivia Miles broke Caitlin Clark's WNBA record for points by a rookie in a season on Sunday in the Minnesota Lynx 's 101-89 victory over the Connecticut Sun.
- She hit eight 3-pointers in a win over Golden State on June 4 to set the league record for most by a rookie in a game.
- Miles also became the fastest rookie to reach 350 points, 100 rebounds and 100 assists in her career, doing it in 21 games — one quicker than Clark and former Charlotte Sting guard Andrea Stinson.
What's still developing
- But the young, rebuilding Sun knew they were playing Thursday for more than what any numbers or records could reflect.
- The sale to the Fertitta family and relocation to Houston was eventually announced in March, allowing the Sun to commemorate the franchise's history all summer, including by honoring several former players and coaches at games as part of their Sun Legends program.
- "Today feels different," she told ESPN before the game.
- Despite being in such a small market, the franchise found a way to be successful on the court, recording 16 playoff berths and four Finals appearances, most recently in 2019 and 2022.
- The Sun prevailed 95-81 on Thursday over the Toronto Tempo in their final game before the franchise's impending relocation to Houston, bringing a sellout crowd of 8,911 at Mohegan Sun Arena to its feet as the clock ticked down to zero.
- The Americans were pushed to the limit in that game and escaped with a one-point win when Gabby Williams ' shot at the buzzer went in, but was ruled a two-pointer because her foot was on the line.
- Les Bleues have won every game by at least 22 points and are operating on a tremendous level on both ends of the floor.
- As expected, it will be Team USA versus France in a rematch of the gold medal game at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
- The French are a perfect 5-0 in the tournament, and have won their games by an average of 35.6 points.
- France leads the tournament in scoring (96.2 points per game), field goal percentage (51.6%), 3-point percentage (44.2%), 3-point field goals (73) and steals per game (13.2).
- On Sunday, Miles and the Minnesota Lynx visited the Connecticut Sun, as the top team in the WNBA standings looked to snap a three-game losing streak.
- Miles and Clark both accomplished their feats in 40 games.