The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Sun vets eager to get season underway
Jasmine Thomas has dealt with a sense of the unknown since she was drafted by one WNBA team and suited up for three others in her first nine seasons. However, none of those previous experiences will prepare her for what figures to be an unforgettable 10th pro campaign.
Two of her teammates who started every game for the Connecticut Sun a season ago are now members of the Atlanta Dream, while leading scorer and rebounder Jonquel Jones announced earlier this week that she was among the growing list of WNBA players opting to sit out the upcoming season.
With concerns about the spread of COVID-19, the unique twist of every game being played at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, and the desire to continue to push for social reform, there’s plenty for Thomas to ponder these days.
“This is a very different season than any of us have ever experienced so we don’t know what it’s going to look like,” Thomas said on a Wednesday morning conference call. “We don’t know what it’s going to feel like so until we get on the court and get into some type of rhythm, getting everybody comfortable where they feel safe enough to even play out there, then we can have those kinds of opportunities [to push for social reform].”
Thomas and Alyssa Thomas, who both started all 34 regularseason games in 2019 and then led the Sun to the WNBA championship series, confirmed that they plan to play this season. However, recent reports of coronavirus cases increasing in Florida is certainly a cause for concern.
“Of course it is concerning, especially when we know that from my understanding — and I could have this wrong — but all of the people working to put this on to make this season happen won’t be subject to this exact
same protocol and quarantine safety measures that we are in the bubble,” Jasmine Thomas said. “Of course that is concerning that might lead us to some exposure that we were thinking the point of the bubble was to keep us away from; we are definitely worried about that.”
The WNBA rosters have been finalized without the aid of training camp and when the games begin next month, there could be some rust to shake off for players accustomed to being on the basketball court yearround.
“I’m going to give it a chance, hopefully everything is up to standard,” Alyssa Thomas said. “Of course we don’t want to go in there and get the virus, so that has definitely been something on my mind.”
Replacing Jones is impossible, and the departures of Courtney Williams, Shekinna Stricklen, Morgan Tuck, Layshia Clarendon and Rachel Banham would have made this a season of adjustment even for veterans like Alyssa and Jasmine Thomas, who will be aided by the offseason acquisitions of DeWanna Bonner, Briann January and Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis.
“It’s definitely something we’ve never seen before; having to play in one place with all teams is something this league has probably never seen,” Alyssa Thomas said. “It has been hard. A lot of us haven’t had a break like this in years so it’s been good to be home and be around family. It’s been hard to get that going but now that I’m working out again, I definitely miss it and it feels good to be back on the court.”
Alyssa Thomas as able to play side by side with Connecticut Sun teammate Brionna Jones with ZVVZ
USK Praha in the Euroleague. They finished as the top two scorers and rebounders for a 12-2 team and Thomas expects Jones to thrive with more playing time.
“We have Bri Jones who is a monster overseas who I play with in Prague,” Alyssa Thomas said. “She hasn’t seen a lot of time in her [WNBA] career and finally she’ll have her opportunity to be on the floor. I think a lot of people will be surprised with what she can do and I’m just excited for her to have that opportunity.”
With each team playing a 22-game schedule followed by the playoffs and all the
WNBA players in the same location, there will be a chance for players to push for social reform.
Connecticut Sun rookie Kaila Charles took part in a Black Lives Matter protest in Washington, D.C.
“A lot of things [are] on my mind, it’s a unique opportunity to come together and brainstorm,” Charles said. “I wanted to be a part of it, seeing thousands of people from all over come together, using their voice and fighting for what’s right is a beautiful thing to see. It’s giving me hope that things will change down the road.”
Jasmine Thomas is hoping to use her platform to push for more Black people to vote. Look for her to be front and center when the Connecticut Sun’s recently announced Change Can’t Wait initiative takes shape.
“Our team is primarily Black women and we don’t see that representation in our offices, we don’t see that representation in our fan base so to see our organization outwardly do that and commit to it, it makes me feel good,” Thomas said.