2008 Connecticut Sun season
CoachMike Thibault
ArenaMohegan Sun Arena
Attendance7,644 per game
Results
Record21–13 (.618)
Place2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishLost in First Round
Team Leaders
PointsAsjha Jones (17.0)
ReboundsAsjha Jones (6.1)
AssistsLindsay Whalen (5.4)
Media
TelevisionWCTX

The 2008 WNBA season was their tenth season and their sixth in Connecticut. The Sun successfully advanced to the WNBA Playoffs for the sixth consecutive season. Lindsay Whalen was a key contributor to the club, averaging 14.0 points per game, 5.6 rebounds per game, and 5.4 assists per game.[1]

Offseason

Expansion draft

The following player was lost in the Atlanta Dream expansion draft:

  • Erika DeSouza

[2]

WNBA draft

Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 9 Amber Holt  United States Middle Tennessee
1 12 (from Indiana) Ketia Swanier  United States Connecticut
2 23 Jolene Anderson  United States Wisconsin
3 37 Lauren Ervin  United States Arkansas

[3]

Transactions

  • August 27: The Sun signed Svetlana Abrosimova and waived Jolene Anderson.
  • June 27: The Sun waived Kamesha Hairston.
  • May 15: The Sun waived Cori Chambers.
  • May 7: The Sun waived Jessica Foley, Tracy Gahan and Christina Quaye.
  • May 6: The Sun waived Meredith Alexis and Natalie Berglin.
  • April 28: The Sun waived Crystal Erwin, Laura Hall and Jessica Richter.
  • April 23: The Sun waived Antoinette Upshaw.
  • March 20: The Sun signed Tracy Gahan to a training camp contract.
  • March 7: The Sun signed Sandrine Gruda.
  • March 5: The Sun signed Jessica Foley to a training camp contract.
  • March 3: The Sun signed Natalie Berglin and Kerri Gardin to training camp contracts.
  • February 19: The Sun re-signed free agents Lindsay Whalen and Jamie Carey.

[4]

Date Trade
February 19, 2008 To Connecticut Sun To Indiana Fever
Tamika Whitmore, Jessica Foley, 12th pick in 2008 Draft Katie Douglas
March 6, 2008 To Connecticut Sun To Houston Comets
Barbara Turner Megan Mahoney
March 14, 2008 To Connecticut Sun To Minnesota Lynx
Tamika Raymond Kristen Rasmussen

Free agents

Roster

Connecticut Sun roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
SF 25 Russia Abrosimova, Svetlana 6' 2" (1.88m) 172 lb (78kg) Connecticut
PG 10 United States Carey, Jamie 5' 6" (1.68m) 135 lb (61kg) Texas
PF United States Ervin, Lauren Injured (DP) 6' 3" (1.91m) – Arkansas
SF 41 United States Gardin, Kerri 6' 1" (1.85m) 165 lb (75kg) Virginia Tech
C 7 France Gruda, Sandrine 6' 4" (1.93m) 185 lb (84kg) France
G/F 1 United States Holt, Amber 6' 0" (1.83m) 167 lb (76kg) Middle Tennessee State
PF 15 United States Jones, Asjha (C) 6' 2" (1.88m) 198 lb (90kg) Connecticut
PF 52 United States Page, Danielle 6' 2" (1.88m) 179 lb (81kg) Nebraska
PG 31 Australia Phillips, Erin 5' 7" (1.7m) 162 lb (73kg) Australia
PF 34 United States Raymond, Tamika 6' 2" (1.88m) 199 lb (90kg) Connecticut
G/F 42 United States Sales, Nykesha Injured 6' 0" (1.83m) 175 lb (79kg) Connecticut
PG 11 United States Swanier, Ketia 5' 7" (1.7m) 144 lb (65kg) Connecticut
G/F 22 United States Turner, Barbara 6' 0" (1.83m) 182 lb (83kg) Connecticut
PG 13 United States Whalen, Lindsay (C) 5' 9" (1.75m) 150 lb (68kg) Minnesota
PF 00 United States Whitmore, Tamika 6' 2" (1.88m) 190 lb (86kg) Memphis
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Athletic trainer
Strength and conditioning coach
  • United States Jodi Hopkins (Ohio)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured Injured

Season standings

Eastern Conference W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
Detroit Shock x2212.647–14–38–916–4
Connecticut Sun x2113.6181.013–48–913–7
New York Liberty x1915.5593.011–68–911–9
Indiana Fever x1717.5005.011–66–1112–8
Chicago Sky o1222.35310.08–94–1310–10
Washington Mystics o1024.29412.06–114–136–14
Atlanta Dream o430.11818.01–163–142–18

Schedule

Preseason

2008 Game Log: Preseason
GameDateOpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
1May 1@ MinnesotaL 57-68Gardin (8)Gahan, Gardin, Holt (4)Carey, Hairston, Turner (2)Target Center
1,155		0-1
2May 4PhoenixW 94-66Holt (15)Gahan (10)Swanier, Berglin (3)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,252		1-1
3May 9HoustonW 88-80Whalen (18)Anderson (7)Whalen (8)Mohegan Sun Arena
4,411		2-1

Regular season

2008 Game Log: Regular Season
May
GameDateOpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
1May 17AtlantaCSSW 100-67Whitmore (22)Whitmore (10)Whalen (8)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,420		1-0
2May 18@ New YorkWCTX
NBA TV		W 77-63Whitmore (17)Whalen, Raymond (6)Whalen (8)Madison Square Garden
10,460		2-0
3May 24SacramentoW 87-64Whalen (21)Holt (7)Whalen, Whitmore (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,402		3-0
4May 27IndianaESPN2L 46-75Whalen (11)Jones (7)Whalen (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
5,245		3-1
5May 30New YorkMSG
NBA TV		W 89-84Whitmore (18)Whalen (6)Whalen (7)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,052		4-1
June
GameDateOpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
6June 1@ ChicagoW 75-73Whalen, Whitmore (19)Whalen (7)Whalen (7)UIC Pavilion
2,276		5-1
7June 6MinnesotaW 78-77Jones (25)Whalen (9)Anderson, Gardin (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,327		6-1
8June 8WashingtonWCTX
NBA TV		W 87-79Jones (16)Whalen (7)Whalen (7)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,174		7-1
9June 10@ MinnesotaESPN2W 75-66Jones (18)Whitmore (12)Whalen (6)Target Center
7,186		8-1
10June 13@ Los AngelesL 93-98 (OT)Whalen (20)Whalen (7)Jones (3)STAPLES Center
8,702		8-2
11June 16@ SeattleWCTX
NBA TV		W 74-67Jones (15)Raymond (9)Whitmore (4)KeyArena
6,872		9-2
12June 18@ PhoenixL 81-102Jones (18)Turner (5)Whalen (5)US Airways Center
4,478		9-3
13June 20@ SacramentoW 72-56Jones (14)Whalen, Anderson (6)Whalen (5)ARCO Arena
5,895		10-3
14June 24DetroitWCTX
NBA TV		W 85-68Jones (20)Holt (8)Whalen (6)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,501		11-3
15June 26@ DetroitFSN-DL 61-70Jones (14)Jones (7)Whalen (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,501		11-4
16June 27AtlantaW 109-101 (OT)Jones (30)Jones, Whalen (10)Holt (8)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,612		12-4
17June 29PhoenixL 80-87Jones (16)Jones (9)Whalen (8)Mohegan Sun Arena
9,518 (sellout)		12-5
July
GameDateOpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
18July 1HoustonW 78-68Jones (15)Turner (9)Whalen (9)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,357		13-5
19July 5@ IndianaFSN-I
NBA TV		L 74-81Jones (20)Gardin (9)Jones, Whalen (3)Conseco Fieldhouse
6,329		13-6
20July 8@ DetroitFSN-DL 82-88Jones (21)Whalen (7)Jones, Whalen (8)Palace of Auburn Hills
7,623		13-7
21July 13@ WashingtonABCL 64-69Whalen (33)Whalen (8)Jones, Whalen (6)Verizon Center
9,610		13-8
22July 15New YorkESPN2L 71-77Whalen (19)Jones (9)Jones (5)Mohegan Sun Arena
8,244		13-9
23July 18@ ChicagoWCTX
NBA TV		L 65-73Jones (18)Gruda (11)Jones, Swanier (3)UIC Pavilion
3,379		13-10
24July 20ChicagoW 74-67Jones (23)Jones (10)Whalen (6)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,367		14-10
25July 24Los AngelesWCTX
NBA TV		W 87-61Whalen (22)Jones (8)Whalen (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
9,518 (sellout)		15-10
26July 27@ WashingtonCSN-MA
NBA TV		W 82-60Jones (27)Whalen (8)Whalen (7)Verizon Center
9,357		16-10
August
GameDateOpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
Summer Olympic break
27August 28@ IndianaFSN-I
NBA TV		W 84-58Whitmore (15)Turner, Raymond (5)Gruda, Jones (4)Conseco Fieldhouse
6,435		17-10
28August 29@ AtlantaW 98-72Whitmore (27)Whitmore (6)Whalen (8)Philips Arena
11,442 (sellout)		18-10
29August 31SeattleABCW 80-76Jones (20)Holt (5)Gardin (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
9,518 (sellout)		19-10
September
GameDateOpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceRecord
30September 5ChicagoW 80-75Whitmore (17)Jones (6)Whalen (6)Mohegan Sun Arena
8,088		20-10
31September 7San AntonioABCL 73-85Jones (22)Jones (9)Abrosimova (6)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,956		20-11
32September 9@ HoustonWCTXL 68-75Jones (22)Whalen (8)Whalen (5)Reliant Arena
5,769		20-12
33September 11@ San AntonioL 74-78Jones (18)Gardin (14)Carey (7)AT&T Center
6,791		20-13
34September 13WashingtonWCTX
NBA TV		W 87-81Phillips (18)Phillips (8)Gruda, Swanier (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
8,652		21-13

Playoffs

In the first round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs, the Sun had to face the New York Liberty. Since the Sun had the better record, the series would be played with game 1 at New York, game 2 at Connecticut, and game 3 (if needed) at Connecticut. The Liberty won the first game, but the Sun won the second to force a game three. The Sun were upset on their home floor by the Liberty and were eliminated from the playoffs.

  • For the sixth consecutive season, the Sun advance to the playoffs.
  • For the second consecutive season, the Sun do not advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
2008 Game Log: Postseason
Eastern Conference Semifinals
GameDateOpponentTVScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation/AttendanceSeries
1September 18@ New YorkMSG
NBA TV		L 63-72Whitmore (16)Jones, Whitmore (6)Whalen (6)Madison Square Garden
7,649		0-1
2September 20New YorkMSG
NBA TV		W 73-70Jones (16)Whitmore (6)Whalen (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
7,234		1-1
3September 22New YorkESPN2L 62-66Whalen (19)Jones (11)Whitmore (4)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,011		1-2

Depth

Pos. Starter Bench Inactive
C Tamika WhitmoreSandrine GrudaDanielle Page
PF Asjha JonesTamika Raymond
SF Kerri GardinBarbara Turner -- Amber Holt
SG Svetlana AbrosimovaErin PhillipsKetia Swanier
PG Lindsay WhalenJamie Carey

Regular Season statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Player statistics

Player GP GS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Svetlana Abrosimova 6017.83.32.01.330.005.7
Jolene Anderson 24715.32.41.10.290.044.0
Jamie Carey 33315.11.21.40.240.034.2
Kerri Gardin 341515.93.31.20.850.214.0
Sandrine Gruda 31115.43.50.90.610.846.2
Amber Holt 343421.03.11.90.440.156.5
Asjha Jones 333329.26.12.50.610.7917.0
Danielle Page 304.02.00.00.000.002.0
Erin Phillips 8010.82.10.40.500.135.1
Tamika Raymond 34111.02.90.40.290.032.5
Ketia Swanier 2569.21.21.00.560.041.6
Barbara Turner 34619.53.21.50.350.418.0
Lindsay Whalen 313129.35.65.41.450.0314.0
Tamika Whitmore 343326.84.71.40.590.3812.6

Team statistics

Team FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
Connecticut Sun .422.330.74636.417.96.22.814.318.579.1
Opponents .418.321.74035.316.37.43.114.720.774.7

Team Ranking

This table shows how the Sun rank compared to the other teams in the league (14 total teams):

FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
8th8th12th3rd2nd14th12th13th13th3rd

Playoffs statistics

Player statistics

Player GP GS MPG RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Svetlana Abrosimova 3221.03.71.31.330.008.0
Jamie Carey 1000.00.00.00.000.000.0
Kerri Gardin 3319.02.31.01.670.333.7
Sandrine Gruda 308.71.30.30.330.002.7
Amber Holt 3118.34.01.30.330.003.7
Asjha Jones 3332.37.31.30.670.3315.0
Danielle Page 000.00.00.00.000.000.0
Erin Phillips 3012.00.71.71.000.333.0
Tamika Raymond 309.32.30.30.330.331.3
Ketia Swanier 0000.00.00.00.000.000.0
Barbara Turner 3019.03.30.30.000.335.3
Lindsay Whalen 3330.04.74.01.330.0013.3
Tamika Whitmore 3329.04.72.01.330.0010.0

Team statistics

Team FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
Connecticut Sun .360.218.80034.313.77.31.712.315.763.0
New York Liberty .448.433.60633.716.36.75.018.718.769.3

Awards and honors

  • Head coach Mike Thibault was named 2008 WNBA Coach of the Year.
  • Lindsay Whalen was named to the All-WNBA First Team.
  • Asjha Jones was named to the All-WNBA Second Team.
  • Amber Holt was named to the All-Rookie Team.
  • Lindsay Whalen was given the Peak Performer award (for assists) for leading the league in assists per game (5.4).
  • Lindsay Whalen was the second player in WNBA history to average at least 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game for the season. Only Nikki Teasley has previously accomplished this feat.
  • Lindsay Whalen was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of May 27, 2008.
  • Asjha Jones was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of June 30, 2008.
  • Lindsay Whalen was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of July 14, 2008.
  • Asjha Jones was named WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the week of July 28, 2008.

[5]

Attendance

Regular Season Attendance
Year Average: Home Average: Away High Low Sellouts Total for Year WNBA Game Average
20087,644 (11th)7,132 (14th)9,5185,2453129,9517,948

References

  1. ↑ Sports Illustrated, October 6, 2008, Inside the WNBA, p.80
  2. ↑ "WNBA.com: Atlanta Dream". Archived from the original on August 20, 2009. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  3. ↑ WNBA.com: 2008 WNBA Draft Board Archived 2013-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ WNBA.com: 2008 WNBA Transactions
  5. ↑ "Players of the Week - WNBA.com – Official Site of the WNBA". Wnba.com. Retrieved September 4, 2022.
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