“Basketball is basketball.”
It’s a tired and overused cliché.
But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true…
Take this year’s Connecticut Sun, for example. You won’t find many professional basketball teams more likeable or fun to watch – men or women.
“Likeable” and “fun” are subjective terms, sure, but we think most WNBA fans and followers will agree.
They’re young. They play hard. They’re winning.
More importantly, they’re insanely fun in an unforced, genuine manner. And that starts from the top.
Curt Miller and his staff are amongst the most dedicated, kind and professional in the league.
You have a budding superstar in Jonquel Jones that WNBA all-time leading scorer, Diana Taurasi, said will be a “problem in this league for a long time.”
Then there’s the Swiss Army Knife of the Sun, Alyssa Thomas, who seems as if she is a rebound and assist or two away from a triple-double every night.
The leadership of Jasmine Thomas is a thing of beauty. Shekinna Stricklen can explode from the perimeter at any time, Courtney Williams’ blazing quickness is remarkable… the list goes on and on.
But it’s how they play that is creating palpable buzz around the WNBA.
With passion. With crisp fundamentals. For each other.
Their collective energy is undeniably infectious, and it’s not difficult to see how deeply the team cares for one another. All one has to do is observe their interactions on the floor; they’re constantly dancing, high-fiving and picking each other up.
The most impressive part? They’re doing all of this instinctively while absolutely playing their tails off.
That’s the culture Curt Miller instilled when he arrived in Connecticut.
It’s working. They’re winning. The WNBA community is noticing.
So feel free to come along for the ride. No judgment here. There’s plenty of room.
And make no mistake about it; these teams don’t come around every year. The chemistry and cohesion from the Sun is both unique and inspiring.
Unfortunately, without a crystal ball and lots of basketball yet to play, there’s no way to forecast how far the Sun will go in 2017.
But all signs are pointing to something pretty special.