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Source: Sun exercise five team options, mutual interest in Jasmine Thomas return

By Ben Dull

UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT- August 17: Jonquel Jones #35 of the Connecticut Sun shoots another three point basket during the Connecticut Sun Vs Minnesota Lynx, WNBA regular season game at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17, 2018 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT- August 17: Jonquel Jones #35 of the Connecticut Sun shoots another three point basket during the Connecticut Sun Vs Minnesota Lynx, WNBA regular season game at Mohegan Sun Arena on August 17, 2018 in Uncasville, Connecticut. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) /
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Sun in position to keep core together for 2019 WNBA season coming off back-to-back 21 win seasons

As the 2018 regular season came to a close in the WNBA, 12 players were under contract league-wide on the 2016 rookie scale. Five of those players happen to be under contract for the Connecticut Sun.

A source familiar with the agreements confirmed Thursday to High Post Hoops that Connecticut exercised its team options on all five of those players, including 2017 All-WNBA selection and 2018 WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Jonquel Jones.

WNBA teams had until May 31 to exercise fourth year team options on eligible players.  Team options were also exercised for Courtney Williams, Morgan Tuck, Rachel Banham and Bria Holmes for the 2019 season.

Connecticut selected Tuck with the third overall pick in the 2016 draft. The pick that became Banham, No. 4 overall, was acquired earlier that offseason from the Atlanta Dream in exchange for center Elizabeth Williams.

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The Sun traded guard Chelsea Gray to Los Angeles on draft night back in 2016 to move up to select Jones at No. 6 overall. Connecticut acquired Williams in a deal with the Phoenix Mercury partway through the 2016 season and Holmes arrived via a trade with the Dream this April. Holmes missed the entire 2018 season due to pregnancy.

Tuck and Banham are each slotted to make $64,538 in 2019. To get a full picture of the Sun cap situation, be sure to visit the High Post Hoops WNBA Salary Database.

Head coach and general manager Curt Miller will be faced with tough decisions once again in shaping this roster.

Guards Lexie Brown, Layshia Clarendon and Shekinna Stricklen and forwards Brionna Jones, Chiney Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas are under contract through at least 2019 in addition to the five players whose team options were picked up.

The Sun also hold the ninth overall pick in the 2019 WNBA Draft.

The source also told High Post Hoops that there is mutual interest in Jasmine Thomas returning for her fifth season with the club. If the team extends a qualifying offer to wing Betnijah Laney, Thomas will be the team’s only unrestricted free agent this offseason.

Next. Connecticut falls victim to Diana Taurasi, Phoenix Mercury. dark

Thomas was named an All-Star for the first time in 2017. On Thursday she was also named to an All-Defense team for the third consecutive season.

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