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WNBA coring decisions: team-by-team breakdown of what we learned

By Howard Megdal

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 3: Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx reacts during game against the Indiana Fever on July 3, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JULY 3: Maya Moore #23 of the Minnesota Lynx reacts during game against the Indiana Fever on July 3, 2018 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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UNCASVILLE, CT – AUGUST 23: Connecticut Sun guard Jasmine Thomas (5) drives to the basket against Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) during the second round of the WNBA playoff game between Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun on August 23, 2018, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Phoenix won 96-86. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – AUGUST 23: Connecticut Sun guard Jasmine Thomas (5) drives to the basket against Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi (3) during the second round of the WNBA playoff game between Phoenix Mercury and Connecticut Sun on August 23, 2018, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Phoenix won 96-86. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Connecticut’s decision to core Jasmine Thomas has knock-on effects for the rest of the roster, though less in terms of other free agents and more about who will play at the point. With nearly every other player signed through 2019, Thomas as a core player essentially locks last season’s Sun team in place for the new campaign, barring a trade. That is hardly a bad thing for Curt Miller and company, considering Connecticut is coming off its second straight 21-win season, and Diana Taurasi can’t get assigned to come into Connecticut and end the Sun’s season every year for the remainder of time. (Right? I mean, maybe we shouldn’t doubt Diana Taurasi in general.) Thomas’ numbers were down a bit in 2018 from her breakout 2017, but she remains an elite point guard at both ends, which is bad news for those hoping Layshia Clarendon (an all star and USA Basketball standout in her own right) and Lexie Brown (an uber-talented two-way player who excelled in limited minutes last year) would get to play more. Then again, figuring out how to balance Jonquel Jones, Chiney Ogwumike and Alyssa Thomas at the 4-5 is still an unsolved problem for Miller, too, so perhaps there are trades in the Sun’s future.

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