The Connecticut Sun may not be the favorites to hoist the championship trophy in 2026, but don't count out this scrappy, young squad just yet. In a preseason clash against the powerhouse New York Liberty on Sunday at Mohegan Sun Arena, the Sun proved they can hang with the league's elite, falling 79-67 in a game that was much closer than the final score suggests.
Defense is quickly becoming the Sun's calling card, and they showcased it against one of the WNBA's most explosive offenses. Connecticut held the Liberty to just 37% shooting from the field and 35% from beyond the arc. Even the stars couldn't escape the defensive pressure: two-time WNBA MVP Breanna Stewart managed only four points on 4-of-6 shooting in 18 minutes, while four-time All-Star Sabrina Ionescu struggled to a 2-for-8 performance, finishing with six points and a team-high three turnovers in 16 minutes.
Offensively, however, the Sun couldn't quite match New York's firepower. Connecticut shot 41% from the field but continued to struggle from deep, hitting just 6-of-21 three-point attempts—a slight improvement from their 5-of-20 showing in the preseason opener against the Toronto Tempo. With the regular season opener against the Liberty set for Friday, the Sun have some tough roster decisions to make. Final rosters are due Thursday, and head coach Rachid Meziane indicated he hopes to finalize the 12-player squad and two developmental spots within the next 24 hours.
One bright spot that has Sun fans buzzing: the resurgence of Brittney Griner. When the 11-time All-Star signed with Connecticut in free agency, questions lingered about whether the veteran center could recapture her dominant form after a down year with the Atlanta Dream. On Sunday, Griner answered emphatically. Battling against one of the WNBA's deepest frontcourts, she looked like the unstoppable force of old, posting a team-high 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting, plus four rebounds and a steal in just 21 minutes. She even added a pair of three-pointers—her first multi-three game since Atlanta's 2025 preseason win over the Washington Mystics—showing a versatile new dimension to her game.
As the Sun gear up for the regular season, this young, defensive-minded team is proving they have the grit to compete with the best—and Griner's vintage performance suggests the championship window might be opening sooner than expected.