The 2026 WNBA season is not fully locked in yet, but momentum suggests the league and the WNBPA will reach common ground on a new CBA before training camps open.
While all of the major steps are still in a mix, the Connecticut Sun’s 2026 WNBA Mock Draft position had been revealed. And it was as exciting as it got.
However, heading into the next season, there’s quite a good chance that two of the expansion teams joining the league later could add up to big-time relief for the Sun.
Toronto Tempo, Portland Fire Expansion Drafts Could Help Connecticut Sun Big Time Next Season
Assuming a 2026 season goes forward, both the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire are expected to hold expansion drafts similar to the one conducted by the Golden State Valkyries last year.
While expansion drafts often strip depth from contending teams, the Connecticut Sun appear positioned to come through relatively unscathed. League executives would allow teams to protect five players, down from six in the previous expansion cycle.
However, for Connecticut, four of those slots are essentially automatic. Aaliyah Edwards, Leïla Lacan, Aneesah Morrow, and Saniya Rivers are all on rookie contracts and represent the foundation of the franchise’s rebuild.
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Trending WNBA News
In ESPN's latest WNBA mock draft, UConn's Azzi Fudd is projected to go No. 3 overall to Seattle + Serah Williams No. 9 overall to Washington
— Maggie Vanoni (@maggie_vanoni) October 16, 2025
The draft also projects pickups for the Connecticut Sun in Spain's Iyana Martin Carrion at No. 12 + South Carolina's Madina Okot at No. 15 https://t.co/G8crgTkywp
That leaves one difficult decision. Despite publicly expressing frustration with the organization early in 2025, Marina Mabrey remains the Sun’s most proven veteran and offensive engine. In most scenarios, she profiles as the fifth protected player.
If that holds, Connecticut would expose players such as Mamignan Toure, Rayah Marshall, Bria Hartley, Haley Peters, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Nikolina Milic, and Lindsay Allen.
None of those losses would fundamentally derail Connecticut’s long-term plan. Tina Charles is ineligible for selection, further insulating the Sun from serious damage.
Connecticut Sun Could Still Overturn Things in 2026 WNBA Season
The Sun’s 2025 campaign was brutal by any standard. An 11-33 record marked their first missed playoff appearance since 2016. It was a sharp fall for a franchise that has long remained consistent.
Though several factors contributed to the collapse, a new head coach, Rachid Meziane, was adjusting to the league. The roster turned over dramatically. Off-court uncertainty surrounding a potential sale hovered over the season. Most importantly, the team leaned heavily on rookies.
Youth can be exciting, but it comes with growing pains. Outside of Mabrey and Charles, Connecticut lacked veteran stabilizers. Players like Rivers, Morrow, and Lacan showed flashes of real star potential, but they were learning on the fly in one of the toughest professional leagues in the world.
Meziane now has a full WNBA season under his belt. The rookies are no longer rookies. Developmental minutes have turned into real experience. That alone can account for meaningful improvement, even before considering roster additions.
Additionally, if Connecticut can add even one or two experienced veterans to complement its young core, the narrative around the franchise could change quickly. Expansion rules that spare the Sun from losing cornerstone pieces only accelerate that possibility.