REPORT: Olivia Nelson-Ododa Agrees to Two-Year Deal With Connecticut Sun

The Connecticut Sun will play its final season at the Mohegan Sun Arena, and the new owners will look to inherit a strong, competitive team before moving to Houston in 2027. With that, the addition of former champion Brittney Griner showed the team’s intentions to stay big around the rim, and now they added Olivia Nelson-Ododa to partner the defensive maestro.

Playing for the Suns in 2025, the player delivered an all-around performance, averaging 8.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 21.6 minutes per game and aims to make the most of the ‘final season in CT’.

Connecticut Sun Re-Signs Olivia Nelson-Ododa

The Connecticut Sun would be moving to Houston from the 2027 season, but in February the franchise announced its intention to play the season at its traditional home court, with ticket sales starting well before the expansion draft.

On the floor, the team might have lost its playmaker, Marina Mabrey, to Toronto Tempo. The franchise is rebuilding from scratch to have a productive season and prioritized their high-performing stars, including Olivia Nelson-Ododa.

Olivia Nelson-Ododa to sign with the Sun, per @SheKnowsSports.

Deal is expected to be for 2 years.

— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) April 11, 2026

About the deal, Sun general manager Morgan Tuck said, “Bringing Liv back to Connecticut is a meaningful step for our organization. We’ve seen her grow in impactful ways, and we truly believe she’s just scratching the surface of her potential in this league. Her approach, competitiveness, and the way she fits within our team identity make her an important part of our future. Liv has embraced this team, this community, and the standard we’re building, and we’re proud that she’s continuing her journey with the Sun.”

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The Houston front office is working alongside the Suns’ free agency decisions, ensuring most of the player elections fit the ‘requirements’. But until now, the franchise has been focusing more on one area – defence.

Connecticut Sun’s Strategic Move Strengthens Defensive Core

An offense wins you a game, but the defense wins the championship, as the famous saying highlights the importance of defensive gameplay in basketball. The Sun franchise so far has chosen players who would control the game in their half.

Griner, a six-time All-Defensive selection, provides elite rim protection to stabilize a roster in transition. Her arrival gets another support in the front court, with Nelson-Ododa, a versatile center coming off a breakout defensive year. The side also added Diamond Miller to balance the gameplay.

The Dallas Wings have traded forward Diamond Miller to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for center/forward Rayah Marshall. pic.twitter.com/YDqVBVEE8o

— Dallas Wings (@DallasWings) April 9, 2026

By pairing these seasoned shot-blockers with a young, high-energy core, including Saniya Rivers, heralded as a “defensive engine”, the Sun has strategically addressed the loss of former stars like Alyssa Thomas and Bri Jones. This dual-layered strategy blends veteran intimidation with perimeter quickness, ensuring the Sun maintains its reputation as a “stingy” defensive unit while preparing for its eventual relocation to Houston.