After nearly reaching the WNBA Finals last season, the Connecticut Sun ended this year with one of the weakest records in the league.
It doesn’t seem great when you look at it.
But it’s part of a larger strategy.
Only Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Marina Mabry are returning from the 2024 semifinalist Sun team, which now features a wave of emerging talent including rookies Layla Laquan, Sanya Rivers, Aneesa Morrow, and second-year forward Aaliyah Edwards, stepping into the roles vacated by All-Stars Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner, and Breonna Jones.
Morgan Tuck, a former star from UW who was drafted by the Sun in 2016, was appointed general manager last December. She quickly guided the organization through several crucial moments, including the expansion draft, free agency, and the WNBA Draft, marking the start of a rebuilding phase.
This week, Tuck spoke with SB Nation about her initial year in the role.
The following discussion has been condensed for clarity. This article is the first of a two-part series covering her insights.
Noah Dalzell: Morgan, welcome back! We connected last year right after your promotion. Preparing for this interview, I realized just how eventful this year has been—not just for the Sun but for the whole WNBA. With the Expansion Draft, the WNBA Draft, and a significantly altered roster, personally, how has the last year treated you?
Morgan Tuck: Whirlwind really does sum it up. It was quite the experience, wasn’t it? Reflecting on a year ago, I anticipated challenges, and it turned out to be everything I expected—extremely demanding. It was a mixed bag of experiences, both positive and negative. This has certainly been the most significant year of my brief career. I feel I learned immensely and have grown, stepping well out of my comfort zone. It was tough, but ultimately, I’m thankful for the growth it sparked.
Dalzell: We had quite a shakeup within the Suns this summer, with only two players returning. What was your vision for the offseason, and how satisfied are you with how it’s evolved in your first year?
Tuck: We anticipated significant changes. The cycles with the Sun have historically been lengthy. I was here during the last tough stretch—we didn’t make the playoffs after being drafted in 2016. We’ve certainly enjoyed a long period of success, but on the flip side, we didn’t win the championship. That was the goal.
It was clear something needed to change. Stagnation isn’t an option if you want different outcomes. We expected to address player requests, and thus had to make necessary adjustments.
Historically, the Sun achieved success through strategic drafting and free-agent acquisitions—this is what I’ve come to realize. To kickstart the cycle again, we must focus on youth. Establishing a younger core with solid draft picks is essential. I’m proud that we have laid the foundation for that core—specifically around a handful of those you mentioned previously.
Aside from DeWanna Bonner, all were drafted here. We wanted to revitalize the approach and demonstrate we could return to, or even surpass, our previous peak. Unfortunately, this first year necessitated a fresh start.
Looking back, it seems we did a decent job establishing that youthful core. Initially, it was challenging—questions surfaced like, “What’s the plan?” and “Is this going to work?” By the end of the season, though, it felt like we were on the right track, offering a glimmer of hope for what lies ahead.
Dalzell: The Suns made noticeable progress following the All-Star break. Afterward, the record stood at 8-14. You emphasized building through the draft. The Sun selected Saniya Rivers and Aneesa Morrow at the seventh and eighth picks respectively. What stood out about them, and how would you evaluate their rookie performances?
Tuck: What really matters are their character traits. They are both unique individuals but bring exceptional qualities individually. We picked them because they both fit our plans—they embody the type of people we want on our team and how they engage with their teammates.
Of course, their skill levels are impressive—no doubt they had to be competent to be drafted. Yet, understanding their influence on the team within our system is vital, along with how they are expected to contribute.
Naturally, we don’t expect rookies to replicate their college performances right away. They spent four years honing their game. However, we had been observing them for a while before the drafts. We made efforts to understand their play style and discussed with people close to them.
We were fortunate that Aneesa and Saniya were our desired picks. Although we knew some players from the lottery would be selected before our turn, we remained optimistic about who we could acquire. Excitement ran high as we knew both were great individuals with significant potential. They are already strong players now, but can evolve and improve even more. This alignment suited our needs perfectly, and we felt fortunate securing those caliber players at the No. 7 and No. 8 spots.
Dalzell: Layla Rakan emerged as a key mid-season addition. You selected her when you were assistant GM, but she joined this season. What led you to draft her in 2024, especially while chasing a championship, and how did you assess her 25 games in Connecticut?
Tuck: First, I must credit Darius Taylor, our previous GM. Watching her play, her intensity was unparalleled. She’s very young but brings a lot to the table. Many in her age group tend to struggle with adjusting to the demands of the league. Nonetheless, she’s gained valuable experience playing professionally in France for considerable time.
Her defense transformed our gameplay, filling a gap we desperately needed. She is a tall guard with remarkable intensity, work ethic, and a noteworthy influence on both ends of the court. Competing at a high level overseas, she proved herself against some of the best players in the world—she thrived on that platform.
We optimally aimed for her to join us in 2025, and sure—if she had arrived sooner, the start of this season would have looked different. Nevertheless, she demonstrated why we picked her, and I’m convinced there’s a lot more to uncover regarding her potential. She excites us moving forward.
Dalzell: When we last spoke in December, it was tough to predict much about the upcoming season. How would you now define this team’s identity looking ahead?
I believe a youthful core is paramount. In nurturing young talent, it’s crucial to complement them with selected veterans who can guide and elevate their game. We want to foster a gritty, defense-first mentality, pushing the pace in transition—that’s the style we envision.
Importantly, we seek individuals who align with our values, understanding our objectives and team dynamics. Connecticut’s previous triumphs stemmed from a collective effort, not just individual stars. Over time, we can cultivate prominent players, but contributions must come collectively to succeed. That’s the essence of our vision.
Moving onward, our focus must remain on nurturing our younger talent. We must build a rhythm and momentum through draft selections and foster growth over the coming years. I don’t believe we’re a team that can just shuffle players annually and still find success. Consistency is key, and I genuinely believe we can achieve that by concentrating on development and building from this year.
Stay tuned for Part 2 of our interview with Morgan Tuck, where we’ll discuss Veronica Barton’s breakout performance with the Golden State Valkyries, Marina Mabry’s trade request, Rashid Mejian’s coaching debut in the WNBA, and more.
