Lynx win Homecoming game over Sun but friends and family reconnect

UNCASVILLE, Sept. 20, 2026 – It was the second-to-last WNBA game in Uncasville on Sunday afternoon and the Connecticut Sun called it Homecoming.

There were plenty of old friends at the Mohegan Sun Arena and a marching band from Monroe University in New York City for a traditional Homecoming halftime show.

Mike Thibault, the first coach of the Sun who led the franchise to eight WNBA playoff berths and two WNBA finals appearances in 10 seasons, was in the house to be honored as a Sun legend.

As part of Connecticut’s final WNBA season, the team retired the numbers of four legends (Tina Charles, Jasmine Thomas, Alyssa Thomas and Jonquel Jones) and two coaches – Curt Miller and Thibault.

Thibault’s family was in attendance, including his son Eric, who is now an assistant with the visiting Minnesota Lynx, his daughter Carly Thibault-Dudonis, who is the head coach at Fairfield University and Lindsay Whalen, an assistant coach with the Lynx who began her professional career with the Sun and Thibault, helping leading Connecticut to a pair of WNBA finals in 2004 and 2005.

Several former Thibault players with the Sun were at the game including Whalen, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, Tina Charles and Bria Hartley. Plenty of former Sun employees were at the game reconnecting with Thibault and each other.

There was also a basketball game.

Minnesota (32-10), who led from start to finish, snapped a three-game losing streak with a 101-89 victory before a sellout crowd of 8,911 fans and needs one more win or one Golden State loss to clinch the top seed in the upcoming WNBA playoffs.

Former UConn star Napheesa Collier led the Lynx with 23 points while rookie Olivia Miles scored 21 points, sinking 7-of-10 field goals from the floor. Miles broke the WNBA record for most points in a season by a rookie, snapping the mark set by Indiana’s Caitlin Clark (769 points) in 2024.

Minnesota ran out to an early 11-2 lead and led by 20 at one point.

Connecticut (10-32) dropped their fifth straight game with Gianna Kneepkens, Lelia Lecan and Diamond Miller each leading the way with 15 points. Aaliyah Edwards, who began her WNBA career playing under Eric Thibault in Washington, scored 12 points.

The Sun stayed in the game by sinking a season-high 15 three-point shots – an impressive effort from the worst three-point shooting team in the league. Miller, Lecan and Kneepkens each sank three from long range.

While pleased with the win, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeves was not happy with her team’s defensive efforts and promised a video review of Sunday’s game on Monday.

“It’s not our standard,” she said. “We played selfish basketball at times. We’re not selfish people. Our defense wasn’t what it should be. They had 12 fast break points in one quarter. Transition defense and driving layups when they are setting staggered screens and we’re not helping on the ball. That is basic defense.”

Reeves has led the Lynx to four WNBA championships, most recently in 2017.

Connecticut has two more games before moving to Houston. The Sun take their final road game on Tuesday by visiting Washington and conclude their 23-year stay in Connecticut on Thursday night when they host the expansion Toronto Tempo at 7 p.m.

The Sun were shorthanded with Brittney Griner (left knee), Olivia Nelson-Ododa (right knee) and Kennedy Burke (right should) out of the game. Burke is gone for the reason after getting injured playing for Turkey in the FIBA World Cup. And starter Saniya Rivers played just five minutes after getting banged up early in the game.

Still, the crowd was loud when the Sun scored or made a little run that cut the lead to 10.

It was a testament to the fans that most of the sellout crowd was still in the arena with under three minutes left and the Sun trailing by 13 points.

“I am just thrilled to be back,” he said. “It is a bittersweet moment for everybody. I’ve been very impressed on how this last season has been handled by this organization.”

Thibault served as head coach of the Connecticut Sun from 2003 to 2012, compiling a 206–134 record across 340 games, positioning the Sun as one of the WNBA’s most consistent contenders.

Thibault guided the team eight playoff appearances in 10 seasons. The Sun reached the WNBA Finals in 2004 and 2005, and the team advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals five times.

Both teams watched the 20-minute ceremony after the game. Many of the players have worked with Thibault in the WNBA and with the U.S. national basketball team. There were plenty of hugs and photos.

Reeves sat with Thibault’s family during the ceremony. Reeves and Thibault have coached together with USA basketball. Thibault was an assistant coach with Reeves on the 2022 American team that won the FIBA World Cup. He was an assistant coach under Reeve on the gold medal winning U.S. women’s team in 2024 in Paris. He was also an assistant on the 2008 U.S. women’s basketball team that also won Olympic gold.

An hour after the ceremony finished, there were still friends with Thibault and his family on the Mohegan Sun Arena floor sharing stories and reconnecting.