Two iconic WNBA chapters come to a close

The GIST: A thrilling 330 regular-season games later, the WNBA first-round matchups are officially set. While you wait for that aforementioned playoff preview and start planning your women’s basketball bracket, let’s reminisce about two iconic chapters that are coming to a close.

☀️ The Connecticut Sun’s grand finale: The Nutmeg State has been synonymous with women’s hoops since, well, forever. Some of the best the W had to offer — Tina Charles, Jonquel Jones, and Alyssa Thomas among others — called Connecticut home during their careers, a legacy that will live on long after last night’s season finale: The franchise will relocate to Houston and rebrand as the Comets in 2027.

• The Sun authored a myriad of historic WNBA firsts during their 23-year existence, anchored in a community that truly embraced the franchise. The sun may be setting on this iteration of women’s basketball in New England, but it’s only a matter of time before it rises again.

👑 Nneka Ogwumike retires after 15 seasons: No one’s impacted the WNBA quite like Ogwumike. As president of the players’ union, the 36-year-old was instrumental in negotiating two landmark CBAs over her decade-long tenure. She’s always been a leader, an advocate, and a mentor — and truly beloved by her peers because of it.

• And she was equally as impressive on the court. The 2012 No. 1 draft pick is one of the W’s most accomplished players, stacking a championship, points, and accolades over her 15-year career. Ogumike’s “grateful” for all of it — us too, madam president.

• What’s next? The only certainty is that she’ll play in Project B, the global five-on-five league that debuts in January. After that, who knows where her leadership acumen will take her, but we hear the WNBA front office has an opening.