The Connecticut Sun was selected to receive the Girls Incorporated of Greater Waterbury's Strong, Smart and Bold Award for their advocacy for girls' participation in sports and their efforts to promote reading as a means to achieving. On a national level, the WNBA's partnership with Girls Incorporated has created many opportunities for members of Girls Incorporated. “Connecticut girls are very lucky to have the Connecticut Sun Team as such an active community partner.” Girls Incorporated of Greater Waterbury also honored other individuals during the ceremony, including Deidre Imus, founder of the Deidre Imus Children Cancer Center in Hackensack, New Jersey and the Imus Ranch. Deidre won the alumni award as she is a former member of Girls Inc.

The awards were presented this year in honor of the organization's 140th Anniversary. The criteria for selection is that the recipient's work must reflect the spirit of the pioneering women who began what is now Girls Inc of Waterbury, 140 years ago which established the first girls' club and one of the first youth agencies in the United States.