Wild about the Sun from West Haven: What kind of changes do you plan to make this 2008 season regarding defense?
Mike Thibault: At the moment, some of our changes will be based on the player personnel that we have on the team........without Margo Dydek, several things will surely change. Although we will miss her shot blocking, we will be able to put a quicker and more versatile lineup on the floor for long stretches of time. Sandrine Gruda is a very athletic and mobile front line player and we expect to add one or two more front line players through free agency and the draft. Despite some of our occasional defensive let-downs, we were still one of the best ranked defenses in the league by the end of the year.
Crazy about Keesh in Bloomfield: Is Keesh coming back this year? Many of us who sit in Section 22 think this may be her last year?
Mike Thibault: Not sure.....she is an unrestricted free agent and will be able to go anywhere she wants. She has talked at times about retiring, but not sure how she feels about that right now. She has said before that she would wait until she saw how she felt this spring before she decides. We also need to decide whether or not we can afford to keep her as opposed to whoever else is available in free agency or trades.......hard decisions on both sides!!!!
Joe in Hartford: Why don't we hear more about the Connecticut Sun up here? Wondering if we'll ever see you guys do clinics and stuff like that this summer?
Mike Thibault: What don't you hear? We are covered by the Hartford Courant, as well as other publications, on a daily basis during the season. All the television stations give our scores, and often have game footage highlights. We are on local television 6 - 8 games per year, as well as ABC and ESPN many more times. We advertise on tv, radio, and in the newspapers, and have billboards on several major highways. We do player appearances throughout our season. It is very difficult to do camps or clinics during our season because of our travel schedule. We have done several one-day events. Because there will be a break in our schedule in August for the Olympics, we are looking in to doing some clinics during that time.
Big FAN in Fairfield: I am a HUGE Erin Phillips fan...Can we expect to see her in a Connecticut Sun uniform this coming season?
Mike Thibault: Due to the Olympics and her training with the Australian team, probably not for the whole season, but at least for the stretch run and the playoffs. We are trying to work with her and Basketball Australia to get her here for some of the earlier portion of the schedule.
Curious Fan: I am starting to hear stuff about this Collective Bargaining Agreement...what's that? And should I and a whole lot of other Sun fans be worried?
Mike Thibault: As in all other professional sports and many businesses throughout our country, our players are part of a union. The parameters of their individual contracts are bases on collective bargaining with the WNBA. The last collective bargaining agreement expired at the conclusion of last season. The players' union and the league are currently meeting on a regular basis to come to a new agreement - hopefully covering the next 4 - 6 years. The CBA (for short) covers many issues besides salaries - things like housing, transportation, insurance, free agency rights, etc. There seems to be good progress being made, so I wouldn't be too concerned. The sooner it gets done, the sooner the teams and players can get on with the business of putting our teams together for next season.
Fran in Newington Were you glad you left the CBA before Isiah Thomas took over?
Mike Thibault: VERY!!!
Mary from Plainfield What's your favorite WNBA city to visit?
Mike Thibault: I have a lot of cities I like, but I do love Seattle a lot - have friends and family out there, and I used to live in the area at one time. Beautiful city......hope they can keep the team there. There really aren't too many cities I don't enjoy for one reason or another.
Walter from New London Who is the best all around player in the college ranks that you are convinced will make a tremendous impact on the game of women's basketball? Why?
Mike Thibault: Because I have had the pleasure of coaching both Candace Parker and Sylvia Fowles with the USA team, they will have huge impacts in our league.....Parker can stay in college one more year if she chooses due to a redshirt year, but will already be graduated this year. They both have size, athletic ability, can run, and have good basketball skills. Parker is farther along offensively.
Linda from Westbrook Are we going all the way this year?
Mike Thibault: It has to be our turn!!!!! We will be good, and the key is to be healthy when the playoffs begin. You will like Sandrine Gruda a lot and we will be able to add one or two impact players to our roster. We should have Erin Phillips back at some point.
Mike Thibault: Thanks to all of you for your ongoing support - we look forward to seeing you all soon............Coach T
