Do anyone out there understand what is going on with the Suns? Why is it that they seemingly cannot get it (even half) right? I have given up on them and have been following Minn and Atl with joy. Is it management? a lack of role players? too many egos? coaching? Injuries- yes; but look at Indiana & Atl in that regard.
First, the team name is the Connecticut 'Sun' not 'Suns'.
Second, the Sun have been very successful over their history and your characterization that they cannot get it even half right is off base and incorrect.
If you are asking about the past season the answer is simple - injuries. Jones, the starting forward missed the year due to nagging injuries. McCray, usually the first or 2nd player off the bench in 2012 was out for the season. Tan White, another key sub, missed about half the games with a hand injury. Montgomery - severe sprained ankle - was out for about half the season and was less than 100% thereafter. Lawson, starting point missed all but a hand full of games with leg and back injuries. Talented rookie Faris missed all of training camp, was less than 100% when she played and then had to be shut down at the end of the season due to a chronic foot injury. All-Star Allie Hightower missed a bunch of games with hand and leg injuries.
The players obtained to plug the gaps - Carter, Pederson, Castro-Marquez were just OK and not up to the level of those they replaced. The game-to-game shuffle of personnel must have been a coaching nightmare. Due to the injuries alone, Donovan gets a one-season pass, in my opinion.
The age question... I didn't do the math on all the teams but Jones and Lawson are the only 10+ year players on the roster (I did not count Izzy because she was a fill-in player for the injured). Arguably, time is catching up with Asjha and nagging injuries are becoming more of a problem for her. Lawson had one of her best seasons ever in 2012 and because of ESPN she is relatively "low mileage" compared to other vets of her age. I don't know what may have contributed to her physical problems this year. Bottom line is that with the exception of Jones, I don't think age is an issue on the roster as it sits.
You mention egos... if you are referring to players, unlikely an issue. This is a pretty solid group.
If your question was intended to cover more ground than just last year, we have to talk about Sun management. Firing Coach T was a huge mistake and the error was compounded by the way it was done. When it was announced I was sure they had someone lined up to take the job but that was not the case, apparently. Key players like Lawson, Charles and Jones who had a GREAT relationship with Coach T were apparently taken by surprise. Tina and Kara were clearly not happy all season and this move may have contributed to Jones' decision to sit out. If the rumors are true, these three will never suit up for the Sun again... a disaster. There is no way the Sun get equal value for Tina. A young All-World center (and philanthropist/model citizen) is priceless on the court and off.
When Coach D was hired, the party line was all about nudging a really good team over the hump and winning a championship. I don't think team management anticipated the consequences of their actions. Coach D eluded to the unexpectedly "rough transition" from Coach T.
So here we are... a team that should be at the apex of a building stage around young stars like Tina and Allie seems to be in free fall. As I said in another post, if the Sun lose Tina and don't come out of this at least as good as 2012, the GM should be fired.
