First-year Connecticut Sun head coach Curt Miller is getting to know his new players one text at a time.

Almost all of the Sun are playing internationally, so unless Miller hops on a plane and bounces from Italy to Turkey to Israel to South Korea, the only way he can get face time with them is via FaceTime. He strongly believes that communication and relationships are the foundation of a successful team, so he's been racking up minutes on his phone (or computer).

"There's no doubt that I probably had their phones buzzing in the middle of the night at times, not always when there's free time on our schedule," Miller joked during a phone interview Tuesday.

"I've been excited about their interactions with me. I feel like we're starting to get to know each other. Not just basketball talk, but learning about them off the court. As we venture into the season, simple discussions on their preferences on travel. The time of the day that we leave and come back. When there's a break in a road trip, do we rush back to Connecticut or stay an extra day on the road. Those kinds of discussions … I appreciate their interaction."

Miller has had to deftly multitask since being hired in mid-December. He's needed to watch film to learn his player's skills and tendencies. He hired one assistant coach (Steve Smith) and needs to hire another. And he needs to figure out what changes are necessary to get the organization back on track and end a three-year playoff drought that has felt more like three decades to a fan base that grew used to winning with frequency.

Connecticut vice president and general manager Chris Sienko and Miller made their first move on Wednesday when second-year center Elizabeth Williams was traded to Atlanta for the fourth overall pick in this April's draft. The Sun already had the third pick via the draft lottery.

Miller believes Connecticut needs more guard depth. Shooters are welcome, too, as the 3-point shot is a big part of his offensive system (the Sun were the WNBA's third-best 3-point shooting team last season, hard as that may be to believe).

"I believe that offensive spacing is important," Miller said. "We have some very talented players inside, whether it's (center) Kelsey Bone posting up, or (post) Chiney (Ogwumike) posting up, or (small forward) Alyssa (Thomas) posting up on a big wing. We've got some very talented players who can play with their backs to the basket inside, but in order to create that spacing to make it successful, you have to have enough perimeter shooting to get them the space that they need."

It just so happens that two of the best players in this year's draft are guards — UConn's Moriah Jefferson and Tiffany Mitchell of South Carolina. Miller will see both in person when the Huskies play at South Carolina next Monday.

"They're both leaders of their team," Miller said. "The big difference is Moriah is a point and Tiffany is a wing player, but they're both great athletes and great defenders. Both aren't afraid of the big moment. And the one thing I have to credit both of them is that they since they stepped on campus they've taken their game to the next level."

Miller inherits one of the league's youngest rosters. Starters Camille Little (forward) and Jasmine Thomas (point) are the only players under contract who've played more than four seasons.

Shooting guard Alex Bentley is just 25 years old and was voted by WNBA coaches to play in last season's All-Star game.

Bone, who earned last season's WNBA Most Improved Player honor, is 24.

Ogwumike, the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year winner, is 23.

"I'm excited about the youth of the roster," Miller said, "but with youth come mistakes, and there's still some polishing to do.

"I look forward to the journey. It's not going to be a sprint. It's going to be a little more of a marathon with this team, but I like this team. It's not a team that's aging and veteran and has a small window."

n.griffen@theday.com

Twitter: @MetalNED