The Connecticut Sun have joined the list of WNBA teams that will be down a player this season.

Layshia Clarendon underwent successful surgery Tuesday at Yale New Haven Hospital to both repair the peroneal retinaculum and stabilize the dislocated peroneal tendons in her right ankle. The reserve point guard was injured during a June 19 practice. The expected recovery time is three-to-four months.

Connecticut plays at the Dallas Wings on Wednesday night (8, College Park Center, NESN, NBA TV).

“We’re here to provide support,” Sun head coach Curt Miller said Tuesday. “The team has been great (for Clarendon). My coaching staff minutes ago had a call on speaker with all three of us speaking (to Clarendon) on the phone.

“It’s a really big blow to us. Layshia, in my opinion, was like a sixth starter for us as a former All-Star and veteran leader.”

Clarendon averaged 15.3 minutes, 6.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists in nine games.

“The next-person-up mentality takes over,” Miller said, “and it will give Rachel (Banham) a great opportunity in a contract year to not only continue to get minutes as an off-guard, but (as) the clear backup point guard (to starter Jasmine Thomas). I think it’s a great opportunity for her.

“The hard thing is that Layshia was the only bench player on our team that isn’t still considered to be on a rookie contract. We have a young bench that got even younger. There’s going to be a lot asked of that young group. They’re going to be thrown in the fire.”

Clarendon will rehab with the team. Miller said they’re in early discussions with her about assisting the coaching staff as that is a job she’s considered doing in the future.

“We’ve had preliminary talks to include her more in the coaches’ meetings,” Miller said, “allow her access that (players) don’t have when they’re playing and get to see the game through a different set of eyes because her role will have changed.

“I’m excited for Layshia to expose her to this if she chooses. I think it’ll be valuable to have her opinion and mindset on decisions behind the scenes; get a player’s perspective.”

The Sun (9-2) are coming off a 93-75 loss at the Chicago Sky on Sunday, the first beating they’ve taken this season.

Dallas (2-6) is in the transition phase. It has a new head coach in Brian Agler, who led both the Seattle Storm (201) and Los Angeles Sparks (2016) to world championships.

Guard Skylar Diggins-Smith, a 2019 All-WNBA second team pick, is on maternity leave. Center Liz Cambage, last season’s WNBA MVP runner-up, demanded that the Wings trade her during the offseason and was sent to the Las Vegas Aces.

Starting post Glory Johnson has taken a temporary leave to play for Montenegro at the FIBA EuroBasket tournament in Latvia and Serbia, which starts Thursday. Guard Tayler Hill is also out after knee surgery.

“They’re really a challenge to keep off the offensive glass and are scoring a ton of points in the paint,” Miller said. “It’s remarkable how fast Brian has changed the defensive mindset of this team and how they’re using defense to create offense.”

n.griffen@theday.com