Connecticut is in full rebuild mode. After losing their entire starting lineup in the offseason, the organization didn’t really have another choice. With Tina Charles and Marina Mabrey, who has been out with an injury recently, the Sun have some great veterans, but their production is not nearly enough to make the team competitive. Connecticut has consistently been the worst team in the league, racking up only three wins all season long.
So, the team should be focused on developing its young players and building for the future. One rookie, in particular, looks like someone the Sun can grow into a future building block. Leila Lacan may have only played five games with the Sun so far, but she has already shown plenty of potential.
Leila Lacan just had a breakout game with the Sun
Leila Lacan is no stranger to big games. She started playing professionally in France in 2022 and suited up for the French national team on several occasions, including the Olympics in 2024 and EuroBasket a few weeks ago.
Nevertheless, coming to the WNBA in the middle of the season isn’t an easy thing to do. Lacan clearly needed some time to adjust to her new team and surroundings. She had a few quiet games before breaking out for 19 points on 61.5 percent shooting from the field, one rebound, one assist, and three steals against the Indiana Fever. She was the Sun’s second-leading scorer despite coming off the bench.
Lacan had already reached double figures once before when she scored ten points against the Seattle Storm, but she didn’t score as much or as efficiently yet. Her three steals also marked a career high.
The Sun may have lost the game, but it was close for a while, as Indiana didn’t play its best game.
Connecticut has an interesting young core
The Connecticut Sun’s roster features a handful of players under the age of 25: Leila Lacan, Rayah Marshall, Aneesah Morrow, Olivia Nelson-Ododa, Saniya Rivers, and Jacy Sheldon. Out of that group, Nelson-Ododa, Rivers, and Sheldon have started the majority of the season. Morrow and Lacan also regularly play meaningful minutes. Only Marshall hasn’t really been part of Coach Meziane’s regular rotation.
The Sun’s young players have shown great potential. Nelson-Ododa is in the midst of her best WNBA season yet, Sheldon has emerged as a gritty defender and hustle player, Rivers is a menace on the defensive end, Morrow has already recorded two double-doubles, and Lacan came to the WNBA ready to make an impact right away. Their performances should make losing Veronica Burton in the expansion draft hurt a little less.
Especially among the rookies, Lacan has looked the most comfortable and ready to play a consistent role. Even former MVP Tina Charles had high praise for Lacan, saying that her future in the WNBA was bright.