The Sun made their final roster cuts Thursday night, and they were somewhat surprising. Connecticut released forwards Danielle Page and Lyndra Littles, bringing their team to the necessary 11 for Saturday's regular-season opener vs. Washington.
Page, largely a practice player a year ago, had a very solid camp, but ultimately lost a spot to rookie forward Lauren Ervin, a 2008 third-round draft selection with more upside and athletic ability. Littles, who the Sun spoke highly of after grabbing in the second round, departed in favor of guards Kiesha Brown and Kristi Cirone, who Sun coach Mike Thibault had hinted would battle for one spot but ultimately both made the team.
Thus, here is the 11-person roster, of which two more will be cut when Sandrine Gruda and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota arrive (likely later this month or in early July):
G Lindsay Whalen
G Erin Phillips
G Kiesha Brown
G Kristi Cirone
G/F Amber Holt (injured)
G/F Kerri Gardin
G/F Barbara Turner
F Asjha Jones
F Tamika Whitmore
F Lauren Ervin
C Chante Black
Friday, June 5, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sun cut Swanier, Hayes
Ketia Swanier was among two waived Monday by the Connecticut Sun, who began the process of paring their roster to the necessary 11 before Saturday’s regular-season opener.
The Sun cut both Swanier, a former UConn star, and rookie Ashley Hayes, leaving them with 13 in training camp.
Selected 12th overall in last year’s WNBA Draft, Swanier essentially lost a position battle with camp invitee Kristi Cirone — though her departure does not guarantee Cirone a roster spot, either. Sun coach Mike Thibault is still weighing keeping another point guard behind Lindsay Whalen and Erin Phillips, who’ll likely both start Saturday against the Washington Mystics.
Swanier averaged 2.0 points and 2.3 assists in three preseason games, though her team-high seven turnovers likely played the biggest role in her dismissal. She appeared in 25 games as a rookie in 2008, making six starts, while averaging 1.6 points in 8.5 minutes per game.
Cirone, an Illinois State product, has averaged 2.0 points in 6.7 minutes this preseason, committing just one turnover.
Hayes, signed to a training camp spot because of her shooting ability, made just 4-of-15 shots (26.7 percent) in three preseason appearances. Her departure bodes well for the chances of fellow rookie Lyndra Littles and fourth-year veteran Barbara Turner, all of who have competed for a role as a reserve wing player.
Seven are currently guaranteed roster spots, including Whalen, Phillips, Asjha Jones, Tamika Whitmore, Kerri Gardin, Amber Holt and rookie Chante Black. Sandrine Gruda and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota will also have spots upon joining the team, likely in late June or early July.
The Sun cut both Swanier, a former UConn star, and rookie Ashley Hayes, leaving them with 13 in training camp.
Selected 12th overall in last year’s WNBA Draft, Swanier essentially lost a position battle with camp invitee Kristi Cirone — though her departure does not guarantee Cirone a roster spot, either. Sun coach Mike Thibault is still weighing keeping another point guard behind Lindsay Whalen and Erin Phillips, who’ll likely both start Saturday against the Washington Mystics.
Swanier averaged 2.0 points and 2.3 assists in three preseason games, though her team-high seven turnovers likely played the biggest role in her dismissal. She appeared in 25 games as a rookie in 2008, making six starts, while averaging 1.6 points in 8.5 minutes per game.
Cirone, an Illinois State product, has averaged 2.0 points in 6.7 minutes this preseason, committing just one turnover.
Hayes, signed to a training camp spot because of her shooting ability, made just 4-of-15 shots (26.7 percent) in three preseason appearances. Her departure bodes well for the chances of fellow rookie Lyndra Littles and fourth-year veteran Barbara Turner, all of who have competed for a role as a reserve wing player.
Seven are currently guaranteed roster spots, including Whalen, Phillips, Asjha Jones, Tamika Whitmore, Kerri Gardin, Amber Holt and rookie Chante Black. Sandrine Gruda and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota will also have spots upon joining the team, likely in late June or early July.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
More Sun, more games
For the first time ever, fans will have the opportunity to watch virtually every Connecticut Sun game during the 2009 season through www.connecticutsun.com.
Only games televised nationally or locally, or games tipping off at the same time as an ESPN2 or ABC broadcasted game in another market, will be delayed. But all WNBA LiveAccess games will be archived for on-demand viewing.
Although the schedule is subject to change, a total of 22 Sun games are currently expected to be available for live viewing on the web. That list includes:
June 14 vs. Atlanta
June 16 at Chicago
June 19 vs. Chicago
June 27 vs. Atlanta
July 2 at Indiana
July 5 at Detroit
July 7 at Atlanta
July 19 vs. Indiana
July 22 vs. Sacramento
July 30 at Indiana
Aug. 2 at Detroit
Aug. 7 at Minnesota
Aug. 9 vs. Washington
Aug. 13 vs. Seattle
Aug. 14 at Washington
Aug. 19 vs. New York
Aug. 22 vs. Minnesota
Aug. 25 vs. Detroit
Aug. 27 at Seattle
Aug. 30 at Los Angeles
Sept. 1st at Sacramento
Sept. 11 at Atlanta
Only games televised nationally or locally, or games tipping off at the same time as an ESPN2 or ABC broadcasted game in another market, will be delayed. But all WNBA LiveAccess games will be archived for on-demand viewing.
Although the schedule is subject to change, a total of 22 Sun games are currently expected to be available for live viewing on the web. That list includes:
June 14 vs. Atlanta
June 16 at Chicago
June 19 vs. Chicago
June 27 vs. Atlanta
July 2 at Indiana
July 5 at Detroit
July 7 at Atlanta
July 19 vs. Indiana
July 22 vs. Sacramento
July 30 at Indiana
Aug. 2 at Detroit
Aug. 7 at Minnesota
Aug. 9 vs. Washington
Aug. 13 vs. Seattle
Aug. 14 at Washington
Aug. 19 vs. New York
Aug. 22 vs. Minnesota
Aug. 25 vs. Detroit
Aug. 27 at Seattle
Aug. 30 at Los Angeles
Sept. 1st at Sacramento
Sept. 11 at Atlanta
More on Chante
So we're a little behind on the blogging to start the year, but let's catch up a little bit. The Sun opened camp Monday, and they'll have a lot to accomplish with 15 players in camp and 11 open spots. And here's a quick pre-preseason primer for the Eastern Conference.
And for today, here's a look at Chante Black, who spent last summer in Connecticut coincidently for an internship at the St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.
But there's more to the 6-foot-5 rookie's story. Black's mother, Mazie, has spent the past two years on a fellowship teaching English to fifth- and sixth-graders in Saudi Arabia. Black has never gotten the chance to visit her there -- and the schedule made it impossible for Mazie to attend any of Chante's games the last two years at Duke -- but she did make it back to attend the WNBA draft last month with her daughter.
Chante said travel has always been in her mother's life. Mazie was in Army before taking up teaching, and she has spent 10 months each of the last two years in the Middle East.
"She’s adventurous," Chante said. "I don’t think I’m as bold as her."
But despite the nine-hour time difference, mother and daughter still talk often, whether through e-mail, Skype or magicJack. (Mazie has a local in Saudi Arabia.)
"So now it’s on the regular," Chante said. "But (because of the time difference), when she calls I’m like sleeping and it’s 6 in the morning but she’s wide awake. I’m like, ‘Call me later.’"
Mazie is also planning to return to school, Chante said, possibly in New England, meaning she may be able catch her daughter at Mohegan Sun Arena often.
More to come from camp late today.
And for today, here's a look at Chante Black, who spent last summer in Connecticut coincidently for an internship at the St. Francis Hospital in Hartford.
But there's more to the 6-foot-5 rookie's story. Black's mother, Mazie, has spent the past two years on a fellowship teaching English to fifth- and sixth-graders in Saudi Arabia. Black has never gotten the chance to visit her there -- and the schedule made it impossible for Mazie to attend any of Chante's games the last two years at Duke -- but she did make it back to attend the WNBA draft last month with her daughter.
Chante said travel has always been in her mother's life. Mazie was in Army before taking up teaching, and she has spent 10 months each of the last two years in the Middle East.
"She’s adventurous," Chante said. "I don’t think I’m as bold as her."
But despite the nine-hour time difference, mother and daughter still talk often, whether through e-mail, Skype or magicJack. (Mazie has a local in Saudi Arabia.)
"So now it’s on the regular," Chante said. "But (because of the time difference), when she calls I’m like sleeping and it’s 6 in the morning but she’s wide awake. I’m like, ‘Call me later.’"
Mazie is also planning to return to school, Chante said, possibly in New England, meaning she may be able catch her daughter at Mohegan Sun Arena often.
More to come from camp late today.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
All-Star game tickets on sale
The WNBA is releasing a limited number of tickets for the 2009 WNBA All-Star Game, to be held Saturday, July 25 at the Mohegan Sun Arena. The game, set for a 3:30 p.m. tip, will be televised live on ABC.
Tickets are available by going online to ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX, and range from $10 to $55. Special pricing will apply for groups of 20 or more.
The sale follows a presale conducted for season-ticket holders of the host Connecticut Sun and the WNBA’s 12 other teams.
Tickets are available by going online to ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-877-WNBA-TIX, and range from $10 to $55. Special pricing will apply for groups of 20 or more.
The sale follows a presale conducted for season-ticket holders of the host Connecticut Sun and the WNBA’s 12 other teams.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Sun sign three to camp contracts
The Connecticut Sun are filling out their training camp lineup, announcing Wednesday they’ve signed three college seniors to camp contracts.
Illinois State’s Kristi Cirone, Murray State’s Ashley Hayes and Duke’s Carrem Gay will all report to Connecticut for the start of camp on May 18 with the hopes of making the Sun in a season when spots are at their highest premium in WNBA history.
In addition to trimming rosters from 13 to 11 players, teams have also been forced to reduce the number of players available to open camp from 18 to 15. Making the competition even more intense is the expected presence of most of the Sun’s stars, including Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones, who have missed the start of camp in previous years.
The league pushed its opening weekend back roughly three weeks this season, affording players competing overseas more time to arrive in time for the preseason. Some, like Whalen and Australian Erin Phillips, are already in the United States.
That will put the onus on the undrafted seniors to make an immediate impact, though they all come with credentials.
A three-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, the 5-foot-8 Cirone is the leading scorer in Illinois State history (2,139 points), and last season ranked second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.57) while averaging a team-high 18.8 points per game.
Hayes, a 5-foot-10 guard, is the first player in Murray State history to earn an invite to a WNBA camp. Another pure scorer, she averaged 22.6 points per game as a senior and set a school record by netting 46 points at Tennessee State on Feb. 4. She topped 30 points seven times last season, including five games in a row.
The 6-foot-2 Gay averaged 6.6 points and 5.1 rebounds last year while playing alongside Sun first-round pick Chante Black at Duke. Gay ranks ninth all-time in program history with 80 blocks.
The Sun open the preseason on May 22 against New York and have to make final cuts by June 5, a day before their season- and home-opener against the Washington Mystics.
Illinois State’s Kristi Cirone, Murray State’s Ashley Hayes and Duke’s Carrem Gay will all report to Connecticut for the start of camp on May 18 with the hopes of making the Sun in a season when spots are at their highest premium in WNBA history.
In addition to trimming rosters from 13 to 11 players, teams have also been forced to reduce the number of players available to open camp from 18 to 15. Making the competition even more intense is the expected presence of most of the Sun’s stars, including Lindsay Whalen and Asjha Jones, who have missed the start of camp in previous years.
The league pushed its opening weekend back roughly three weeks this season, affording players competing overseas more time to arrive in time for the preseason. Some, like Whalen and Australian Erin Phillips, are already in the United States.
That will put the onus on the undrafted seniors to make an immediate impact, though they all come with credentials.
A three-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, the 5-foot-8 Cirone is the leading scorer in Illinois State history (2,139 points), and last season ranked second in the nation in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.57) while averaging a team-high 18.8 points per game.
Hayes, a 5-foot-10 guard, is the first player in Murray State history to earn an invite to a WNBA camp. Another pure scorer, she averaged 22.6 points per game as a senior and set a school record by netting 46 points at Tennessee State on Feb. 4. She topped 30 points seven times last season, including five games in a row.
The 6-foot-2 Gay averaged 6.6 points and 5.1 rebounds last year while playing alongside Sun first-round pick Chante Black at Duke. Gay ranks ninth all-time in program history with 80 blocks.
The Sun open the preseason on May 22 against New York and have to make final cuts by June 5, a day before their season- and home-opener against the Washington Mystics.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Sun take Duke's Black
The Connecticut Sun added some needed frontcourt help in the WNBA Draft today, selecting Duke’s Chante Black with the 10th overall pick.
Black, a 6-foot-5 center, averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds this past season for the Blue Devils. She’ll join one of the league’s smallest frontcourts in Asjha Jones, Tamika Whitmore and the 6-foot-4 Sandrine Gruda, likely as a back-up.
“From what I’ve seen, the Connecticut Sun is a very up-tempo team,” Black said on a conference call last week. “They have a great point (guard) with Lindsay Whalen and I know she’s looking for a big to dish off to when she penetrates. I always love those opportunities when you have a guard looking to pass the post the ball. And I would always love an opportunity to play for any team that’s playing that type of style.”
The Sun select again at No. 17 and No. 36.
Black, a 6-foot-5 center, averaged 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds this past season for the Blue Devils. She’ll join one of the league’s smallest frontcourts in Asjha Jones, Tamika Whitmore and the 6-foot-4 Sandrine Gruda, likely as a back-up.
“From what I’ve seen, the Connecticut Sun is a very up-tempo team,” Black said on a conference call last week. “They have a great point (guard) with Lindsay Whalen and I know she’s looking for a big to dish off to when she penetrates. I always love those opportunities when you have a guard looking to pass the post the ball. And I would always love an opportunity to play for any team that’s playing that type of style.”
The Sun select again at No. 17 and No. 36.
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