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Head Coach Mike Thibault had his full roster in place for the first time on May 13, a 77-51 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Sparks, and was blunt in his assessment of the Sun's performance.
 Sales |
 McWilliams-Franklin |
The good news is that Connecticut has a crop of talented and experienced veterans to ease the transition. The squad is anchored by athletic swing player Nykesha Sales, an All-Star in each of her five WNBA seasons who has yet to miss a game in her career. Sales averaged a career-high 16.1 points last year to lead the Sun and rank eighth in the league, and she'll be expected to shoulder even more of the offensive load this year with the departure of No. 2 scorer and fellow All-Star Shannon Johnson.
But Sales won't be alone in providing leadership for the team's young newcomers. Center Taj McWilliams-Franklin enters her sixth season, and reserve forward Wendy Palmer, her eighth -- both are former All-Stars who only rejoined the Sun on May 12 after playing for international pro teams. The 6-2 McWilliams-Franklin led Connecticut in both rebounding (6.7 rpg) and blocks (0.97 bpg) in 2003, while Palmer, coming off the bench for the first time in her career, contributed 4.7 ppg and 3.3 rpg.
Rounding out the frontcourt will be new acquisition Asjha Jones, a former University of Connecticut star who came to the Sun from Washington in a three-way deal that sent the No. 8 draft pick to Phoenix. Jones, who also only arrived in camp on May 12, will start at power forward after two seasons as a reserve for the Mystics, and her role became even more vital after 2003 starter Brooke Wyckoff was lost for the year with a torn ACL.
The injury bug struck the backcourt as well when backup point guard Debbie Black suffered a knee injury that required surgery on May 7. Expected back in late May, Black's absence has put the pressure on rookie Lindsay Whalen, Connecticut's No. 4 selection out of Minnesota, a draft pick the team acquired from San Antonio in exchange for Johnson, last year's starter at the point. In two preseason games, Whalen averaged 2.5 ppg and 3.0 apg in 23.0 minutes.
At shooting guard, Katie Douglas has improved in each of her three seasons, averaging a career-best 12.0 ppg and shooting .382 from 3-point range in 2003. But like McWilliams-Franklin, Palmer and Jones, she began practicing late, arriving in camp on May 10.
Beyond Palmer and Black, Thibault is still solidifying his rotation off the bench, with eight players competing for four roster spots. Center Courtney Coleman, forwards Jessica Brungo and Le'coe Willingham and guards Candace Futrell and Jen Derevjanik saw the most playing time during Connecticut's exhibition games, and guard Anastasia Kostaki has been slowed by injuries. Still, there are no guarantees.
"We've got to see who fits and who doesn't," Thibault said in the Courant. "I see more and more competition, and that's good. It can only make your team better."
Connecticut tips off its season against the Phoenix Mercury on May 22.
Her VGM value is comparable to teammate Wendy Palmer's, but Jones will be getting the starts at power forward. Look for improved scoring and rebounding from the third-year UConn alum.