HARTFORD — For 10-year-old Asha, Saturday night’s game between the Connecticut Sun and the Los Angeles Sparks will be a night to remember.
Her father, Conwell Worthington, relocated with his wife from Los Angeles to Arlington, Massachusetts, in 2014. But Saturday’s game offered more than just the opportunity for the family to see their hometown team — it was also Asha’s first time attending a WNBA game.
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Making the night all the more special was seeing her favorite player take to the court.
“I’m really excited to see Cameron Brink play,” Asha said.
The Connecticut Sun hosted the No. 2 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and the Los Angeles Sparks in new surroundings on Saturday night, with the Sun earning an 84-81 victory at the PeoplesBank Arena, the first WNBA game played in Hartford.
Sun fans welcomed the return of French international Leïla Lacan. The 2024 first-round draft pick rejoined the Sun after the team waived Hailey Van Lith on Friday. Van Lith re-signed with the team on a developmental contract on Saturday before tip-off.
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With Lacan on the court, the Sun moved with renewed hunger on defense; for just the second time this season, Connecticut forced its opponent to shoot below 45% from the field, earning wins in both games.
“I was excited to come back because I really enjoyed last season,” Lacan said. “It’s a new group and the girls were nice… I’m just happy to be here and try to bring the energy.”
Aneesah Morrow led all scorers with a game-high 17 points and grabbed 14 rebounds for her league-leading seventh double-double. The second-year forward from LSU continues to demonstrate her development on offense, leading the team in scoring for the fifth time this season.
“For one year now, I’m always saying Aneesah (Morrow has) something that we cannot teach, her motor (and) her energy,” Sun coach Rachid Meziane said.
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A back-and-forth game from the start, Connecticut pulled away in the fourth quarter behind a collective performance from the Sun’s entire roster, with 10 players getting on the scoreboard for the hosts. Kennedy Burke had 14 points, including a pair of threes, while Lacan and Diamond Miller had 12 points each.
Rae Burrell and Ariel Atkins led the Sparks with 16 points apiece, with both players hitting a pair of three-pointers as well. Brink had just two points in 18 minutes off the bench, as the Sparks sorely missed their All-Star point guard, Kelsey Plum, currently out with a left ankle injury.
The Sun (2-8) hit the road for their next two games, taking on the Atlanta Dream on Tuesday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. The Sun will return to the Mohegan Sun on June 8 for their next home game. The Sun have one more game scheduled at the PeoplesBank Arena, taking on Paige Bueckers and the Dallas Wings on July 2 at 8 p.m.
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