Haley Van Lith #2 of the Connecticut Sun and Jewell Loyd #24 of the Las Vegas Aces chase a loose ball in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Aneesah Morrow #24 of the Connecticut Sun shoots over A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Haley Van Lith #2 of the Connecticut Sun warms up before facing the Las Vegas Aces at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces pokes the ball away from Kennedy Burke #25 of the Connecticut Sun in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Brianna Turner #21 of the Las Vegas Aces commits the foul on Aneesah Morrow #24 of the Connecticut Sun in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Chelsea Gray #12 of the Las Vegas Aces makes a no-look pass to teammate Nalyssa Smith #3 as Kennedy Burke #25, Aneesah Morrow #24, and Charlisse Leger-Walker #4 of the Connecticut Sun defend in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Head Coach Becky Hammon of the Las Vegas Aces gives instructions to her team as the play the Connecticut Sun in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Gianna Kneepkens #5 and Aneesah Morrow #24 of the Connecticut Sun battle Jewell Loyd #24 of the Las Vegas Aces for a loose ball in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Saniya Rivers #22 of the Connecticut Sun battles A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces for a loose ball in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Haley Van Lith #2 of the Connecticut Sun tries to pass to teammate Kennedy Burke #25 as Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces pressures for the ball in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces scores over Charlisse Leger-Walker #4 of the Connecticut Sun in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates her basket after being fouled by Aneesah Morrow #24 of the Connecticut Sun in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces loses the ball under pressure from Haley Van Lith #2 of the Connecticut Sun in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Kennedy Burke #25 of the Connecticut Sun warms up with assistant coach Pascal Angillis before facing the Las Vegas Aces at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Diamond Miller #1 of the Connecticut Sun and Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces go for a loose ball in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: Aneesah Morrow #24 of the Connecticut Sun battles Chennedy Carter #23 of the Las Vegas Aces for a rebound in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces celebrates with teammates after the Connecticut Sun called a timeout in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE, CONNECTICUT – MAY 13: A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces scores over Olivia Nelson-Ododa #10 of the Connecticut Sun in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean D. Elliot/Getty Images)
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UNCASVILLE — The Connecticut Sun’s biggest weakness has become a problem – a point guard problem.
The Sun’s offense has left little to be desired to start the season. It’s stagnant, clunky and lacks fluid movement. Players take one or two dribbles before forcing last-ditch plays instead of being intentional with passes and taking time to read the defense. Without a solid floor general directing the action, Connecticut’s offense has plummeted.
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With a 98-69 loss to the Las Vegas Aces Wednesday night, Connecticut is 0-3 and averaging 16.33 turnovers per game. If the team holds that average, it would mark the second most in franchise history and the most since the franchise relocated to Uncasville.
The Sun’s veteran point guard is out injured to start the year, and its star second-year point guard remains overseas competing in the French League playoffs. That leaves Sun with just two active point guards on the roster, however; both are inexperienced while one only just joined the team last week.
With such a young roster, the need for a play-making point guard is dire and until the Sun can build reliable depth in the position, its offense will continue to suffer.
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“We’re doing (what we can) with who we have in our hands” said Sun head coach Rachid Meziane. “… Without a playmaker, we need to play a different way, have a better passing game and share the ball. Sometimes we just kill our ball movement. We hurt our flow because we freeze the ball. We need to understand the game and not just show up and play a pick-up game.”
Head coach Rachid Meziane of the Connecticut Sun gives direction to Haley Van Lith #2 against the Las Vegas Aces in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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The only true point guard the Sun returned from its 2025 roster this season is French star Leila Lacan. Despite joining the team two months late last season, the 21-year-old immediately became the Sun’s do-it-all star. She led the team with 2.2 steals per game, was third with 10.4 points per game and second with 3.7 assists per game.
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But just like last year, Lacan again will be a late arrival to Uncasville this summer. The French League Playoffs run through mid-May, meaning the earliest she could arrive would be a week or so after competition ends.
Connecticut made its lack of depth at point guard a priority when crafting its 2026 roster. It signed seven-veteran Shey Peddy to a training camp contract and drafted UCLA national champion Charlisse Leger-Walker in April’s WNBA Draft.
However, Peddy has been sidelined with a left lower leg injury since the second week of training camp. She missed both preseason games and the first three regular-season games. Meziane said Wednesday that the point guard remains “day-to-day.”
During the preseason, Meziane tried to solve his point guard issue by experimenting with Saniya Rivers at the position. Rivers started at point for the Sun’s two preseason games and its season-opener last week at New York. But it wasn’t sustainable, nor a natural, fit for the shooting guard.
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Rivers traditionally plays more on the wing. While she can bring the ball up, her primary strengths are shooting and defense – not ball handling and distributing. The new position threw off the second-year star. She hesitated on offense and didn’t bring her same aggressive demeanor on defense.
Kierstan Bell #1 of the Las Vegas Aces tries to save the ball from going out of bounds as Haley Van Lith #2 of the Connecticut Sun pursues in the second half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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“I think finding a balance of looking for yourself at point guard is hard enough, but obviously you have to balance that by looking for your team,” said Rivers. “… I think I’m struggling to balance that. I think in the first couple of games, preseason included, I was more so looking for my teammates, looking to pass first, and there’s nothing wrong with that at point guard. You have to be very selfless at the point guard. But I think I just totally forgot about me in the midst of it.”
With Peddy still out ahead of the season-opener, Connecticut picked up former college star point guard Hailey Van Lith off waivers last week. Van Lith averaged 4.0 assists last year in her rookie season in Chicago. She’s a quick, play-making guard despite her lack of experience in the league.
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Even with Van Lith on the roster, Meziane continued to pour support into Rivers at point guard start the regular season. But instead of building confidence in the role, Rivers’ own game began to suffer. In the Sun’s season-opening loss at New York, Rivers had a team-high six assists but was only 2-of-6 from the floor.
Meziane knew then he had to try something else. If they wanted to mold Rivers into a point guard, they needed more time – something they don’t have now already a week into the regular season.
“After the game, I sat down with Niya, and we don’t want to put her in a bad situation,” said Meziane following the New York loss. “We don’t want to put the team in a bad situation. We know that Leila is coming. So, we think, and we still think, that Niya can be very special, very unique, playing in this role, but she needs time, and right now, we are losing it a little bit with her playing at point.”
Saniya Rivers #22 of the Connecticut Sun battles A’ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces for the ball in the first half at Mohegan Sun Arena on May 13, 2026 in Uncasville, Connecticut.
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On Sunday, in the Sun’s home-opener against Seattle, Meziane switched things up by starting Leger-Walker and moving Rivers back into her normal position.
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While the former UCLA star has impressed with her early leadership and confidence, her lack of WNBA experience has shown as she’s struggled with turnovers and fouls. In her first three games for the Sun, the former Bruin is averaging more fouls (2.5) than assists (1.5).
Against Seattle on Sunday and Las Vegas on Wednesday, Meziane rotated Leger-Walker and Van Lith. But neither could stabilize the Sun’s offense. Leger-Walker is a pass-first point guard, who is still learning to find her own shot. Van Lith can be a playmaker, yet she’s still too new to the Sun to have built chemistry or know the offensive sets.
“I feel like right now, we’re trying to figure out our point guard identity,” said Aneesah Morrow. “And of course, Charlisse is very young, but I would say with her first start, she was very poised.
“I’m actually super happy and proud of her just the way that she communicates on the floor, the way that she speaks before certain plays. We’re two steps ahead when we’re with Charlisse and just being able to have Hailey here is another impact offensively.”
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Until Lacan arrives, the Sun will have to continue to make do with what it has.
“I just texted Leila and said, ‘We need you.’” Meziane said after the Sun’s loss to Seattle on Sunday.