during the WNBA game between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Connecticut Sun at People’s Bank Arena, Hartford, Connecticut, USA on May 30, 2026. Photo Credit: Chris Poss
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In Connecticut’s final season of WNBA basketball, the Sun find themselves in last place through 12 games. Rachid Meziane’s team has faced significantly more downs than ups thus far, and a tough home-road split did not help matters.
Brittney Griner missed six games due to injury, and Aaliyah Edwards found herself out due to a concussion. The Sun’s depth has been tested early in the campaign, and Connecticut so far has failed to overcome these absences.
After missing the opening nine games due to her championship run in France, Leïla Lacan finally returned to the WNBA in the final days of May. In her return game held in Hartford, Lacan and the Sun ended a three-game Sparks winning streak with an 84-81 win. The French star scored 12 points in her return game.
Lacan’s impact was possibly even more significant on the defensive end where she helped to shut down the Sparks top scorers, especially late in the game.
“Playing your role is I think the most important thing, to contribute and to help the team to win,” Meziane said after the win. “So defense, our expectations are the same for everyone.”
Lacan’s presence also activated other players in the win. Aneesah Morrow scored a team-high 17 points in the win, a big showing for the second-year player who started for just the third time in the season. She also led the Sun with 14 rebounds during her 32 minutes of play.
“She took more pride in some areas of our game,” Meziane said. “I do think that our shot selection tonight was so much better.”
Off the bench, Kennedy Burke provided a valuable 24 minutes of game time, scoring 14 points in the contest. She also blocked three shots and played a big role in limiting Los Angeles down the stretch.
“I feel like my defense was a huge part of this win for us. … When we play team basketball, we can be so dangerous on the court,” Burke said.
As a team, Connecticut’s offense improved their points per possession by over 0.2 from its previous loss in Portland. Instead of shooting just 1-for-21 from three like the loss to the Fire, the Sun made six three-pointers in the win.
Connecticut’s offensive rating stayed relatively strong in its next two games, losses to Atlanta and Chicago, but its defensive rating significantly dipped. The Sun let Atlanta score 91 points in a 16-point loss and dropped a narrow five-point decision in Wintrust Arena.
Part of the inconsistencies for the Sun came from its long road trip. The Sun have played seven of their last eight games away from home, and their home game was outside their usual home building in Uncasville.
With 10 of its next 12 games at Mohegan Sun Arena, consistency could come easier for a Sun team that has been travelling a lot early. Edwards’ return will be a further boost to Connecticut as she has not yet played with Lacan this season.
When the Sun finally get all of their pieces back together, they could be a much more dangerous team. Until then, Meziane’s group needs to just find a way to keep going.
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