NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Nell Angloma (L) of France poses with WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (R) after being selected with the 12th pick in the first round by the Connecticut Sun during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. 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 Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images
The Connecticut Sun will be leaving for Houston in 2027, but that isn’t stopping them from trying to build a playoff contender in their final season at Mohegan Sun Arena.
With two picks in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Draft, Connecticut second-year general manager Morgan Tuck took the overseas route first by selecting Nell Angloma, a 20-year-old forward from France, with the No. 12 overall pick. With the No. 15 pick, Tuck chose Gianna Kneepkens, a guard from national champion UCLA.
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The Sun then took a second Bruins’ player — guard Charlisse Leger-Walker — with the third pick of the second round, No. 18 overall.
UCLA became the first school to have six players taken in a single draft and five players selected in the first round.
With their final choice, the third pick of the third round and No. 33 overall, the Sun chose UConn forward Serah Williams. But the Sun later traded Williams to the expansion Portland Fire for Taylor Bigby and a future 2027 third round pick.
For the second straight year the Sun had two first-round picks having taken LSU’s Aneesah Morrow at No. 6 and North Carolina State’s Saniya Rivers at No. 7. Rivers was named to the WNBA’s all-rookie team. Connecticut also drafted USC’s Rayah Marshall in the second round, trading her to the Dallas Wings on Thursday for guard Diamond Miller, the overall No. 2 pick behind the Indiana Fever’s Aliyah Boston in the 2023 Draft.
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The Sun finished 2025 at 11-33, the third-worst record in the league behind Dallas and Chicago, which won 10 games each. Connecticut lost its first five games, won two out of three, then dropped 10 straight and 14 out of 15 to fall out of postseason contention. It would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA celebrates after being selected with the 15th pick in the first round by the Connecticut Sun during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. 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 Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images
By missing the playoffs, the Sun was in the Draft lottery but had only the fifth-best chance to land the No. 1 pick based on their two-year overall record. They got fifth pick but the Sky exercised their option to swap picks with the Sun acquired in the trade that brought Marina Mabrey to Connecticut in 2024 giving the Sun back the No. 12 selection that Chicago originally acquired in a trade with the Phoenix Mercury.
Connecticut also owned the No. 11 pick it acquired in a trade with the New York Liberty that involved Natasha Cloud. But as part of the Aaliyah Edwards trade with the Washington Mystics last summer, the Mystics got the right to swap picks and did so with sending the No. 15 selection Washington acquired from the Minnesota Lynx for Karlie Samuelson.
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Angloma comes to Connecticut after averaging 13.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.3 assists for the Basket Lattes Metropolitans Association (BLMA) in the EuroCup Women’s League. She also took part in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup and averaged 17.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 13: Charlisse Leger-Walker (L) of UCLA celebrates after being selected with the 18th pick in the second round by the Connecticut Sun during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City. 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 Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images)
Angelina Katsanis/Getty Images
“Her success at the international level and the experience she brings give us great confidence in how she’ll translate to the league both this season and in the years ahead,” Tuck said in a statement “Nell’s versatility and ability to provide lineup flexibility will be a significant asset for us.”
In her only season at UCLA after spending four seasons at Utah, Kneepkens averaged 12.8 points per game on 49.3 percent shooting from the floor and 42.9 percent from 3-point land. She was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.
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“She’s experienced success UCLA within a winning culture and brings a mindset defined by toughness and consistency every time she steps on the floor on both ends,” Tuck said. “Her shooting ability is elite and truly sets her apart, but we’re equally impressed by the complete game she’s shown throughout her college career.”
Leger-Walker spent three seasons at Washington State and helped the Cougars to the 2023 Pac-12 Tournament title. She transferred to UCLA in 2024 and sat out the 2024-25 season with a knee injury. She returned to average 8.4 points and 5.6 assists for the Bruins’ title team.
“Given how critical the point guard position is, we’re thrilled to welcome Charlisse to our team,” Tuck said. “Her ability to push the pace while also running the offense and leading her teammates is something we truly value. She comes from a winning program, and her skill set, poise and basketball IQ position her game to translate seamlessly to the professional level.”
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She is the first player from New Zealand drafted into the WNBA.
The Sun open the regular season on May 10 when they host the Seattle Storm.