All things considered, the Connecticut Sun and Seattle Storm are a tale of two different teams entering their preseason matchup on May 4.
Connecticut is in full rebuild mode as their starting lineup from last season is no longer there. Two-time All-WNBA forward-guard DeWanna Bonner is with the Indiana Fever. Five-time WNBA All-Star Alyssa Thomas is a part of the Phoenix Mercury while three-time All-Star center Brionna Jones is a member of the Atlanta Dream. Lastly, guard Tyasha Harris and last season’s Most Improved Player, guard-forward DiJonai Carrington are with the Dallas Wings.
What’s more, head coach Stephanie White is now on the sidelines as the Fever’s head coach. White’s successor is Rachid Meziane, who was previously the head coach of Villeneuve d’Ascq in France’s Ligue Feminine (Women’s League). Their training camp roster is loaded with rookies. This includes their three first-round selections: forward Aneesah Morrow (No. 7 overall pick), guard Saniya Rivers (No. 8 overall pick), and guard Rayah Marshall (No. 25 overall pick).
There are no shortage of veterans as well in guards Lindsay Allen, Diamond DeShields, Marina Mabrey along with eight-time All-Star, two-time scoring champion, and 2012 WNBA MVP Tina Charles.
Seattle Storm: Championship Contender?
While the Sun’s roster looks young, the Storm have easily one of the more experienced squads in the WNBA. Here, Seattle is led by nine-time All-Star in forward Nneka Ogwumike, six-time All-WNBA guard Skylar Diggins, guard Gabby Williams, and All-Star center Ezi Magbegor.
Also, forward Alysha Clark returns to the Storm after spending two seasons with the Las Vegas Aces. Additionally, forward Katie Lou Samuelson, who spent last season with the Fever, returns to Seattle.
Seattle selected forward-center Dominique Malonga second overall in this year’s WNBA Draft. Also taken were guards Serena Sundell (No. 26 overall), Madison Conner (No. 29 overall), and Jordan Hobbs (No. 34 overall).
What to Expect
For the Sun, expect to see the rookies get the minutes from Meziane as many of the veterans will make the final roster. Looking at the Storm, the backcourt is loaded with talent as Diggins and Williams are locks to make the team. The backcourt includes all of this year’s rookie class, All-Star Erica Wheeler, Zia Cooke, and Lexie Brown. It’s important to note that guard Nika Mühl and forward Jordan Horston will miss this season from torn ACL injuries.
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