Haley

Peters

Nelson-Ododa will miss her sixth straight game and the final game of the season for her team while dealing with a back injury. In her place the Sun have turned to more minutes from second year forward Aaliyah Edwards and 6'0 French wing Mamignan Touré. In the Sun’s previous game also against the Dream, stretch four Haley Peters also played in extended minutes.

After being listed as questionable going into Saturday afternoon’s game against the Mercury, rookie forward Morrow has been upgraded to available. Although Sun head coach Rachid Meziane noted during a pregame press conference that Morrow would be on a minutes restriction. Even with Morrow starting and playing, Aaliyah Edwards will get significant run off the bench and Haley Peters will get more minutes than usual.

Morrow left the Sun’s Wednesday game against the Sky after she collided with Sky guard Kia Nurse late in the first quarter. If Morrow is ruled out, expect Aaliyah Edwards to log meaningful minutes in addition to potentially starting for the first time this season. Since the Sun’s depth in the front court will be thin assuming both Morrow and Olivia Nelson-Ododa (back) are out on Saturday, stretch four Haley Peters should see some more minutes coming off the bench.

While Nelson-Ododa has been upgraded from out to doubtful, it’s likely she’ll miss her fourth straight game. Without Nelson-Ododa and potentially Aneesah Morrow (chest) available, the Sun may turn to Aaliyah Edwards. Edwards could pick up the start, her first of the season and as a member of the Sun. Stretch big Haley Peters could also see more meaningful minutes at the power forward position especially if Morrow isn’t available.

After she picked up her second technical foul in the middle of the third quarter, Hartley was ejected. She picked up her first technical back in the first quarter with 4:15 remaining. Before she left the game, Hartley scored the ball efficiently, she created her own three-pointers off the dribble while handling the ball. Both technicals came as Hartley argued with officials over the lack of foul calls that were being called on her behalf. Sun guard Jacy Sheldon replaced Hartley on the floor once she was ejected. As a result, forward Haley Peters logged minutes in the third quarter to give the Sun more shooting on the floor.

Waived by Connecticut on Sunday just before the WNBA’s midpoint deadline, Peters has rejoined the team on a seven-day contract. She’s appeared in 19 games in her first season with the Sun, averaging 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14.6 minutes. Peters totaled nine minutes in her final two games before being waived, and the Sun’s priority after the All-Star break will likely be on getting rookie Aneesah Morrow more playing time with the team heading toward the draft lottery.

The degree of difficulty for a majority of Mabrey’s shots contributed to her inefficiency on Friday night against the wings. She tried to drive and score in a clogged paint in addition to taking shots where she didn’t have much separation. The two field goals she made were either off the catch or as a result of a screening action. With 2:37 left in the second quarter, Mabrey hit a step-back three on the left wing that came as a result from a screen from teammate Haley Peters that gave her more room to set her shot. While her shot wasn’t falling, she still found a way to facilitate. She found Jacy Sheldon in transition, and Charles in her spots near the basket. Toward the end of second quarter, Mabrey’s left knee buckled, and during halftime she was ruled as questionable to return. She returned to start in the third quarter, however, playing 13 of her 29 minutes in the second half.

Sun head coach Rachid Meziane has made a change to his starting lineup, replacing Olivia Nelson-Ododa with Peters. This will be Peters’ second start of the season, the first coming on June 8 against the Mystics. She only played 14 minutes in that contest and has played at least 20 minutes in just three of her 11 appearances. Fantasy managers should not expect Peters to receive too much of a boost, despite the lineup change. The other change to Connecticut’s lineup is Rivers, who is back in the starting five with Bria Hartley being bumped to the bench. Jacy Sheldon and Marina Mabrey will initiate the offense for the Sun.

Nelson-Ododa is back after missing Connecticut’s most recent game, a June 8 loss to the Mystics. Her return means Haley Peters will come off the bench. Peters did not provide much streaming value in her spot start, and that will remain the case on Sunday.

Injured during a June 6 win over the Dream, Nelson-Ododa did not play against the Mystics two days later. The week off appears to have done Connecticut’s starting center some good, as she’s probable to play against the Sky. Nelson-Ododa’s return would bump Haley Peters back to the bench. Against Washington, Peters played 14 minutes and went scoreless with one steal.