Kariata

Diaby

The Sun needed to free up a roster spot to activate rookie guard Leila Lacan, as she joins the team after fulfilling her national team commitment to France. Diaby, who averaged 7.9 minutes per game in 13 appearances this season, was the odd player out. With rookie Aneesah Morrow’s playing time increasing in recent games, it was going to be challenging for Diaby to pick up the minutes needed to make an impact. Activating Lacan will immediately impact the Sun, who remain without injured guard Marina Mabrey (knee).

Despite the Sun having last played on June 8, Marshall’s right ankle is not healthy enough for her to return to game action. Sunday’s game will be the third the rookie has missed. Aneesah Morrow and Kariata Diaby were already ahead of Marshall in the frontcourt pecking order, and it’s likely that starter Olivia Nelson-Ododa (ankle) will also be available on Sunday.

Nelson-Ododa is out after the Sun listed her as questionable on the initial injury report. The veteran center’s absence opens up a spot on the starting lineup, with Haley Peters filling the void. Also, Kariata Diaby and Aneesah Morrow should pick up additional minutes off the bench.

Nelson-Ododa injured her left ankle during the first half of Friday’s win over the Dream and did not return. Kariata Diaby replaced her in the lineup and played well, even if her stat line (four points, one rebound and one steal in seven minutes) did not jump off the page. In addition to Diaby, fellow rookie Aneesah Morrow will get more playing time if Nelson-Ododa cannot play.

Kariata Diaby started the second half for the Sun in place of the injured Nelson-Ododa, who exited Friday’s game in the first half before being ruled out for the remainder of the game. Nelson-Ododa had been questionable coming into Friday’s contest due to an ankle injury, but ended up giving it a go against Atlanta, scoring two points and registering three steals in 12 minutes before not being able to finish. Given her status prior to the game, this injury will be worth monitoring in the coming days. Diaby, Aneesah Morrow and Haley Peters are names who could fill in her spot should she miss any time.

Marshall will not play on Friday due to a right ankle injury, but her absence will not significantly impact Connecticut’s frontcourt rotation. Fellow rookie Aneesah Morrow should see additional minutes, while Kariata Diaby may pick up more playing time after logging four minutes in Sunday’s loss to the Liberty. Neither player stands to impact fantasy basketball in the short term, but Morrow will be someone to watch during the second half of the season, especially if Connecticut’s struggles continue.

Morrow was the seventh overall pick in last month’s draft, but she has yet to make her WNBA debut due to a right knee injury. That may change on Friday, with the Sun listing the rookie forward as questionable. Fellow rookie Rayah Marshall played 10 minutes off the bench in Connecticut’s loss to the Aces on Tuesday, and Kariata Diaby logged 13. They’re the players whose minutes may decrease if Morrow is available.

While fellow 2025 draft pick Saniya Rivers was removed from the injury report and will be available to play on Tuesday, Morrow remains sidelined. The rookie out of LSU did not see any time during the preseason. The Sun will continue to rely on starter Olivia Nelson-Ododa and reserve Haley Peters, with Kariata Diaby also seeing time off the bench.