Leila

Lacan

Lacan has been added to Connecticut’s injury list and did not make the trip for the team’s final road game of the season. With Bria Hartley (knee) done for the season, this may be an opportunity for the Sun to give rookie Saniya Rivers a start after playing 30 minutes off the bench in Saturday’s win over the Mercury.

Lacan had some drive and scores in the second quarter that prove what the WNBA has learned about the rookie: that she is as talented as was advertised going into the 2024 draft. Her quickness going downhill coupled with her decision making on pick-and-roll as a ball handler makes for a really appealing combination. But on Saturday afternoon, the league learned that Lacan has some clutch in her. She scored the Sun’s final 6 points with around 30 seconds left in regulation which included two pairs of free throws and a drive where she scored right through an open lane via some space from a Tina Charles screen. She gave the Sun a 83-81 lead before Lacan made four more free throws to walk away with the win.

Morrow collided with the Sky’s Kia Nurse late in the first quarter of Wednesday’s game when attempting to cut off Nurse’s live dribble. The rookie fell to the floor and remained there for a few minutes before being helped to the locker room, replaced by Leila Lacan, and later ruled out. Morrow had only logged five minutes of gameplay before exiting. Her status moving forward will be worth monitoring as the regular season nears its completion.

Lacan’s development has been one of the few positives in the Sun’s disappointing season. A pest defensively, the rookie guard has upped her offensive production in recent games. Lacan has scored 17 points or more in three of her last four appearances, including back-to-back 22-point efforts against the Liberty (August 27) and Wings (August 29). While she wasn’t as prolific scoring-wise, Lacan recorded a complete stat line and shot 66.7 percent from the field in Monday’s defeat. Lacan is worth watching in Connecticut’s remaining games, especially with Bria Hartley (knee) done for the season.

Hartley, who did not play in Saturday’s loss to the Lynx, has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in her right knee and will miss the rest of the season. She appeared in 38 games this season, making 32 starts, averaging 8.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 0.8 steals and 1.4 three-pointers in 22.8 minutes. Lindsay Allen started against Minnesota on Saturday and played 22 minutes, but rookie Saniya Rivers replaced her to begin the third quarter. With an eye toward the franchise’s future, Rivers and fellow rookie Leïla Lacan should play plenty in Connecticut’s remaining games.

Hartley, a fixture in the Sun starting lineup since late June, will miss Saturday’s game with a right knee injury. Saniya Rivers could move into the starting five, meaning the ball would be in the hands of Leïla Lacan more as Connecticut’s primary playmaker. Another possibility would be for Lindsay Allen to play more minutes, but Rivers and Lacan are the safest plays for fantasy managers seeking a streamer.

Lacan returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday after a one-game stint on the bench as she dealt with an eye injury. In her return, the rookie guard matched her season-high in points, while finishing as one of the team’s leaders in assists. She also got after the ball on the defensive end — Lacan tallied at least four steals for the fifth time in her rookie season and continues to display great potential. She has performed well down the stretch of the season, which has played a significant role in the Sun’s ability to win games lately. Fantasy managers should expect a strong finish to the season for Lacan.

Lacan is replacing fellow rookie guard Saniya Rivers in Connecticut’s opening lineup on Wednesday. Lacan had become a regular starter before coming off the bench on Monday against the Liberty as she dealt with an eye injury. In the loss to New York, she scored a team-high 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting despite the Sun snapping a three-game winning streak. As Lacan returns to the starting lineup, she’ll look to build on her career-best offensive outing and help the Sun get back in the win column.

Despite coming off the bench, Lacan produced her best scoring outing of the season. The rookie guard utilized efficient shooting and contributions from beyond the arc to finish as one of the Sun’s top scorers, setting a new career-high in points. Her eight-point fourth quarter was particularly noteworthy and almost enough to help the Sun secure a come-from-behind win. It’s unclear if Lacan’s demotion to the bench will be temporary. Either way, she should continue to play big minutes and an important role down the stretch of the season for Connecticut.

Rivers will replace Lacan in Connecticut’s starting lineup on Monday, and despite not starting, Lacan will be available off the bench after suffering an eye injury in the third quarter of Saturday’s win over the Sky. With Rivers in the opening unit, she’ll look to build on a four-game stretch in which she’s averaged 13.0 points, 1.3 steals, and 1.5 blocks. Connecticut will look to extend its win streak to four games on Monday against New York.