Faris and January Waived by the Sun

[psconn]

This was posted in another thread but I thought it deserved its own.

I share David's surprise that both are going. Kelly has battled for a spot every year since she was brought in. Never put up very good numbers and it is totally to her credit that she was able to stay in the fight this long. She's really quite a special person.

Jess January showed over the last few weeks that she has a huge heart and fighting spirit. I don't think we've seen the last of her in the league. She reminded me a lot of Erin Phillips who put together a pretty nice career over the last 10 years including playing a significant role in 2 championships.

 

[Sonny44]

There is life after BB. People like Kelly will always be in demand.

 

[lanieer]

I think it's difficult for the players at the end of the bench to compete when they don't tone their skills overseas. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kelly retire and try coaching. It's so late in the game now to be picked up. It's too bad every year more talent enters the league. I am surprised to see both players waived though with Hightower. I've been to numerous Sun games and while I liked Kelly as a person she just didn't have enough confidence in her game. I'm thinking it's most likely the end of her playing career. Maybe Geno will pick her up as the next grad assistant. Kelly has to have been expecting this.

 

[EricLA]

I'm disappointed for Kelly, but given that she was never really able to expand her offensive game, and is not a pure PG, it was probably to be expected. Best of luck to her in her future endeavors - I hope she looks into coaching or something else related to basketball... She has a huge heart and will always be a Husky favorite!

 

[RockyMTblue2]

but given that she was never really able to expand her offensive game

This has puzzled me because she seemed to come out of her offensive shell in the latter part of her senior year. She expressed regret for the team that she had kept it under wraps. I guess she crawled right back in. Rosters of 12 and defensive specialist don't merge well.

 

[Carnac]

It''s been mentioned more than once here in the yard by posters that they were waiting for the other shoe to drop with respect to Kelly's tenure with the Sun. It dropped today. I have every confidence that kelly will land her her feet, and be just fine. She knows a lot of influential people, networking will not be a problem, and she has name recognition. Whether she continues to pursue a career in professional sports, or transition over to the business world, she'll be fine. No doubt she has prepared for life after basketball. I was really hoping that January would make the cut. Maybe next season after a stint overseas this winter.

 

[oldude]

There is life after BB. People like Kelly will always be in demand.

While I have no way of knowing what other career she may pursue, IMO Kelly Ferris would make one hell of a basketball coach.

 

[HGN]

Though Kelly being released is not a total surprise, in some ways its a victory. She played in the 'W' a lot longer than many thought she would. Mostly on shear will , guts , mental attitude , and toughness. She has most all the attributes of what a star would want. The ONLY lacking part of her game was confidence in her shooting ability.
To me she represented a player that got more enjoyment out of seeing her teammates score and playing tough 'D' on her opponent. She didn't score enough.........Bottom line was she didn't really want to.

If she had been 6'3 , could rebound like a demon , play great defense , built like a BB god , and named Kiah Stokes , she could stick around on somebody's roster. But being only 5'11 she maximized what she had to the
fullest.

There is a role in coaching for a player who can teach the attributes she has. And she had them all except selfishness.
She was just not selfish enough.

Good Luck Kelly.

 

[lanieer]

In a short story in the Hartford Courant Curt Miller said they decided at the beginning of camp to go in a different direction. He also said that if no one picks her up they might bring her back if needed.

 

[psconn]

Good article in the Bulletin

Connecticut Sun added several new names to one of league's youngest rosters

 

[easttexastrash]

The WNBA is getting tougher and tougher to earn a spot in. Every year players are coming out will offensive skills that are elevating the game. Next season there will be some highly skilled offense players coming out and they will fill it up in the WNBA and those who are defensive specialists will slowly be moved out of the league. Fans want to see scoring, scoring and more scoring.

Like my friend says to 21 year olds who come into the bars thinking they are the bomb: "there will be another crop of 21 year olds next year...and the year after...and the year after...

 

[Fairfield Fan]

Just very surprised at the difference between her UConn performance, and her WNBA performance. Her stats for the WNBA put her near the very bottom. But she was a critical part of UConn's success. Just doesn't make sense. And unlike Ketia Swanier, who was definitely undersized for the pros, Kelly had the build and the skills.

Just didn't make sense.

Any idea whether she'll try abroad again?

 

[Jlong231]

I don't know if this Is considered off topic, but karlie samuelson was also let go from the sparks, which sucks because it was only because she was injured, and will be out for awhile, the coach basically said she would have made the roster if it wasn't for her injury.

 

[Geew1992]

Just very surprised at the difference between her UConn performance, and her WNBA performance. Her stats for the WNBA put her near the very bottom. But she was a critical part of UConn's success. Just doesn't make sense. And unlike Ketia Swanier, who was definitely undersized for the pros, Kelly had the build and the skills.

Just didn't make sense.

Any idea whether she'll try abroad again?

I thought she played overseas. I wanna say Australia

 

[GoingPostal]

Just very surprised at the difference between her UConn performance, and her WNBA performance. Her stats for the WNBA put her near the very bottom. But she was a critical part of UConn's success. Just doesn't make sense. And unlike Ketia Swanier, who was definitely undersized for the pros, Kelly had the build and the skills.

Just didn't make sense.

Any idea whether she'll try abroad again?

I think it was a case that the players in the WNBA, on the whole, are that much better than the competition she faced at UConn. It would be great if she could get a position in the SUN organization, or another WNBA team, and then be able to start another career. Keeping her in the SUN organization would allow her to learn about a career in coaching or management. Her positive attitude and understanding of the game would be an asset for any team.

 

[todbo]

She lit us up at the college level with her heart and persistence. She just does not have the natural ability or the size to have a long pro career. If she wants to stick with basketball, her attributes will make her valuable to a team at any level, just not on the court.

 

[Bigboote]

I think it's difficult for the players at the end of the bench to compete when they don't tone their skills overseas. I wouldn't be surprised to see Kelly retire and try coaching.

I know she played in Europe for at least a couple of years after college. IIRC, she was one of the better players in Hungary one year. Has she stopped playing overseas?

And I agree, she's a coach's daughter and you could always tell by the way she played. She'll be a great coach. Some people are naturals who have difficulty communicating how to do things. Some get by by knowing how to get by -- Bill Laimbeer was one of those, and is a pretty good coach in the W. I think Kelly is the same.

 

[Shorty Dee]

I am so sad to hear that the Connecticut Sun waived Kelly Faris. I really hope she is able to land on another team.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Just very surprised at the difference between her UConn performance, and her WNBA performance. Her stats for the WNBA put her near the very bottom. But she was a critical part of UConn's success. Just doesn't make sense. And unlike Ketia Swanier, who was definitely undersized for the pros, Kelly had the build and the skills.

Just didn't make sense.

Any idea whether she'll try abroad again?

it makes plenty of sense... she's playing with/against guys like Taurasi, Maya and CP3 (seasoned vets) every night... not Colgate or Cincinnati Lady Bearcats.

Ketia had ball handling skills and quickness along with defense... big diff!

 

[Bigpetunia]

Embedded in the Kelly Faris story are the reasons why many people find the college game so much more appealing than the professional. Based upon ability, it was never in the cards for Kelly to succeed in the pro game. Yet, because of her internal makeup, her drive and her determination, she elevated her game sufficiently to become the ultimate college (and team) player, one that we fans especially cherished for those very reasons. At the time of her graduation, I had hoped, and so posted, that she would put basketball behind her and pursue a new life direction. The same factors that contributed to her collegiate success would inevitably guarantee similar success in any alternative discipline. The fact that she is now a few years older doesn't alter that reality. It's none of my business, obviously, but if I were in a position to advise her, I'd do everything I could to get her to pursue graduate school training to lay the foundation of a whole new career of her choosing. Who, for example, wouldn't trust one's life to a Dr. Kelly Faris?

 

[Jeff H]

Just flew to Atlanta on the same flight as Kelly. I got her autograph and said I was sorry for circumstances put her on the flight. She basically said it could be better but it's OK. I also told her that there are lots and lots of fans that are wishing her the best. As you you'd expect she was extremely pleasant. Finally I'm 6 foot even and no way she's 5 11. Maybe 5 10, but she didn't even seem that tall.