Sun Make Final Cut, And ...

[JoePgh]

... it is NOT Kelly Faris.

They cut Yelena Leuchanka, a 6-5 center who played for West Virginia a few years ago:

http://courantblogs.com/uconn-women/

That means, somewhat surprisingly, that both Kelley Cain and Kayla Pederson have made the team. So has Danielle McCray. And obviously Renee Montgomery.

 

[ThisJustIn]

WOW on Cain. She was a hot mess with NY (injuries were a hobbler) and she didn't play at a top level in Europe...

 

[JoePgh]

Yes, that is surprising. She did not look good in the one exhibition that I saw at Mohegan Sun.

Here is a surprising piece of trivia. Six of the twelve members of the Sun's roster have first names beginning with "K":

Two Kell(e)y's: Faris and Cain
Two Kelseys: Bone and Griffin
One Katie: Douglas
One Kayla: Pederson

I hope that doesn't suggest that this is basically a strikeout year.

 

[RadyLady]

WOW on Cain. She was a hot mess with NY (injuries were a hobbler) and she didn't play at a top level in Europe...

I cannot remember the last time Cain played healthy - seriously not even in college (well maybe in her freshman/sophomore year)

 

[MilfordHusky]

I thought they could cut a big, but I thought it might be Cain.

 

[stwainfan]

Cain has had injury problems. Glad that she battled though them. Baugh made the Shock roster.

 

[DaddyChoc]

Ann D may have a soft spot for bigs... well nevermind, they cut 6'5 Yelena Leuchanka

 

[psconn]

WOW on Cain. She was a hot mess with NY (injuries were a hobbler) and she didn't play at a top level in Europe...

Agree on that. I'm very surprised she was kept. In the first open practice she was limping noticeably and looked very slow. The home exhibition game she looked a little better but there were limited Liberty bigs playing that day... certainly no Tina or Pearson.

Now that she has made the team, I wish her the very best and hope she is able to play a key role off the bench. The Sun need size and I hope she is able to supply it.. I'm guessing Yelena did not show much to the coaching staff (geez, she was hardly around camp long enough to shake the jet lag).

In my opinion, Kelly Faris and Danielle McCray should seriously have been on the bubble - Kalena's waiver was a huge gift for them. These are two other players who really need to bring it off the bench on both ends of the court. As with Kelley, I wish them the very best... if everyone steps up, maybe the Sun can "shock the world" this year (a man can dream).

 

[psconn]

Yes, that is surprising. She did not look good in the one exhibition that I saw at Mohegan Sun.

Here is a surprising piece of trivia. Six of the twelve members of the Sun's roster have first names beginning with "K":

Two Kell(e)y's: Faris and Cain
Two Kelseys: Bone and Griffin
One Katie: Douglas
One Kayla: Pederson

I hope that doesn't suggest that this is basically a strikeout year.

It would be fun to see how that has played out in practice. Gotta be some nicknames being developed to keep it all straight. Without a doubt there will be times when 5 K's are on the court at the same time.

 

[stwainfan]

Today is Cain's birthday. She posted a photo on Instagram kcain52.

 

[RadyLady]

Ann D may have a soft spot for bigs... well nevermind, they cut 6'5 Yelena Leuchanka

Was thinking the same thing until like you, I realized that they cut a 6'5" post.