June 1, 2009
Sparks - Sun Box Score
Sparks Beat Sun In Exhibition Finale (Hartford Courant)
Roster spots far from settled for Sun (Norwich Bulletin)
Cirone WNBA Profile
NORMAL, Ill. - The Connecticut Sun lost its final exhibition game to the Los Angeles Sparks, 80-77, Sunday, May 31. Former Illinois State point guard Kristi Cirone is still in the running to make the Sun's roster as a free agent, with final cuts coming Friday.
Cirone scored two points, had one assists, one steal and one block in 10:33 against the Sparks. She shot 0-for-4 from the field, but made both free throw attempts in the most minutes she has played as a professional.
Most reports from Sun camp speculate that there are eight players battling for four roster spots. Cirone and former UConn point guard and 2008 first-round draft pick Ketia Swanier were in contention all training camp for the backup point guard spot. However, Swanier was cut by the Sun Monday, along with former Murray State guard Ashley Hayes.
Connecticut head coach Mike Thibault has said publically that he has not decided if he will keep a third point guard on the roster. The Sun has two starters, Lindsay Whalen and Erin Phillips, who can run the point, but he likes having a third point guard who can run the offense and take care of the ball. Cirone and Swanier were battling for that potential spot. Cirone committed just one turnover in the Sun's three preseason games.
The 2009 season will be unlike any other in the history of the WNBA and the Connecticut Sun already has some unique situations to deal with. The WNBA cut rosters down from 13 to 11 players this season and the Houston Comets folded after a change in ownership. Those changes essentially eliminated nearly 40 roster spots from the league, creating tight competition for every team.
The Sun is in an even tighter spot with two players still in Europe and one injuring herself during the preseason. Sandrine Gruda and Anete Jekabsone-Zogota are both still playing in leagues in Europe and are expected to return to the Sun by the end of June; which means the players who earn the final two roster spots could be cut when the veterans return.
Amber Holt broke her hand against the Atlanta Dream last week and could be out up to eight weeks. A recent change in WNBA policy doesn't allow the Sun to fill Holt's roster spot until she is healthy enough to play. If the Sun wants a player in that shot, it will have to cut Holt. Therefore, the Sun will play with only 10 players until Holt returns.
Seven players, not including Gruda and Jekabsone-Zogota, but including Holt, have already been guaranteed roster spots. Swanier and Hayes were the first players cut by the Sun this preseason.
