Sun 83, Tempo 78: Still smarting from Houston move, but we are back

You’ve probably noticed the lack of posts on this blog in the preseason, and full disclosure, it’s going to be tough this summer, my life is different than it was at this time last year, and the whole moving to Houston thing has taken a bit of love away from our beloved Connecticut Sun. Hopefully as the season progresses and the regular season starts that will go away a little, but that remains to be seen, I guess.

But - although I can’t promise you every game like last season - I’ll still be around and surely pop up at Mohegan Sun Arena at least a few times in the farewell season (don’t make me cry already).

A new campaign began, though, Wednesday night in Canada of all places against the expansion Toronto Tempo, and the Sun looked a lot like a team that has never played together before, largely because they hadn’t. There is more room for optimism headed into 2026 than there was last season, despite the loss of Marina Mabrey (if you read this blog last year, you know I think losing her will be a net positive overall, at least on the court) and Tina Charles.

Wednesday’s disjointed first half could stand to temper things a little, at least in the short term. We know how valuable Leila Lacan was in 2025 and she is expected to be there for the regular season opener next week, and without her, the Sun could not deal with any pressure, turning it over 15 times in the first half alone. 

We also saw the lack of shooting that haunted the Sun last season, with newcomer Kennedy Burke looking like the threat she was in New York, but that was it. Saniya Rivers and Aneesah Morrow showed the ability to connect from long range as rookies, but their shots were not close Wednesday, and the rookies never really got going.

In the end, though, although the starters were long gone, the Sun mounted a gutsy comeback, led by Aneesah Morrow (who may have to battle for playing time this year) and a bunch of hungry rookies. It will likely not be long remembered, but it’s a start, right? The season is just a baby, Lacan is on the way soon, and there were plenty of positives from the first outing of 2026.

What else did we learn from the Sun’s 83-78 victory north of the border Wednesday?:

 

1. Someone is going to have to run the point  - Rachid Meziane used Saniya Rivers at the point sparingly last season, and that did not work well at all Wednesday, with Rivers turning the ball over four times and going scoreless. Second in line was Charlisse Leger-Walker, the Sun’s third (18th overall) draft pick a week ago, and she also struggled, unable to lose her defender and posting five turnovers. Rookies need patience, and Rivers was probably hampered by playing with an entire new cast, but Leila Lacan can’t arrive soon enough to help that issue. 

2. The Sun should be a force on the glass - The Sun outrebounded the Tempo 35-21 ,and that was with Brittany Griner playing just 16 minutes and Aaliyah Edwards (who returned to Canada) only 17. You add in Morrow and Olivia Nelson-Ododa (and even Rivers and Lacan), and the Sun should be able to dominate rebounding totals, which could help mitigate the lack of shooting currently on the roster.

3. The rookies were a mixed bag -  Nell Angloma, like Lacan, is still in France, and the two UCLA rookies had a tough time, although Gianna Kneepkens did hit one big three in 13 minutes. But her and Leger-Walker appeared a step slow, which is understandable in their first game, but they’re not going to have much time to make the initial rotation. If Meziane goes with: Lacan, Rivers, Kennedy Burke, Edwards, and Griner to start, that means Morrow, Diamond Miller, and Nelson-Ododa will be coming off the bench along with Angloma. There’s only three more roster spots to be had, with Migna Toure and Shey Peddy (and a possible veteran guard?) still in the mix as well, so the spots are going to run out quickly, which is a shame for someone like Raegan Beers, who was the best rookie for the Sun tonight.

Player of the game:  Aneesah Morrow - Yes, some of it was in the second half against players that won’t be on the floor when the regular season starts, but Morrow’s 21 points and 7 rebounds to go with three steals can’t be ignored. How and when the Sun use her is up for debate, but she can score and rebound, two things they will definitely need.

Inside the numbers : 2 -  Number of three-pointers made by Sun players not named Kennedy Burke, with Morrow and Kneepkens finally hitting one each in the second half. Connecticut is going to have to make shots to be successful, just like last season. 

Under the radar: The Tempo played without would should be its top three guards in Brittany Sykes, Julie Allemand, and Marina Mabrey, so they had 22 turnovers as well, with Morrow getting three of the Sun’s nine steals.

Burke did well in finding her shot even though the Tempo knew it was the Sun’s biggest threat, a spot that Mabrey struggled so many times in last season. Obviously the preseason is not the regular season, but Burke is probably going to have to shoot well to make the Sun’s offense work.

Yes, we saw Morrow blow a kiss to the Toronto crowd after the game-clinching layup, and we love the passion.

Quotable:  “It was good, very good, très bien. Last year was a tough season. I don't control the future, so I cannot say if this one will be better. … We know that it's the final season in Connecticut, so we want to give our best to our fans. Give the best memories to our fans and also take some pride to be part of this, this story. Because this franchise, this organization, has a strong story." - Rachid Meziane last week in training camp

Next up: Sunday vs. New York (preseason), 5 p.m.