The Connecticut Sun have had a slow start to their season after dropping their first four games. Given that, the team could use all the help it could get.
That help could come with the arrival of French guard Leila Lacan, the team’s 2024 first-round draft pick. While WNBA teams can only carry 12 players during the regular season, the Sun started with 13 officially part of the squad.
The reason for this is that the Sun temporarily suspended Lacan's contract due to her overseas obligations, according to WNBA reporter Khristina Williams.
This means that Lacan's contract and roster spot don't count against the salary cap, allowing the Sun to have an extra player on the roster until she returns.
Sun reporter Emily Adams is now reporting that first-year head coach Rachid Meziane has confirmed that Lacan won't join the team until July.
"Not a surprise, but Meziane also officially confirms that French rookie Leila Lacan won’t join the Sun until July after Eurobasket," Adams wrote on X. "The Eurobasket final is June 29, and the WNBA goes on its All-Star break from July 17-21."
Lacan, a 5-foot-11 guard from Rodez, France, was selected by the Sun with the No. 10 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. Lacan is currently overseas, having competed for the Ligue Feminine (LFB) Championship with her French club Basket Landes.
She helped Basket Landes navigate the qualifiers and make it to the quarter-final play-ins, averaging 23.0 minutes, 8.7 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game.
Lacan was a finalist for the EuroLeague Women Young Player of the Year Award.
Lacan is expected to play with Team France in the EuroBasket tournament beginning June 18, with the final on June 29.
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