Connect with us

Connecticut

Connecticut Sun Must Improve One Key Metric to be Competitive in 2026

Published

on

Connecticut Sun Must Improve One Key Metric to be Competitive in 2026


The Connecticut Sun went into somewhat of a rebuild phase throughout the 2025 season, with much of their roster being tailored towards younger players and ensuring they had the opportunity to develop and get accustomed to the WNBA level. With that said, the record they put out is certainly something they will be looking to improve upon in 2026.

With two first-round picks, they are able to make some more additions to the roster that should help out with the depth of the squad. To do so, they will need to analyze what the team needs, and in 2025, it became abundantly clear what the franchise needed heading into their next campaign.

On the bright side, they were one of the better defensive teams in the league throughout the year, which is enormously impressive from a roster that mostly consists of younger talent. Showing that level of tenacity early in their careers will be crucial down the road to building success and competing with some of the best rosters in the league. There is still a long road to get there, though, and one of the key issues was one of the most obvious.

Connecticut Sun center Tina Charles and forward Aaliyah Edwards celebrate a basket, wearing orange jerseys.

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The biggest struggle for the Sun compared to the other teams in the WNBA was their 3-point shooting, as in the year they ended up with only a 30.2% rate on 3-point shots. The only other team within a similar range was the Dallas Wings, who hit 30.4%, but otherwise every team was at 32.5% or above.

It is no coincidence that two of the three worst teams in the league were at the bottom of the leaderboard in three-point shooting, as it has become more and more vital to the game of basketball over the years. It wasn’t just a three-point shot issue for Connecticut, though, as they were also last in two-point shot rate at 45.9%, which is brutal.

Shooting efficiency is one of the simplest statistics to look into and define, but one of the most difficult to get right for any roster. It isn’t just as simple as making more shots; it becomes an analysis of schematic decisions and how the team is able to generate scoring chances with assists and open looks.

This will be a huge point of emphasis for coach Rachid Meziane heading into year two as the team works through the offseason to try and build off their success on defense. Bringing in some veteran talents to help provide some scoring opportunities may help as well, which may be under consideration.





Source link

Advertisement

Connecticut

27 Wrestlers Named State Open Wrestling Champions In Connecticut Over Weekend; Xavier Dominates Tournament

Published

on

27 Wrestlers Named State Open Wrestling Champions In Connecticut Over Weekend; Xavier Dominates Tournament


Over the weekend, the two-day CIAC State Open wrestling championships took place at the Floyd Little Athletic Center in New Haven, Connecticut. 

Twenty-seven wrestlers (14 boys, 13 girls) were named champions in their respective weight classes, displaying intense wrestling featuring the best wrestlers across the state. 

Championship bouts started around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday and lasted about two hours. 

Below are the results from both the boys’ and girls’ state open championships. 

Advertisement

106 lbs.: Xavier’s Josh Perez def. Stafford’s John Bean 17-2 (technical fall)

113 lbs.: Ridgefield’s Cole Desiano def. Suffield/Windsor Locks’ Peter Annis 8-0 (decision)

120 lbs.: Xavier’s Zack Dixon def. Somers’ Will Acorsi 12-0 (majority decision) 

126 lbs.: Windham’s Delmazio Despard def. Xavier’s Alexander Depratti 4-3 (decision) 

132 lbs.: Fairfield Warde’s Jude Grammatico def. Xavier’s Zaphyr Musshorn 2-1 (decision) 

Advertisement

138 lbs.: Ledyard’s Lukas Boxley def. Terryville’s Ethan Bochman Rodriguez (pin)

144 lbs.: Xavier’s Braylon Gonzalez def. Ridgefield’s John Carrozza 3-1 (decision)

150 lbs.: Bristol Central’s Alex Lamarre def. Middletown’s Isaiah McDaniel 1-0 (decision)

157 lbs.: Newtown’s Antonio Arguello def. Notre Dame-West Haven’s Riley Storozuk 8-4 (decision)

165 lbs.: Gilbert/Torrington/Wolcott def. Trumbull’s Hubert Szymko 2-0 (decision)

Advertisement

175 lbs.: Xavier’s Vincent Rivera def. Fairfield Prep’s Jack Lilly 14-10 (decision)

190 lbs.: Xavier’s Chase Catalano def. Fairfield Warde’s Dylan O’Brien 2-1 (decision)

215 lbs.: Lyme-Old Lyme’s Taiyo Gemme def. Staples’ Julian Rousseau (pin) 

285 lbs.: Shelton’s Chase Galke def. Ellington’s Jacob Palermo 3-0 (decision)

100 lbs.: South Windsor’s Sophia Gordon def. West Haven’s Isha Khanna (pin)

Advertisement

107 lbs.: RHAM’s Brooke Heffernan def. New Milford’s Clara Reynolds 9-2 (decision)

114 lbs.: Branford’s Ava Gambardella def. Jonathan Law’s Selena Batres 6-0 (decision)

120 lbs.: Trumbull’s Jillian Blake def. Fairfield Warde’s Monica Flores Romero 17-1 (technical fall)

126 lbs.: Ellis Tech’s Adelina Tate def. Fairfield Ludlowe’s Ashlynn Cummings (pin)

132 lbs: Amity’s Eliana Selaris def. Daniel Hand’s Evely Lavigne (pin)

Advertisement

138 lbs.: Stratford’s Winner Tshibombi def. Greenwich’s Gaby Aliaga 22-8 (majority decision)

145 lbs.: Stratford’s Gabriella Kiely def. New Milford’s Josephina Piel (pin)

152 lbs: Bunnell’s Matilda Tote def. Shelton’s Ella Piccirillo (pin)

165 lbs: Trumbull ‘s Marangelie Teixeira def. New Britain’s Kaydence Atkinson (pin)

185 lbs.: Platt’s Kayli Morris def. Bristol Central’s Shyann Bryan (pin)

Advertisement

235 lbs.: Norwalk’s Jeily Euceda def. Maloney’s Arianna Bellamy (pin)

Xavier High School (Middletown, CT) has been the most dominant wrestling program in the state in recent memory. Once again, they stole the show in the state opens, winning its fifth-straight state open title.

The Falcons had seven wrestlers compete out of the 14 state open titles in the boys’ division and had five winners with two runner-ups. As a team, they totaled 218.5 points, which was 72 more points than any other team.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Connecticut

Pedestrian killed after being struck by Amtrak train

Published

on

Pedestrian killed after being struck by Amtrak train


An investigation is ongoing in Stonington after a person was fatally struck by an Amtrak train Saturday morning, according to Stonington police.

Police were notified around 11:25 a.m. by Amtrak police that a pedestrian was struck by a train between the Route 1 overpass and the Prospect Street and Palmer Street railroad crossing.

When crews arrived, they pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

The train involved is stopped while Amtrak police conduct their investigation and ask the public to avoid the area at this time.

Advertisement

Authorities say there is no threat to the public.

No further details were released.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Connecticut

Man shot, critically injured by police in Hartford; mayor says there will be a ‘full review’

Published

on

Man shot, critically injured by police in Hartford; mayor says there will be a ‘full review’




Man shot, critically injured by police in Hartford; mayor says there will be a ‘full review’ – NBC Connecticut



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending